Bunbury and South West community turn out in force last week for the SWAMS family fun day

The Bunbury and South West community turned out in force last week for the South West Aboriginal Medical Service’s biggest event of the year.

Hundreds of people came through the gates of Bunbury Trotting Club on Friday for the SWAMS NAIDOC family fun day.

Fred Penny and his band Urba-rigini provided the soundtrack to the event, while attendees enjoyed the free sausage sizzle and raffle prizes.

SWAMS Acting CEO Matt Harbisher said he was pleased with the turnout.

“It is the biggest event we hold for the South West community every year, so it was great to see so many people attended,” he said.

“We had people from beyond our region make the trip to Bunbury to attend the family fun day, which is a fantastic result.”

Mr Harbisher took part in the official cake-cutting for the event alongside Bunbury elder Nana Phyllis Bennell, who also did the welcome to country.

Mr Harbisher said SWAMS had received good feedback from attendees about this year’s event.

“We really want to strengthen our connections with community, and the family fun day plays a key role in building those connections,” he said.

“We did not hold it during NAIDOC Week last year, so we are really pleased to have it back for the 50th anniversary.

“We want to come back bigger and better next year.”

NAIDOC Week, which ended on Sunday, provides an opportunity for all Australians to come together and celebrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures every year.

This year’s theme, 50 Years of Deadly, marked five decades of themes celebrating the strength, resilience and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and the communities and leaders who have carried the movement forward.