As I contemplated what to say in regards to NAIDOC, as I thought about it and what it means for the town of Kangaroo Valley, I reflected upon my over 12 months of being in this town – what I’ve borne witness to as an Aboriginal woman, as a mother, as a grandmother, as an Auntie, and what I do for my community every single day.
I was first met with the sentence of someone ensuring that I don’t, or didn’t want to, start a ‘reverse frontier war’. I’ve since reflected on the Aboriginal flag that once was waving underneath the Australian flag in the town. I thought about the celebrations that have happened where we have the Aboriginal tent, or the number of times I’ve been asked if I have a contact for a Welcome to Country, been asked to give Welcomes for places.
But realistically: where does this town see itself in the week of NAIDOC? I ask this question to the community: What do you do every single day as non-Aboriginal people – people in a predominantly white town? Acknowledging the work of the RAKV working party, and the support of certain people in progressing their actions, we are still reminded where we sit in the eyes, thoughts and mouths of locals. From eating at a pop-up where they donate a percentage of their takings to Waminda, to a conversation being had at the local coffee shop about the ‘uncontrollable Abos’.
What are you teaching your children, yourselves, your grandchildren, your nieces and nephews in your community about this week? When are we gonna start truth telling in regard to the Aboriginal people of this country? When are we gonna talk about the Pioneer Village Museum without it being too concerning of a divide in this place?
NAIDOC, yes, I am the next generation and I see my aunties and my grandmothers, uncles and grandfathers, my brothers and sisters, and what they think of this next generation. I look to the generation coming up and what more work we need to do for them. Happy NAIDOC Week Kangaroo Valley.
Hayley Longbottom
About the author
Hayley Longbottom is a Jerrinja Cullunghutti woman and executive manager at Waminda South Coast Women’s Health and Welfare Aboriginal Corporation. Since July 2024, she has been part of Waminda’s Chief Executive Leadership Team, bringing nearly two decades of service to Aboriginal health and wellbeing.
As both Health and Wellbeing Manager and an Aboriginal Health Practitioner, Hayley oversees services for more than 1400 Aboriginal women and their families across the South Coast. Under her leadership, Waminda has secured significant government funding to expand culturally appropriate health services, including a recent $670,000 grant for palliative and end-of-life care programs.
