Relationships celebrated in Tasmania during NAIDOC week

3 hours ago
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Traditional indigenous dance by the Treenoner Dance Mob formed part of the special NAIDOC Sunday service at Launceston Corps last weekend.

BY LAUREN MARTIN

Indigenous dancers, a Welcome to Country and a NAIDOC-themed prayer were part of Launceston Corps’ recent Sunday service, celebrating the relationship the corps has with its local Indigenous community.

For the past few years, Launceston Corps Community Engagement worker Kelly Brown has been setting aside time every fortnight to have a cuppa and a ‘yarn’ at her local Indigenous Elders activity afternoon. Sometimes, Kelly (along with her mother) will cook lunch; other times, she will just sit and chat.

“I really appreciate that it is a safe place that I have been welcomed into,” she told her corps community and visiting guests at last Sunday’s NAIDOC Week Sunday Service.

“It’s a comfortable place for me to ask questions about culture and Country, and it’s explained to me in a way that I can understand. It’s not just a safe place but safe people for me up there.”

Those connections and relationships built have allowed The Salvation Army Launceston Corps to journey in a deeper way with their local indigenous community, coming alongside to support in a range of different ways.

Kelly and Roderick Brown from Launceston Corps were invited to the city’s NAIDOC luncheon. Here they are, photographed with the city’s elders.

“We just wanted to be able to seek to understand wherever we can to assist with financial supports including with food relief, to be able to bless the elders at Christmas with a Christmas hamper and provide practical support where we can,” Kelly said, adding that there have been numerous other supports given as a result of personal and private conversations she has been able to have through the building of those relationships.

Corps Officer, Auxiliary-Lieutenant Roderick Brown said the way Kelly has journeyed alongside the city’s indigenous community is the way Launceston Corps journeys alongside all communities. “It’s about really trying to understand the deeper need that there is in a community and looking to build that trust and that relationship, and just be people together, and learn from each other.”

The Launceston Corps’ NAIDOC Service was led by Chris Waixel and Tahana Turner, The Salvation Army Divisional Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Engagement Coordinators for Victoria and Queensland. Chris spoke at the event on ‘50 Years of Deadly’, this year’s NAIDOC theme.

(Left) Aunty Delia Summers gave the Welcome to Country at Launceston Corps’ NAIDOC Sunday Service. (Right) Chris Waixel speaking on the NAIDOC Week theme, ‘50 Years of Deadly’.

In addition to hosting the NAIDOC Sunday service, Kelly and Roderick were invited to the annual NAIDOC luncheon, which they said was an honour to attend.

“A special part of our NAIDOC week celebrations is being invited to the Elders lunch,” Roderick said. “It truly feels like being home with family as we sit and yarn together, listening to stories, whilst enjoying the wonderful meal prepared.”

And Kelly has this advice for all Australian Salvationists on engaging with our local Indigenous communities.

“Be the best tourist you can be in your own country! We need to be open, we need to learn, and we need to be inquisitive and respectful. Not just accepting media or mainstream narrative, but seeking to understand the importance of culture of Country. And why that is so important for us all.”