Chris Bell with grandson Malik Bell.
What a beautiful morning on Tuesday it was to kick off NAIDOC Week in the Gundagai area than with a Flag Raising Ceremony.
Mayor Abb McAlister and Aunty Sonia Piper were thanked for raising the Australian and Aboriginal flags, Uncle Bill Leigh for the Welcome to Country, Uncle Pete Smith and Mayor Abb McAlister for sharing their reflections on this year’s theme, “50 Years of Deadly,” and Uncle Stan Russell for leading a meaningful Smoking Ceremony.
It was wonderful to see our community come together to celebrate culture, connection and 50 years of Deadly.
The Mawang Ball is sold out and will be a night to remember with 50 years of NAIDOC dominating headlines around the country.
The Times caught up with Kaidan Bell to discuss the important impact his family will have on the ball.
Kaidan said, “Dad has been playing the Didgeridoo since a young age. I remember growing up and him playing it for us. Dad’s good, he plays it well.
“I’ve played the Didgeridoo at the Tumut High School with the students, so he passed his skills on to me. He taught me how to play.
“No one else in the family plays it really, but I play pretty often with work and with the boys.
“I think it is the first time that he’s done this in public, that I know of.
“It is a pretty honourable thing to open the ball for him.
“It is pretty special. It will mean a bit to Dad, I reckon.
Playing a Didgeridoo is not an easy task and relies on the players’ ability to breath and make subtle changes to their breathing to change the sound of the age old instrument and cultural item.
“I’m not sure what he will be playing, but he can circular breathe, so he can play for as long as he needs to or as he wants, but around the minute mark. It just depends on the night.
“The Mawang ball is all about celebrating Indigenous heritage and Indigenous people in the
Gundagai area, so a lot of people turn out, but is it the one time of year where a lot of the community get together and celebrate.
The mob from Gundagai, Tumut and Brungle all come together this time of the year and go to the Ball to celebrate culture, history and connection.”
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