Hundreds flocked to the streets of Newcastle on Monday to march in honour of the annual NAIDOC Week celebration.
Beginning in Civic Park, crowds gathered on 7 July bearing flags and megaphones to share their messages.
The annual celebration marks the beginning of NAIDOC Week, a national event to honour and recognise the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
As the march progressed, onlookers joined the crowd, chanting supportive words of encouragement and solidarity.
It continued throughout the city, finishing at Foreshore Park where they were met with a bustling festival of Indigenous businesses, stalls and live music.
Awabakal CEO Jason Smith said the turnout was heartwarming.
“It was absolutely amazing,” he told the Newcastle Weekly.
“To stand and look at my community and then go march behind them and know how many people are there.
“The best thing about the march today was the representation from the broader community.
“We had multiculturalism, non-Aboriginal people, we also had of course our Aboriginal people from all different communities come together and march in solidarity.
“The presence of such a great turnout is just a testament to what we do in our community for our community.”
This year recognises the 50th anniversary of the tradition, with the theme being The Next Generation: Strength, Vision & Legacy.
“I remember my first NAIDOC march in 1983,” Mr Smith said.
“The biggest event for me was the bicentennial year in 1988.
“The march, in my mind, was a representation of walking alongside my Elders and with my cousins and family.
“Now, the vision I had of that day is a representation of let’s continue to walk together, heal together and reconcile with our community.
“Also, just to have fun and lead with influence, but more importantly, celebrate our culture.”
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