NAIDOC week celebrates the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. This year NAIDOC Week celebrations will be held from 2-9 July 2023. This page showcases our member stories and celebrations to support their local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
The Pharmacy Guild of Australia, Queensland Branch affirms that Aboriginal people and Torres Strait Islander people are the Indigenous people of Australia.
We acknowledge and pay respect to the past, present and future Traditional Custodians and Elders of this nation.
We also recognise those whose ongoing effort to protect and promote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures will leave a lasting legacy for future Elders and leaders.
Please view our Reconciliation Action Plan here.
Winner of National NAIDOC Poster Competition (2021)
Date Published: Thursday 8 July 2021
The theme for 2021 NAIDOC Week was Heal Country, heal our nation.
Maggie-Jean Douglas - a Gubbi Gubbi artist from South East Queensland – won the prestigious 2021 National NAIDOC Poster Competition for her entry 'Care For Country'.
“Care for Country is a bright and vibrant artwork which explores how Country has cared for and healed First Nations people spiritually, physically, emotionally, socially and culturally” (NAIDOC 2021).
Maggie-Jean is well-known to The Pharmacy Guild of Australia, Queensland Branch community, as she created the artwork which was commissioned to reflect our Reconciliation journey. Her artwork was revealed during 2019 NAIDOC Week and is proudly displayed within the Queensland Branch’s building, as pictured below.
Staff and members of The Pharmacy Guild, Queensland Branch wish to congratulate Maggie-Jean on winning the National NAIDOC Week Poster Competition. You can view and download a copy of Maggie-Jean's 2021 NAIDOC Week poster here.
HisTree
Date Published: Wednesday 7 July 2021
Torres Strait Islander artist Barry Maitie created the acrylic canvas artwork titled ‘HisTree’ for The Pharmacy Guild of Australia, Queensland Branch.
The two trees depicted in the painting are sacred trees. Story trees. Histories. Their stories, told to us by our Elders, tell how the people of Boigu defended themselves against attackers, how brave warriors fought in battle and tales of initiation.
The Tree of Spy is a fig tree which we call Dhani. Long ago it was brought from Deliverance Island and planted in the village near Koedal Boepur. It grew to be a tall tree and was very useful to the people of Boigu when fighting the Thuger (invading warriors).
If Thuger were about, a spy would sit hidden in the top branches and keep watch during the day. The spy would sit and look for any suspicious activity, blowing a Bu Shell (false trumpet) to alert the people in the village.
After hard fought battles, returning warriors would place heads of enemies at the base of the Tree of Skull. This tree was also used during initiation of male youths becoming men.
There are many ceremonies and songs connected to these trees.
Meet the Artist, Barry Maitie
Date Published: Tuesday 6 July 2021
To recognise 2021 NAIDOC Week, The Pharmacy Guild of Australia, Queensland Branch, commissioned an artwork from Torres Strait Islander artist Barry Maitie, which was unveiled on Monday 5 July.
Barry is a self-taught artist working exclusively with acrylic paint on canvas and only started inpainting seriously in 2018.
His images reflect his homeland of Malu Kiai, Boigu and his distinctive style expresses the vibrant spirit and atmosphere of the Torres Strait culture. Myths and legends told by Elders, the environment, the constellations and the traditional Malu Kiai culture are a constant source of inspiration for Barry.
Barry credits his Elders, Aunties and Uncles for recognising his artistic talent and giving him the confidence to practise his craft. Staff and members of The Pharmacy Guild of Australia, Queensland Branch, thank Barry for creating this artwork!
Unveiling of "Wurarr-Wurarr"
Date Published: 11 November 2020
Today, the Pharmacy Guild of Australia, Queensland Branch unveiled the latest painting, ‘Wurarr-Wurarr’ Dragonflies hovering around the rainforest waters edge by artist Deann Grant.
Deann is an Aboriginal woman from the Kuku Yalanji Language First Nation people in the Daintree Rainforest, Far North Queensland, Australia. She also identifies with the Gunggandji people of Yarrabah community, due her family being taken there during the mission days. Her mother was born and raised in Yarrabah and worked on the outstations.
