Victorian NAIDOC Ball

“I think it's really important to pay it forward to create opportunity for mob to be joyful - not just orgs and funding that focus on [the] pain and hardship our community faces.

Mob haven’t been able to have NAIDOC Ball for a couple of years now due to covid and this is for most, one of the only times a year we get to gather, celebrate and be joyful.”

— Sky Thomas/SOJU GANG, Dj + Creator

Once again, the arrival of July brings NAIDOC Week! From the 3 -10th July, National NAIDOC Week celebrations are held right across the country to celebrate and recognise the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

“It’s an opportunity for all Australians to learn about First Nations cultures and histories and participate in celebrations of the oldest, continuous living cultures on earth.”

— National NAIDOC week, 2022

Learn more about the history and significance of National NAIDOC Week here.

With COVID causing huge disruptions to previous celebrations, this year’s NAIDOC week events were finally able to go ahead as planned, after years of cancellations and pivoting in-person events and gatherings online. With thanks to Sky Thomas (AKA Soju Gang) we were presented with an opportunity to be able to purchase ‘pay it forward’ tickets for this year’s Victorian NAIDOC ball, on behalf of First Nations community members.

As Sky reminds us above, while it is always important to financially support First Nations-led groups and grassroots organisations working to make racial equity and justice a reality, so too is it important to support avenues for First Nations joy, creativity and celebration.

With thanks again to Sky for liaising with VIC NAIDOC and making this opportunity for us to ‘pay it forward’ possible, we purchased 12 ball tickets equal to $2,250, representing part of our commitment to pay the rent this quarter. Speaking of NAIDOC week, why not also consider making a ‘pay it forward’ commitment of your own, as part of an ongoing, yearly NAIDOC celebration?

*Pure Community and Pure Finance have no direct affiliation with the organisations and causes listed above, we simply appreciate the work that they do, and choose to show our appreciation by donating to them.