NAIDOC week celebrations in Port Stephens have begun with the signing of an historic agreement between the regions City Council and Karuah and Worimi Local Aboriginal Land Councils.
The Road to Tomorrow Agreement (or Yabang-Gu-Butunga Agreement in Worimi Gutang language), has been many years in the making and sets out shared objectives and projects between the councils.
Port Stephens Mayor, Ryan Palmer, said the agreement signifies a commitment by the councils to work together to achieve outcomes which will improve the lives of Aboriginal people living in the region now and into the future.
"This [agreement] has been in the works for a number of years, even before my time on council, so I am proud to be here and sign this agreement with both land councils," he outlined.
"I'm also proud of the relationships that we have, and I'm looking forward to working together through our Aboriginal Strategic Committee to strengthen these relationships and achieve great things together."
The landmark agreement was signed by Mayor Ryan Palmer and Wayne Wallis from Port Stephens Council, Len Roberts and Fiona Manton from the Karuah Local Aboriginal Land Council and Andrew Smith and Leigh Ridgeway from the Worimi Local Aboriginal Land Council.
Meanwhile, NAIDOC week celebrations in Lake Macquarie have kicked off with the launch of a new Virtual Reality (VR) experience shining a light on the City's rich Aboriginal heritage.
Council's Manager for Cultural services, Jacqui Hemsley, said the immersive VR experience gives users the opportunity to take a journey back in time 250-years to when the traditional owners, the Awabakal people, were the sole inhabitants of Lake Macquarie land known as Awaba.
"We're thrilled to announce that this new and exciting cultural experience as part of Council's NAIDOC week celebrations," Ms Hemsley said.
VR Awaba was created by Indigenous Cultural Artist, Brett Leavy, in partnership with the Lake Macquarie City Art Gallery Reference group.
Artist Brett Leavy said he was pleased to be able to work with members of the Gallery's Aboriginal Reference Group to bring these stories to life using a new medium.
"It is essential that we continue to share these stories, which are of such significance to Aboriginal people. They capture not only Aboriginal history but the history of the whole Australian nation," he explained.
"Over the last six months, we've worked closely with the Aboriginal Reference Group and the local Awabakal People of Lake Macquarie to take their First Nations knowledge and present it in a way that is visually engaging and educational."
The community is able to access VR Awaba on mobile devices due to the instalment of a plaque on the Warners Bay foreshore near Rotunda or by visiting Oculus Rift at Lake Macquarie City Art Gallery and Swansea Library.
For more information, visit http://www.visitlakemac.com.au/virtual-awaba
