A service at Moree Anglican Church on Sunday afternoon launched NAIDOC Week in Moree, with the official opening and march held Monday morning on Balo Street to honour this year’s powerful theme, The Next Generation: Strength, Vision and Legacy.
A large crowd marched from the Dhiiyaan Centre to Moree War Memorial Hall, where local NAIDOC Week celebrations commenced, followed by a barbecue and activities at Taylor Oval.
Guests included Ian Brown, Moree Plains Shire deputy mayor Wayne Tighe, councillor Fred McGrady, Moree elder Barry Sampson and niece Kaylee Sampson, Moree NAIDOC working group lead Adam See, Denise French and Moree Secondary College students Darneisha French and Nusaiah See.
Proud Gomeroi man from Moree, Ian Brown, said he was deeply grateful for the opportunity to speak as part of this year’s NAIDOC Week in Moree, which also marks 50 years of NAIDOC nationally.
“This year’s theme is a reminder of where NAIDOC began, one that’s always been connected to grassroots resistance and continues through us today,” Mr Brown said.
“It symbolises the legacy of our peoples’ fight for recognition, justice, and the acknowledgment of our inherent birthrights – rights that come from Country.
“It’s a time for reflection, celebration, and commitment. We reflect on where we’ve come from, we celebrate where we are, and we recommit to where we’re going.
“We celebrate the strength of our communities across this country, but especially the strength of our own community of Moree – a community that continues to stand tall in conversations around Aboriginal affairs, sovereignty, and self-determination.
“Whether you’re an Elder who has walked through decades of change or a young person just finding your voice – we are all a part of this legacy,” he said.
Mr Brown told how over the years, NAIDOC themes have reflected the First Nations’ journey.
“Now, in 2025, the spotlight is on us – the next generation; our babies, our young ones, our future leaders, healers, carers, and storytellers,” he said.
“They are the reason we find the strength to do what needs to be done. We inherit a legacy built by the old people – those warriors of land rights and justice, those who refused to be silenced, those who carried the flame of hope in the face of near-impossible odds.
“As a young man from Moree, I see myself not as a leader, but as someone with the opportunity to contribute to something greater than myself.
“I stand here today because I am part of that next generation – one that has been shaped by those before us and one that is committed to shaping a better future for those yet to come,” he said.
Mr Brown said the future now focuses on making room for the next generation.
“This does not mean that our elders disappear from the conversation, but it does speak to passing the baton,” he said.
“We need space to grow. We can’t wait for others to make space for us. So we must build our own, with guidance from the elders.
“Every story told, every song passed down, every language word taught, and every stand we take all builds a legacy – a legacy that reaches far behind us, and far ahead,” Mr Brown said.
Celebrations this week include Moree Boomerangs Mini Debs at SHAE Academy today and tomorrow from 5.30pm and a barbecue lunch and damper-making competition at Moree Hospital tomorrow from 11am.
On Wednesday, a Naidoc Sitting Day will be observed at Moree Abcare’s Balo Street offices and a Dhiiyaan Cultural Day will be held at SHAE Academy between 10am and 2pm on Thursday.
Anglicare will also launch its Reconciliation Action Plan between 2pm and 3pm, Thursday.
An ASU-NAIDOC flag-raising ceremony will be held at Moree Court House at 11am on Friday and the following day, Moree Junior Rugby League Club will host the girls’ tackle Naidoc Week Cup at Boughton Oval for 13s, 15s and 17s teams.
Preceding NAIDOC Week, the Neville Cutmore and Vincent Tighe Memorial lawn bowls competition was held at Moree Services Club last Saturday and the Joy Duncan Memorial snooker competition was also played.
Moree Plains Shire deputy mayor, Wayne Tighe, said NAIDOC celebrations this year mark a powerful milestone.
“It is now 50 years of honouring and elevating Indigenous voices, culture and resilience, and this year’s theme celebrates not only the achievements of the past but the bright future ahead,” Mr Tighe said.
“The NAIDOC journey began as a movement for recognition and rights, sparked by Indigenous communities who saw a future built on justice and equality.
“Over the decades, it has grown into a powerful, national celebration, a testament to the enduring strength of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples,” he said.
