Jill Hall (Shortland, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I rise to pay tribute to the Bahtabah Local Aboriginal Land Council for the fantastic NAIDOC Day celebrations they organised in Eastlake Macquarie on the foreshore of Lake Macquarie in Pelican Park.

It was a fantastic day. It commenced with a flag-raising ceremony at the Bahtabah Land Council. It was a privilege to meet the CEO's mother. Mick Green's mother was present at that ceremony. The day itself was a fantastic success. The previous year, over 4,000 people had visited the celebrations on the foreshore. This year, I would have to say that there were probably double that number of people that visited and became engaged in the activities at the foreshore.

There were activities such as face painting, there was entertainment and a free barbecue for everyone. There were a number of information stalls and interactive activities: Wollotuka, New South Wales Fair Trading, the Department of Human Services, FACS, Aboriginal Tenancy, NDIS, UnitingCare, Benevolent Society, Bahtabah Land Council themselves and Centennial Coal. I sponsored the event, along with Yasmin Catley, the member for Swansea. We had a stall that we shared with Jodie Harrison, the member for Charlestown. The AEC was there, Northcott, Wombat Stories, and a number of other organisations. There was a breastfeeding tent and kids carnival show bags; the Cancer Council was there, as well as the Centre for Hope and New Horizons, and there was an Elders' tent.

Throughout the day people interacted. My three grandchildren attended the Day in the Park. They are young Indigenous children that actually live in Canberra. They had a fantastic day, along with other non-Aboriginal children. There was a spirit of coming together, joining and enjoying the day.

I really want to pay tribute to Mick Green. He is a fantastic CEO of Bahtabah Land Council. He has shown leadership at all levels and he has my absolute utmost respect. Congratulations to Bahtabah Land Council for yet another successful day. (Time expired)