For Mercy Place Warrnambool aged care resident Dorinda Fletcher, NAIDOC Week is a significant week on the calendar. For three years in the 1960s, Dorinda, her husband and children lived on Elcho Island, a small island off the coast of Arnhem Land in the Northern Territory.
Dorinda and her husband worked as missionaries with the island’s Indigenous population and learned to speak their language. The family was so enamoured with the island and its people that they returned in 1981 for a further six years.
Mercy Place Warrnambool aged care resident Dorinda Fletcher learning to weave a basket
This NAIDOC Week, Dorinda and nine fellow Mercy Place Warrnambool residents participated in a virtual Aboriginal basket weaving session at the residential aged care home as part of Mercy Health’s NAIDOC Week celebrations. Mercy Hospital for Women Senior Aboriginal Hospital Liaison Officer Jo Pappas facilitated the session.
Mercy Place Warrnambool Service Manager Helen Paris said the basket weaving session, overseen by the home’s dedicated Lifestyle team, provided a lovely reminder for Dorinda of her days on Elcho Island. It was a wonderful way for residents to connect with Indigenous culture and acknowledge NAIDOC Week.
“The basket weaving was not just a fun activity, it was a recognition of the traditional owners of our land and provided a great opportunity for us to learn more about our country’s rich Indigenous history,” Helen says. “It was particularly significant for Dorinda, who has very fond memories of her time on Elcho Island. She often shares some of the words she learned while there with us and taught us many interesting things this NAIDOC Week.”
Mercy Hospital for Women Senior Aboriginal Hospital Liaison Officer Jo Pappas taught the residents how to weave the baskets
This year’s NAIDOC Week theme is Always Was, Always Will Be. Mercy Health marked the occasion in a number of ways during the week of 8—15 November.
Along with the basket weaving session, Mercy Health organised a Mabu Mabu virtual damper-making class for staff and residents, run by Meriam chef Nornie Bero. Mercy Health staff members also came together to recognise the occasion by submitting a clip for a NAIDOC Week video, in which staff acknowledged the Indigenous land on which they live.
“Every year, Mercy Health organises events during NAIDOC Week in recognition that our First Nations people have occupied and cared for this continent for over 65,000 years,” Mercy Health Group Chief Executive Adjunct Professor Stephen Cornelissen says.
“In a time when the cry of our planet and its people is louder than ever before, we need to listen and learn from our First Nations peoples on how to look after these precious lands.
“The very first footprints on this continent were those belonging to First Nations peoples. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people were our first explorers, our first navigators, first engineers, first farmers, first botanists, first scientists, first diplomats, first astronomers and first artists, and we acknowledge them.”
Every year, Mercy Health organises events during NAIDOC Week in recognition that our First Nations people have occupied and cared for this continent for over 65,000 years
Mercy Health sites across Australia occupy land from many traditional owners, including the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin nation, the Wiradjuri people, the people of the Yorta Yorta nation, the Gunai/Kurnai people, and the Noongar Mooro people.
“From my office in Richmond, Victoria,” Stephen says. “Happy NAIDOC Week from Wurundjeri land! Always was, always will be.”
Last reviewed December 15, 2020.