NAIDOC Week Celebrations

31 Jul 2018

24 July 2018

This year’s theme ‘Because of her, we can’ resonated strongly for our guests who spoke about the influence of women in their lives and on their journeys to becoming inspirational community leaders themselves.

Ms Collard performed a traditional Welcome to Country ceremony for caregivers as part of the NAIDOC celebration, which was held on Tuesday 10 July in the St John of God Subiaco Hospital Chapel.

She then spoke about her mother, who was one of the country’s first Aboriginal health workers and was instrumental in the formation of Perth’s first Aboriginal Medical Service.

“Back in those early years there was a place called the New Era Aboriginal Fellowship and Mum and Dad would go to the meetings there,” Robyn said.

“From those meetings the first ever Aboriginal health program started with Joan Winch who was a nurse at the time. She began the first mobile health clinic that was around the Perth area.

“This amazing health system has all come from one of the women in my life”.

A scholarship for Aboriginal people studying allied health was named in her honour, the Jean Collard Scholarship for Allied Health, which recognises Jean’s significant contribution to the health, welfare and advancement of Aboriginal people.

Robyn was the first person in her family to complete year 12 and then went on to study at Murdoch University after she had children.

Years later after becoming a grandmother, she completed a Master of Education at Notre Dame University.

“I was the only Aboriginal person at my graduation,” Robyn said.

"I hope there are more to come at that level in the future.

"I want to show my children and grandchildren that they can be and do whatever they want in life”.

Caregivers also heard from renowned Indigenous artist and Noongar Elder, Neta Knapp, who spoke about the health of Indigenous women in the 21^st century and the women who have inspired her.

“My grandmother gave me my life’s journey, my sister is an inspiration and most of all, my mother gave me courage,” Neta said.

Neta took her grandmother’s advice and pursued a career as a teacher, graduating in 1974 from Claremont Teachers’ College.

Years later, her sister encouraged her to take her passion for sharing stories through art a step further.

“One day as we were yarning about the old mission days, which we were both part of, she says to me ‘hey sis, art will take you places through the stories which you paint’ and I looked at her and wondered what she was talking about.

"All I knew were classrooms full of children.”

Neta is now one of Western Australia’s top Indigenous artists and is an artist-in-residence at the University of Notre Dame.

It was her mother’s influence that gave her courage said Neta.

“Mum gave me my culture, my token the weight the emu, my skin which is from South in Nyungar country and my tribe and my Nyungar nation," she said.

"She showed me bush tucker and bush medicines and guided me spiritually.

"Our dream stories, where she struck the fire with beautiful songs, which she passed down to me.

"She helped me wipe the tears away and encouraged me when I was tired.

"She encouraged sister and I to do it all”.

Sister of St John of God Ann McGlinn shared her experience of working in north Western Australia as a nurse providing support to Indigenous communities in the 1970s.

Sr Ann said communication was key to helping people to recover and return to their communities quickly.

“Talking with people and getting to know them helped their recovery,” Sr Ann said.

"It was such a valuable experience”.

The NAIDOC Week presentation concluded with didgeridoo music and dance performance by the young Aboriginal male group Baldja Moort.

Photo from left to right