NAIDOC plaque unveiled at Stroud church

A NEW plaque has been unveiled at St. John the Evangelist Anglican Church in Stroud to mark NAIDOC Week.

Following the successful gathering of the Goori Bugg family in Gloucester from 28-30 March, the organising committee unveiled a commemorative plaque to recognise the family’s connection to Country.

The plaque was blessed during the initial gathering event and unveiled on 13 July as part of a special NAIDOC Week service at the Church.

Seventh generation descendant Nicole Ward shared at the event, “Although the Anglican Church refused to marry James and Charlotte (apical ancestors), this Church is such a beautiful part of history and the progression of our culture and acceptance.”

Local Minister Reverend Maree Armstrong was joined by Bugg family member Reverend Karen Kime to conduct the service.

Reverend Kime was ordained as a priest in the Anglican Church in 2000, becoming the first Aboriginal woman to become a priest in New South Wales.

This year’s National NAIDOC Week ran from 6-13 July, with a theme “The Next Generation: Strength, Vision & Legacy”, in celebration of the 50 year history of the event.

Keeping with this theme, the unveiling event was conducted by younger members of the Goori Bugg family who were supported by Elders.

“I stand here taking part in this tremendous celebration of history and our ancestors,” Ms Ward stated.

“While many of us were stripped of our rights through assimilation, I will strive to ensure that current and future generations will not experience the same thing through continued pride and strength,” she said.

The plaque reads, “In respectful memory of apical ancestors Birrpai Charlotte (1813-1861) and English convict James Bugg (1801-1879).

“Their love and resilience enabled them to survive and raise their eight children amid frontier hostilities and the ravages of colonisation, upon the unceded Worimi and Birrpai lands granted to the AA Company.”

By Joshua GILBERT