Binit Binit comprises 10 local schools and, despite the dreary weather, they all congregated to celebrate the Indigenous community. 

The morning began with a welcoming ceremony which was overseen by Berinba Public principal Brian Giles-Browne. 

Mr Giles-Browne has worked with young Indigenous students over three decades, and he was full of praise for the initiative from the relatively new Binit Binit Learning Community. 

“Considering the weather and considering how cold it was, there wasn’t a single community member, teacher, who’s come up and said anything other than this is the most special thing they’ve had for our Aboriginal community,” he said.

Although NAIDOC Week was officially held in July, a joint decision between the elders of the Yass Indigenous community and the Binit Binit community decided that, due to school holidays and weather, it would be more prudent to hold the event closer to the end of the school year. 

The day featured dances from the Koomurri dance troupe, a Sydney-based group which aims to exhibit, and educate about, Indigenous Australian culture. 

There were also performances from the Berinba and Yass public schools choir, and more than 50 different activities and stalls for the children to explore. 

Mr Giles-Browne was grateful to all the contributors who worked together to ensure that the day was a success.

“The support we got today from elders was exceptional, the support we got from the high school with their Aboriginal students … it’s just been quite a staggering event,” he said.