Community
26 September, 2025
NAIDOC Day celebrations
Innisfail State School recognised NAIDOC Day with a special community celebration and assembly, which kicked off with a traditional welcome to Country.
Principal Jemma, Colleen, Veronica and staff organised a full day of activities centred around this year’s theme ‘The Next Generation: Strength, Vision and Legacy’.
This year NAIDOC celebrates 50 years of honouring Indigenous voices and culture and highlights the contributions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and their enduring connection to the land and sea.
For the first time, the whole Mena Creek State School cohort and principal Jenni McDonald participated in the celebrations.
Police liaison officer, Michael Sands and a Prep student had the honours of cutting the special NAIDOC cake, which was then shared among students, staff and visitors.
Chjowai elders and traditional owners attended a special luncheon and enjoyed coconut chicken and rice, fruit platters, cake and refreshments.
Students enjoyed a sausage sizzle and cake.
After lunch, prep to year 3 students took part in 25-minute rotational activities.
Activities included storytelling, puppets, totem art and fishing, loom bands, playdough, natural/coloured beading, scratch boards/stick-on-dots, dot painting, weaving, jigsaw puzzles and rugby league drills. Mamu Kindy Gym and First Five Forever were run by Cassowary Coast Regional Council library staff.
The school’s choir entertained with their performance of Christine Anu’s well-known song ‘My Island Home.’
Students participated in a colouring-in competition featuring a cassowary and a crocodile, the school’s sporting house mascots with prizes awarded to the best in each year level.
Winners – Prep: Destiny, year 1: Sierra, year 2: Keeanna, year 3: Hannah, year 4: Kahlara, year 5: Lawrence and year 6: Jermaine who won an Indigenous netball ball, soccer ball or basketball.
Performances by Innisfail State College contemporary dance group and separate dances by the girls and boys capped off an epic day of celebrations.
Innisfail State School wished to thank Cassowary Coast Libraries, Innisfail State College dance group, Chjowai HAAC program, Michael Sands, Mamu Health Service and Cairns Rugby League.
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