Care for Country - NAIDOC Week 2021

This week, Rural Lifestyle Options Australia are celebrating all things NAIDOC. 🖤💛❤️ Today, we are going to be taking a closer look at the 2021 National NAIDOC Poster ‘Care for Country’ which was designed by Gubbi Gubbi artist Maggie-Jean Douglas.

Every year, the National NAIDOC Committee invite talented Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists aged 13 years and older to submit original artworks for the National NAIDOC Poster Competition, allowing entrants the opportunity to be recognised across Australia in celebration of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories, cultures and achievements.

Maggie was the winner of the prestigious National NAIDOC Poster Competition for 2021 which was chosen from 260 entries.

Drawing inspiration from the 2021 NAIDOC Week theme of ‘Heal Country!’, ‘Care for Country’ is a bright and vibrant artwork which explores how Country has cared for and healed First Nations people spiritually, physically, emotionally, socially and culturally. The artwork includes communities, people, animals and bush medicines spread over different landscapes of red dirt, green grass, bush land and coastal areas to tell the story of the many ways Country can and has healed us throughout our lives and journeys.

The 21-year-old artist said her first thoughts on hearing the 2021 NAIDOC theme ‘Heal Country’ was about how country has cared for and healed First Nations people in all senses of the meaning for so long.

Heal country, heal our nation.

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To learn more about Rural Lifestyle Options Australia’s vision for reconciliation, please visit www.rloa.org.au/rap

#NAIDOC2021 #NAIDOCWeek

Colour For Reconciliation

Every month, Rural Lifestyle Options Australia hold an internal staff competition. 🗓️

Last month, in recognition of National Reconciliation Week, the competition asked staff to colour in the ‘Colour for Reconciliation’ artwork by Jessica Johnson. 🎨

Jessica is a descendent of the Warumungu/Wombaya people north of Tennant Creek and is an established designer, artist and owner of Nungala Creative.

Now that June is behind us, and in commemoration of NAIDOC Week, we thought it would be fitting to share with you all some of the entries that were submitted last month by staff.

The winning entrants won a range of great prizes from Chern’ee and Brooke Sutton, two contemporary Kalkadoon Aboriginal Artists.

Heal country, heal our nation. 🖤💛❤️

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To learn more about Rural Lifestyle Options Australia’s vision for reconciliation, please visit www.rloa.org.au/rap

#NAIDOC2021 #NAIDOCWeek

NAIDOC Week 2021

Today marks the first day of NAIDOC Week 2021. Every year, NAIDOC Week is typically held in the first week (a Sunday to Sunday) of July with celebrations held across Australia to celebrate the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. NAIDOC is celebrated not only in Indigenous communities, but by Australians from all walks of life.

This year, the theme is ‘Heal Country, heal our nation.’ For generations Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have been calling for stronger measures to recognise, protect, and maintain all aspects of our culture and heritage for all Australians.

The aspirations of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are the culmination of generations of consultation and discussions among our nations on a range of issues and grievances. Through these times, Elders and communities have advocated, marched and fought for substantive institutional, structural and collaborative reform.

We cannot afford to let pass the very real opportunity that now presents itself for reform based on a fundamental change in the relationship Australia has with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Choose to be part of the change.

Heal Country, heal our nation.

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To learn more about Rural Lifestyle Options Australia’s vision for reconciliation, please visit www.rloa.org.au/rap

#NAIDOC2021#NAIDOCWeek