Abcare hosts Children’s Day Celebration for Coffs Coast Aboriginal community Coffs Coast Coffs Coast News by News Of The Area - Modern Media - August 13, 2021 Abcare’s team: Bruce Wilson, Greg Bennett, Sally Cutmore, Liz Kavanagh, Chloe Archibald and Michael Hunt. ABCARE delivered its first National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children’s Day Celebration on Sunday 8 August at Coffs’ Park Beach Reserve. Children’s Day 2021 was officially celebrated mid-week, on August 4; but with the kids at school the organisers set the date for Sunday for the family fun day. Advertise with News of The Area today. It’s worth it for your business. Message us. Phone us – (02) 4981 8882. Email us – media@newsofthearea.com.au In support of Kulai, Gummyaney and Giiguy Gamambi Preschools, Abcare set out to create a free event for Aboriginal children and the Aboriginal community. “When we were planning the event we had in mind what would make the best possible birthday party for all our Aboriginal children in our communities,” Bruce from Abcare told News Of The Area. “Where possible, we partnered with Aboriginal services to put on the activities.” The arts and crafts space was a highlight with kids making boomerangs, painting, gluing and creating mixed media masterpieces. Another high note was One Mob Radio, presenting live with the station’s founder Lockie Skinner on the ground pumping out the vibes. “It was a deadly day,” Lockie told News Of The Area. “Really cool to have the kids coming up asking about the radio, I reckon we’ve got some future radio presenters in the making.” There was a Touch Tank run by Fish For Life NSW, with little turtles in a mini marine tank, giving kids an educational hands-on experience. “The Department of Fisheries also had a stall teaching the kids how to fish.” There were surf lessons with Lee Winkler Surf School available on Park Beach for the older kids, face painting for the younger ones and a coffee van supplied by BMNAC for the parents – all ages were catered to. Children’s Day is the official birthday for children of the Stolen Generation. “Many children of the Stolen Generation had no birth records and a lot of important information regarding the children was non-existent,” said Bruce. Abcare is planning to make this an annual event because of the significance and importance of the day, along with the positive feedback from the Aboriginal community of this year’s event. By Andrea FERRARI Lockie Skinner – founder One Mob Radio. The creative centre at Children’s Day, the Art and Crafts hub. Fisheries’ Touch Tank.
