Lord Mayor's column: Marking 50 Years of Deadly
From the Lord Mayor's Office, 8 July 2026
1976. It was the year Apple Computer was founded, Nadia Comăneci dominated the news headlines with her 7 ‘perfect 10’ gymnastic routines at the Summer Olympics in Montreal, Canada, and Concorde launched its commercial service. In Australia, Malcolm Fraser was the Prime Minister, and the Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Act 1976 was passed – the first Australian law that allowed First Nations people to claim traditional land rights.
It was also the year the inaugural NAIDOC Week was marked.
Move forward half a century and we’re once again marking NAIDOC Week. And while much has changed over the past 50 years, the importance of this week has not.
NAIDOC Week remains a time of cultural celebration, of pride and reflection. It enables truth-telling and creates a space for people to experience, understand and engage with First Nations voices, cultures and perspectives.
It’s an essential time and, locally, recognises the vital contributions Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities make to our city’s cultural fabric.
In Wollongong, we wear our cultural diversity with pride. It’s a source of joy for so many that this city is home to people from such a wide range of backgrounds – including those who represent the oldest continuous culture in the world.
From the Screen Illawarra Indigenous Film Festival at the Gala Cinema, to a number of family fun days, and the Coomaditchie United Aboriginal Corporation: 50 Years of Deadly Gallery exhibition, Council is there supporting NAIDOC Week in a wide range of ways.
Read more in our Media Release: Wollongong celebrates NAIDOC Week 2026 with community-led events
While some of these events are more targeted – like the Big Fat Smile Western Suburbs NAIDOC event – others are open to all, and I’d encourage everyone to come along to one of the Family Fun Day events or to check out the Coomaditchie United Aboriginal Corporation: 50 Years of Deadly Gallery Exhibition.
It’s an easy way to show your interest and support of local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander residents, and also a way to acknowledge NAIDOC Week in a respectful way.
We will wrap up the week by hosting the Local Government Regional NAIDOC Awards at the University of Wollongong. This annual event celebrates and promotes the diverse achievements of local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and organisations based in the Illawarra and Shoalhaven.
Find out more about the event.
It’s a collaborative event organised with our Local Government colleagues from Shellharbour, Kiama and Shoalhaven councils.
I’m so proud that Wollongong is hosting the Awards on the 50th anniversary of NAIDOC and we’re more than ready to mark 50 Years of Deadly with a terrific event.
I’ll certainly be there to represent our community and look forward to acknowledging the talents, achievements and outstanding contributions that local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are making daily.
Be sure to check out Council’s website from Monday 20 July for details of the winners.
However you plan to mark NAIDOC Week on Dharawal Country, I hope you have the opportunity to connect with and celebrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander stories.
