Southern Cross Care WA (SCCWA) marked NAIDOC Week with celebrations across our services, bringing residents, clients and employees together to reflect, learn and connect through Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture, history and storytelling.
From shared meals and creative workshops to storytelling, film and cultural learning, each celebration provided an opportunity to honour the strength, resilience and continuing traditions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
Across SCCWA services, residents and employees took part in a range of activities, including dot painting, damper bread making, armchair travel experiences, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander life storytelling, movie afternoons and tasting traditional-inspired treats such as wattle seed scones.
At Central Office in Rivervale, celebrations began with a Welcome to Country by Aunty Phyllis Winmar, followed by a cleansing smoking ceremony. Employees also created ochre decorations, learnt Noongar language with Learning and Development Manager Nicole Eames, and explored key moments from the past 50 years of NAIDOC with Senior Manager of Mission and Ethos Rose Santoro.
A highlight of the day was an art exhibition by Villa Pelletier resident Andy Ryan, whose paintings offered a powerful insight into family, culture, memory and connection to Country.
Andy has been drawing and painting since childhood, but for him, art is much more than a creative outlet. It is a way of honouring his family, preserving stories and maintaining a connection to his late mother, also an artist, who passed away when he was just six months old.
“I have always been into drawing and painting. Even when I was at primary school, I was painting,” Andy said.
Many of Andy’s works are inspired by family memories and real places from his past. Some paintings reflect stories passed down through generations, including memories of his parents’ life in the Gascoyne and the experiences of family members who grew up on cattle stations in regional Western Australia.
His connection to Country remains a strong source of inspiration.
“Everything keeps calling me back to my Country here in WA,” Andy said.
Recurring symbols throughout Andy’s artwork tell stories of identity and belonging. Trees, which feature prominently in many of his paintings, represent his enduring connection to culture and Country.
Family is another central theme. Andy explained that many of the circular symbols in his artwork represent relatives living across Western Australia, reflecting both the strength of family ties and the distances that can separate loved ones.
Traditional knowledge also remains an important part of his story. After the passing of his parents, aunties and uncles helped carry on cultural practices that continue today.
“They carried on the tradition of going out looking for emu eggs and getting bush medicine,” Andy said.
Andy paints almost every day, drawing inspiration from memories, life experiences and the people who have shaped his journey.
Through his artwork, Andy shares stories of family, Country, culture and memory, reminding us of the importance of listening to and celebrating Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander voices.
