NAIDOC Week: Next Generation gets celebrated in style

• NAIDOC Week, July 6-13, celebrates ‘the next generation: strength, vision and legacy’.
• More than 150 donated dresses and 30 suits, 50 pairs of shoes, 10 handbags and matching jewellery will be sent to South Australia for an upcoming NAIDOC ball and year 12 ball.
• St John WA will also be providing free first aid skills in a yarning style to an estimated 5000-7000 people during NAIDOC Week events in Perth.

In the Spirit of NAIDOC Week – celebrating the next generation: strength, vision and legacy – St John WA team members and the Perth community have donated 10 large boxes of ball clothes to remote Aboriginal communities.

Emergency Medical Technician Jade Maitland-Smith, from Dawesville, has been quietly distributing donated ball clothes over the past six years to help young people feel confident and celebrated at their Year 12 formals out in remote areas where glamorous clothing can be difficult to obtain.

This year, Jade extended the call to the wider St John WA team — and with financial support from Perpetual Trustees for the postage — more than 150 dresses and 30 suits, 50 pairs of shoes, 10 handbags and matching jewellery will be sent to Coober Pedy in South Australia for an upcoming NAIDOC ball and year 12 ball.

Perpetual Trustees support First Nations communities and provide trustee services for communities throughout Australia. 

Perpetual’s Paula Stewart said the donations will assist the community in setting up a communal wardrobe, so items may be borrowed year after year. 

“It’s a beautiful reminder that small acts of kindness can create lasting memories — and that when we work together, we can lift each other up,” Paula said. 

Ball dresses, suits and handbags will also head to Fitzroy Valley District High School in the Kimberley for a third year in a row, with postage assisted from community donations to St John WA’s charitable arm.

“The point is to share these beautiful dresses with as many young people as possible, who would not normally be able to afford them,” Jade said.

“Everyone deserves to look gorgeous at their ball or special event. Thank you all for your generosity.”

As part of NAIDOC Week events, St John WA will also be providing free first aid skills in a yarning style to an estimated 5000-7000 people, including Aboriginal families, at:

• Meerilinga Beechboro early childhood centre on July 1
• Bob Blackburn Reserve in the City of Armadale on July 8
• Stirling leisure centre – Herb Graham in Mirrabooka on July 10

Head to the NAIDOC website to learn more about next week’s events.