Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders and non-Indigenous children from Goulburn, Yass, Queanbeyan, Bowral, Moss Vale and Nepean attended the event, which featured a 3-on-3 basketball round robin, rapping and dancing lessons, art workshops and health expo.
Designed to encourage sportsmanship and reconciliation, teach children new skills and build self-esteem, the event provided an excellent opportunity for health and community services to introduce themselves to the wider community.
Our local Brighter Futures and Early Start Diagnosis teams volunteered for the day, hosting African drumming and percussion sessions. Our staff also helped the local Lions Club serve the crowd lunch - and were given Vibe mugs for their efforts.
According to Cheryl O'Donnell, Mission Australia Goulburn Community Service Programs Manager, the five drumming sessions were a big hit: "Yes, we have sore hands but it was well worth it!" she said.
"Pru Goward (Member for Goulburn and Shadow Minister for Community Services) came over and had a go at drumming and had fun. She said she couldn't believe how many things Mission Australia gets involved in within our community. I did say it's what we are about - supporting the communities we live in to bring people together."
Cheryl added that Gavin Jones, Executive Producer and Director of Vibe, was overwhelmed with Mission Australia's support and was keen to continue working with the organisation.
"His main gaol is to through what he does is to raise awareness and bring unity between the cultures," Cheryl said. "They really push to younger ones anti drug and alcohol messages, which is great as well."
The Mission Australia teams have since been invited to take part in a major musical event in Goulburn in February.
Visit Mission Australia's Aboriginal & Torres Strait Island resources page for our Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP), the latest indigenous news, current affairs and policy updates.
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