ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF COUNTRY

The Australian Government acknowledges the Traditional Owners of Country throughout Australia and acknowledges their continuing connection to land, waters and community. We pay our respects to the people, the cultures and the Elders past and present.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people should be aware that this website may contain images, voices and names of deceased persons.

Indigenous.gov.au Connecting With First Nations Australians
Back to Stories

Umeewarra giving back to community

18 September 2023
Culture and Capability
Dre Ngatokorua, South Australia Police, firefighters and community at Port Augusta’s colour run during NAIDOC Week 2023. Photo courtesy of Port Augusta NAIDOC.
Dre Ngatokorua, South Australia Police, firefighters and community at Port Augusta’s colour run during NAIDOC Week 2023. Photo courtesy of Port Augusta NAIDOC.
Dre Ngatokorua, South Australia Police, firefighters and community at Port Augusta’s colour run during NAIDOC Week 2023. Photo courtesy of Port Augusta NAIDOC.
Dre Ngatokorua, South Australia Police, firefighters and community at Port Augusta’s colour run during NAIDOC Week 2023. Photo courtesy of Port Augusta NAIDOC.

This year, Umeewarra Aboriginal Media 89.1fm supported over 25 events over five days during Port Augusta’s NAIDOC Week celebrations.

Radio journalist and event coordinator Dre Ngatokorua has been working at Umeewarra Media in Port Augusta for the past seven years. 

Dre is of Wangkangurru, Adnyamathnha, Cook Islands and Maori descent and enjoys getting out into the community and being able to share his community’s stories on his radio programs.

‘The community gets to know what you do, in a way, like they get to see you in action,’ Dre said. 

Dre remembers attending local NAIDOC activities while he was at school and as a young one was really keen to get involved with the Port Augusta NAIDOC Week events hosted by Umeewarra Media.

‘I’ve always enjoyed NAIDOC and Port Augusta is always big on NAIDOC,’ Dre said. 

This year, Umeewarra supported over 25 events over five days during NAIDOC Week. 

‘We decided to go live for a couple of events, back when COVID hit, because we wanted to get a lot of people involved and I know some people couldn't travel at the time,’ Dre said. 

Umeewarra also bought their NAIDOC awards ceremony to the beginning of the week long celebrations.

‘We wanted to be able to recognise the award winners throughout the week. It’s great because you get to see Elder of the Year during the week and you can congratulate them,’ Dre said.

Dre also helped to organise the NAIDOC youth activities, like the three-on-three basketball competition and Port Augusta’s NAIDOC Week colour run.

‘All of a sudden we had everyone coming. Even some of the mothers got involved, there were prams out with colours on them,’ Dre said. 

As part of bringing the community together, Dre invited emergency services and community businesses to help throw around the colours. 

‘It was good to even see the South Australia Police, firies and ambos getting involved and seeing them engaged with our community and wearing their uniforms,’ Dre said.

The delivery of Umeewarra Media is through Indigenous broadcasters funding, Indigenous Advancement Strategy 1.4 Culture and Capability

Dre sees the benefits in providing positive engagement opportunities for the local kids and creating experiences for bringing people together.

The Indigenous broadcasting and media sector provides a voice to engage, inform, educate and entertain First Nations communities, facilitating active participation and cultural and language preservation in Indigenous communities.