This painting tells of the importance of our freshwater creeks, rainforest streams and water holes, which are represented by the circles in the painting and the aqua background. They are vital for the ‘Wurarr-Wurarr’ - dragonflies life cycle. You can find the dragonflies hovering around creeks or the waters edge. They let us know the water and eco system is healthy. The dragonflies are often seen in groups and remind us of family and the importance of being together. They also indicate a change in season is about to happen, and that certain fish will be available. So remember next time you see ‘Wurarr- Wurarr’ - Dragonflies, they are telling you something.
Stories of Lillian and Louis Emery
Aboriginal intern pharmacist Lillian Emery and pharmacy student Louis Emery discuss that their Aboriginal heritage has added insights and skills which are unique and a real benefit to patient outcomes. Read their stories here.
Pharmacy Guild of Australia, Queensland Branch's Reconciliation Journey!
Date Published: 6 November 2020
In 2019, the Pharmacy Guild of Australia Queensland Branch commissioned Aboriginal artist Maggie-Jean Douglas, to create a piece of art to reflect the work of The Pharmacy Guild and our Reconciliation journey. Maggie-Jean is a descendent of the Gubbi Gubbi people in the south east regions of Queensland, and grew up on Goreng Goreng land a short distance further north.
Appreciating Indigenous art is something that is highly valued within her family. Maggie states that "we were always taught that it was a way our people were able to share their stories between generations and now, with people of different cultures.
"Maggie-Jean wanted to include symbolism for the work that pharmacies do with communities, included are community points, both big and small, to represent this.
The two branches stretched across the artwork represent how vast the land in Australia is, and to show that there is natural resources for healing in all places across Australia.
When healing in Indigenous culture, the process is very much about coming back into yourself and healing spiritually as well as physical healing.
This has a lot to do with having a connection to the land. This is why Maggie-Jean included parts of water in the artwork, again to represent different parts of Australia.
Another Career Planted by Seed Foundation Australia!
Date Published: 28 October 2020
Seed Foundation Australia is the lead entity in a collaborative effort to provide health care career pathways and support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students, from rural and remote communities.
Recently, Cate's Chemist Townsville welcomed a new employee, Lahana Zaro, who was selected from Seed Foundation Australia's deep pool of talented rising stars. Lahana secured a full-time traineeship position at Cate's Chemist, commencing her Certificate II in Community Pharmacy, and is now learning all about how to provide essential health care support to her community.
Seed Foundation Australia thanked the Cate's Chemist team for their careful consideration of each candidate and the health care career insights they provided throughout the recruitment process. This partnership led to the successful placement of a fantastic new trainee and provided other candidates with recruitment experience for future career opportunities.
Congratulations Lahana! We look forward to hearing more about your career in community pharmacy. For more information about Seed Foundation Australia, please visit www.seedfoundationaustralia.com.au.
L-R: Rebecca Reddy (Pharmacy Manager, Cate's Chemist), Lahana Zaro and Emma Need (Retail Manager, Cate's Chemist)
NAIDOC Week Moves to November
Date Published: 13 October 2020
NAIDOC Week is a celebration of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and a chance to acknowledge our history, culture and achievements. Due to the uncertainty of the coronavirus pandemic, the celebrations were moved from July to be held the week commencing 8 November. This years theme is always was, always will be.
Branch Committee member, Lucy Walker of Lucy Walker Pharmacy in Goondiwindi recently commissioned Karlene Duncan, a local Indigenous artist to create a painting to display in her pharmacy. The painting symbolises bush medicine and is proudly displayed in this community pharmacy. The NAIDOC Week theme ‘Always Was, Always Will Be’ seems fitting to this story as Aboriginal people have been using traditional bush medicines, and now modern day medicine, for over 60,000 years to heal patients in their local communities.
Ms Duncan explains, “the leaves in my painting symbolises all the different types of Eremophila in and around our communities. I used the colours greens and blues to portray a feeling of calmness, relaxation and soothing which can be helpful when you are unwell.”
The circles symbolise Goondiwindi and all the other communities that surround it. The handprints symbolise the medical departments, hospitals, dentists, mental health and pharmaceutical industry, all playing an important role in our communities’ health and wellbeing.
Let us know how you are celebrating NAIDOC week this year. If you have a story to share please feel free to email us at news@qldguild.org.au.
Page last updated on: 04 July 2023