The temperature may have been six degrees with a sleet wind chill factor that felt like zero but it didn’t prevent an Aboriginal Smoking Ceremony taking place at the site of the new Parkes Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) on Wednesday.
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The ceremony was conducted by Kevin Bloomfield (Chairman, Aboriginal Community Working Party) as part of the NAIDOC Week celebrations in Parkes.
Representatives from John Holland Pty Ltd - principal contractors in the construction of the STP, along with Parkes Shire Council personnel including Deputy Mayor Cr Barbara Newton attended the brief ceremony.
The Smoking Ceremony is a traditional Aboriginal custom from the beginning of time and Cr Newton thanked Mr Bloomfield for his part in the ceremony.
“We are very thankful to you Kevin for conducting the ceremony in such challenging weather conditions and to John Holland for arranging the ceremony to celebrate NAIDOC Week,” Cr Newton said.
“During the past four years Parkes Shire Council has worked to build and strengthen relationships with the Aboriginal community, to recognise and celebrate Aboriginal culture and to close the gap between indigenous and no indigenous residents of the shire.
“This has included flying the Aboriginal flag, the formation of the Elders Advisory Committee, funding the Aboriginal Project Officer position in partnership with Northparkes Mines and developing the Indigenous Cultural Precinct on Bushman’s Hill.”
On Tuesday, Parkes Shire Council acknowledged NAIDOC Week with a lunch and cake cutting with Aboriginal Elders prior to the Council meeting.
Celebrations events for NAIDOC Week for the shire will be held in September/October each year to take advantage of the warmer weather.
This year’s activities are currently being planned and will be announced in the near future.
