COVID-19 has claimed another major event with the 2020 Shoalhaven NAIDOC Family Fun Day being cancelled.
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The event, which can attract up to 6000 people to Nowra, was to be held this November, but under the current climate, the Shoalhaven NAIDOC Committee and the auspice agency Cullunghutti Aboriginal Child and Family Centre have decided to cancel this year's event.
The Shoalhaven NAIDOC Committee met on July 8 to make an executive decision about the annual community family fun day for 2020.
In recent weeks the National NAIDOC Committee set new dates for NAIDOC Week 2020 which was scheduled to be held from November 8-15.
"Given the current world health crisis, and the impacts of COVID-19 on a global scale, there have been many things for the Shoalhaven NAIDOC Committee to consider - including the health and safety of guests, contact tracing, gathering restrictions, legal and legislative requirements, social distancing and sanitisation, as well as partner organisation shutdowns and potential future outbreaks of COVID-19 in our communities," a Shoalhaven NAIDOC Committee spokesperson said.
"A number of contributing factors lead to the Shoalhaven committee making this decision, but ensuring the safety of those most vulnerable in our communities was paramount to the decision."
More than 6000 community members attended the Nowra-based event last year.
"Following the current NSW Public Health Restrictions, along with recommendations from local police who are tasked with enforcing these restrictions, it is important the Shoalhaven NAIDOC Committee acts in the best interest of our community, both ethically, and legally," the spokesperson said.
A number of contributing factors lead to the decision, but ensuring the safety of those most vulnerable in our communities was paramount.
- Shoalhaven NAIDOC Committee
"We understand the Shoalhaven NAIDOC Family Fun Day is a very significant event in our annual calendar and the decision to cancel was not one made lightly.
"We would like to take this opportunity to thank all of our project partners, and supporters of the Shoalhaven NAIDOC Family Fun Day.
"We have continued to grow our NAIDOC events in the Shoalhaven every year, and look forward to celebrating with you all next year."
The Shoalhaven NAIDOC Committee would like to acknowledge the significance of this year's theme, no matter where you live in our beautiful country, the land we walk, always was, always will be, Aboriginal land.
The committee also pays its respects to Elders, past, present and those emerging who support and guide them every day.
