On Monday, 3rd July 2023, Dubbo Buslines proudly showed their support for the NAIDOC Memorial March and Family Fun Day by donating a shuttle bus to transport attendees to and from the events. This year’s theme, “For Our Elders,” brought together hundreds of people who turned out to honour and celebrate the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elders in our community.
The Family Fun Day event that followed the march, held in Victoria Park, was a resounding success. Dubbo Buslines, with the support of TfNSW, set up a stall that provided a variety of treats and activities for the crowd. Our stall featured 380 beautifully designed cupcakes and an equal number of delicious macadamia cookies. To engage the younger attendees, cardboard bus dioramas were available for children to create and decorate.
It was heartwarming to see everyone come together and enjoy the abundance of free food that was available, generously provided not only by our stall, but also by other local vendors. The event also showcased a wide range of Aboriginal clothing and artwork available for purchase, allowing attendees to support local artists and take home a piece of Indigenous culture.
Attendees were also treated to captivating performances by traditional Aboriginal dancers, a traditional smoking ceremony and soulful live music performed on the stage by talented artist Shane Riley, son of our very own bus driver Marsha Riley.
The Dubbo Buslines stall had the pleasure of hosting several visitors throughout the day, including respected Elders, Aunty Margaret Walker and Aunty Joanne Carr, Dubbo MP Dugald Saunders, Dennis Valentine of Dubbo Regional Council and Dawn Towney, Community Engagement Officer for ABSEC and the chairperson of Dubbo NAIDOC. Their presence underscored the significance of the event and the importance of supporting our Indigenous community.
We would like to express our deep gratitude to all who attended and supported the NAIDOC Memorial March and Family Fun Day. We are proud to have been a part of this meaningful event and will continue to support initiatives that honour Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture and history.
