Dandiiri Schools & Community Library

📣 ANNOUNCEMENT 📣

NAIDOC POSTER WINNER 2025! 🤩

The National NAIDOC Committee is proud to announce the winner of the 2025 National NAIDOC Week Poster Competition — Ancestral Lines by Jeremy Morgan Worrall

This powerful winning entry reflects this year’s NAIDOC theme: “The Next Generation: Strength, Vision &Legacy.”

The theme is a call to uplift, invest in, and listen to the emerging generations of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples — and to honour the legacies that paved the way.

The 2025 National NAIDOC Week poster is a stunning digital artwork titled Ancestral Lines, created by Jeremy Morgan Worrall, a proud Ngarbal/Gomeroi man from Emmaville and Deepwater in northern New South Wales. His family lines include the Wrights, Connors, and Marlows.

Jeremy’s work honours the knowledge, care and cultural strength passed down through generations — from Ancestors Lucy, Enoch and Nonie Wright to his Nanna Audrie and his mother Vanessa. The artwork is set beneath the swirling clouds and moonlit skies of Tenterfield, where the next generation gathers around the fire — to listen, to learn, and to lead.

“When I look back at my mob, it helps me see towards the future,” Jeremy said.

“This piece tells the story of our knowledge — of lore, care, hunting, weaving, and love — being passed on through time. My hope is that it speaks to young people and shows them that they come from strength. They come from a legacy of survival and brilliance. And that gives us all vision for what comes next.”

👉🏾 KMART A PROUD PARTNER OF NATIONAL NAIDOC 👏🏾

The National NAIDOC Committee and Kmart Group are proud to announce that Kmart and Target has once again been appointed the Official National NAIDOC Week Poster Distribution Partner for 2025.

“At Kmart and Target, we are committed to creating culturally safe spaces — both for our team members and our customers. We’re proud to partner again with the National NAIDOC Committee to celebrate NAIDOC Week. This partnership is more than a moment — it reflects our ongoing commitment to fostering a deeper connection with First Nations communities and celebrating the rich culture that lies at the heart of this important week.” - Kmart and Target Chief Executive Officer John Gualtieri.

The 2025 NAIDOC poster will be available across the country in Kmart and Target stores from 15 June 2025 and is available for download at naidoc.org.au.

KOORI MAIL A PROUD FIRST NATIONS MEDIA PARTNER OF NATIONAL NAIDOC 👏🏾

👉🏾 TODAY’S EDITION of the Koori Mail will feature a full page colour print of the poster, available at newsagents around the nation, or subscribe to thee Koori Mail by visiting: www.koorimail.com

Image: Poster Winner Jeremy Morgan Worrall — Ancestral Lines.

We were all seeing SPOTS at Storytime this week when we got a bit DOTTY over the book we shared.
The Spotty Dotty Lady by Josie Boyle and Fern Martins hit the SPOT with our young listeners. After the story, participants were encouraged to make some spotty flowers, bakes some spotty cakes, decorate some paper plates and cups with spots and then have a spotty picnic!
Scott’s Road Childcare Centre joined in the fun and created some spotty dotty flower pots with their jarjums! Loving your work Miss T and Co!

We have some wonderful resources created by THE OLDEST STORYTELLING CULTURE IN THE WORLD! Come in or contact us to ask about books created by the Indigenous Literacy Foundation (ILF). These are books created by community, about community and for community and are perfect for your Indigenous Literacy Day celebrations. For more information about Indigenous Literacy Day and the ILF, visit their website: https://www.indigenousliteracyfoundation.org.au/ild .

We have some wonderful resources created by THE OLDEST STORYTELLING CULTURE IN THE WORLD! Come in or contact us to see how our First Nations resources will make your BOOK WEEK a celebration of truly inspiring storytellers!

This term, as part of their geography unit, the Western Suburbs Special School students have been out and about visiting special places in Inala - and they made Dandiiri Library one of their stops! In keeping with their geography theme, we shared a story called Under the Southern Cross. This book takes us on an amazing journey to special places all over Australia. We visit the MCG in Melbourne for an AFL game, the Sydney Harbour Bridge on New Year’s Eve, and the town of Broome to watch the incredible phenomenon of the Staircase to the Moon. We visit Alice Springs and listen to Aunty telling stories about the stars, take a boat ride on the Daintree River spotting crocs, and attend an ANZAC ceremony at the War Memorial in Canberra. All without leaving our comfy cushions in the Dandiiri Library! But which was our favourite special place? The Ferris Wheel in Brisbane of course!

It's easy to acknowledge and celebrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander's Childrens Day with beautiful books, groovy toys, and amazing puzzles from the deadly Dandiiri Library! Visit in person and talk to the awesome staff or request resources online via email or phone if visiting the the centre is a challenge.

Dandiiri Jarjums Storytime celebrates NAIDOC Week!

This week's Storytime session acknowledges this year's NAIDOC theme- For Our Elders. When we think of elders, we often think of the grandparents in our lives and the wisdom, love and care they provide. In the early childhood setting, the notion of a grandparent is easily understood and a lovely way to introduce the concept of an 'elder'. In this story, Ella and Mia's grandpa epitomises all that is caring, knowledgeable and special about the older generation. He is generous and loving, he knows that we must always care for our environment, and most importantly, he knows how to inspire the imaginations of young children!

Our big girl dolls helped us tell the story this week by playing the parts of Ella and Mia as they search for the mysterious and magical toast tree! Do they find it? You'll have to borrow the book from the library to find out!

Some of our deadly resources that can help you acknowledge and celebrate NAIDOC week in a thoughtful and considered manner. For more suggestions, contact library staff or drop in for a yarn.

Some resources that can help you acknowledge and celebrate Reconciliation Week in a thoughtful and considered manner. For more suggestions, contact library staff or drop in for a yarn.

Looking for books that sensitively inform about the history of the Stolen Generation and Sorry Day comemmorations? The Dandiiri Library has information and resources to allow educators to work effectively, age-appropriately and sensitivley with the important issues around the Stolen Generations. Search our website for more information and or assistance. Some online information is available via these links:

https://nationaltoday.com/national-sorry-day/

https://deadlystory.com/icms_docs/286608_national-sorry-day-committee-school-resource.pdf

https://healingfoundation.org.au/schools/

https://www.nla.gov.au/sites/default/files/2023-03/teachers-notes-sorry-day.pdf

Dandiiri Jarjums Storytime had an Easter focus last week. We shared 'Ninu Easter Bilby' by Lyndall Stavrou with over 20 early childhood centres via zoom. We learnt some animal's names in Walpiri language and had a hopping good time!

Our Dandiiri staff would also like to share that the library is open over the school holidays, however we will be closed on Thursday the 6th of April. We hope you all have a great Easter Holidays.

Find an hour (or more!) on Thursday 9 March to read!
Australian Reading Hour is a national day dedicated to sharing the joys of books, reading and stories.
Australian Reading Hour has a short and sweet message: read, share, and enjoy books!

The Australia Reads team is asking all Australians across the nation to spend an hour on the day reading and sharing the stories they love with others. It’s a whole day, where the whole country talks about books together.
Choose any hour that suits you! Australian Reading Hour is about taking some time out to unwind and escape into a book, and you can take part at any time on the day.
For more information visit the Australia Read website here – https://australiareads.org.au/get-involved/ or https://australiareads.org.au/australian-reading-hour/ .
And of course, the Dandiiri Library has a great selection of books by First Nations authors that are perfect to read on your own or share with others.