General News
31 July, 2025
NAIDOC Week Ball 2025
A week of local NAIDOC celebrations were held from July 14-19 across the Gilgandra shire.
This year’s NAIDOC Week theme was: ‘The Next Generation: Strength, Vision, and Legacy’, celebrating 50 years of NAIDOC. The theme was echoed across all the local NAIDOC events, focussing on involving youth and a connection with community.
The week concluded with a NAIDOC Ball hosted by Gilgandra Local Aboriginal Medical Service (GLAMS) on Saturday, July 19 at the Gilgandra Shire Hall. GLAMS practice manager, Buddie Knight, gave the Welcome to Country. The night was MC’d by comedian Kevin Kropinyeri, and featured special guests, TikTok stars ‘The Brother Boys’. GLAMS CEO, Phil Naden, also spoke at the event. Other guest speakers included Ian Louie Wood and Wendy Brown, who shared their story about being young Aboriginal people growing up in Gilgandra - highlighting the NAIDOC theme.
Entertainment was provided by the ‘River Rok Band’, led by Maurice Walker, with catering by Megan O’Connor. There were awards given for best dressed on the night and lucky door prizes.
