Merana Aboriginal Community Association for the Hawkesbury is the first Aboriginal organisation in the Hawkesbury, established in 2003, is celebrating 21 years in 2024. Merana helps the local Aboriginal community with services, programs, cultural activities, special events and advocacy.

Our objective is to develop, support and implement programs, positions and
resources that address and meet the needs identified by Aboriginal people
residing in the Hawkesbury LGA - Cranebrook, Londonderry and Riverstone

What's Happening

🚨 𝐋𝐨𝐨𝐀 π°π‘πšπ­β€™π¬ 𝐑𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐒𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐭 𝐌𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐚 𝐒𝐧 π“πžπ«π¦ πŸ’ 🚨

⬇️⬇️⬇️

🟣 11th October - Family Fun Day 10:30-1:30pm

🟑 Starting 14th October - Shaun from Cheeky ...Monkeyz is joining Playgroup on Mondays! 10-11:30am (Registrations essential)

πŸ”΅ Starting 15th October - Parents & Bubs Yoga at Playgroup in the Park - South Windsor on Tuesdays 9:30-11am

🟒 Starting 16th October - GO4FUN Program returning to Gurung Group (After School Program) - Wednesdays 3:30-5pm (Registrations essential)

πŸ”΄ Starting 17th October - Ironbark Program - 10:30-12:30pm (Registrations essential) Program finishes April 2025

🟠 Starting 24th October - Weaving Workshop with Sarah Merritt 6-7:30pm (Registrations essential. Costs involved to attend each session)

🟀 12th November - Outreach 10-12pm

βšͺ️ 16th November - Cultural Immersion Program 10-12pm at Shaws Creek.

Don’t forget Merana’s Christmas Party! πŸŽ„βœ¨

Keep a look out on our socials for more programs and events coming up!!

Register your interest now!!

Contact Merana on:

☎️ (02) 4588 5144

πŸ“§ admin@merana.org.au

Merana had a big day on last Friday.

1️⃣ Second day of Cultural training held at Merana big thank you to trainer Sigrid Herrong.

2️⃣ Merana assisted with an Initial meeting for the Kemps Creek Dual Pressure Mains for Sydney Water. consultation with Aboriginal people in ...particular traditional custodians. Big Didyarigura to Uncle Greg Simms for a beautiful Welcome to Country and to Shane Laws for the Smoking Ceremony - photos to come.

3️⃣ Youth Art and Cultural night held at Merana. Great participation. The young people learnt weaving from Sarah, assisted with an art workshop with Jess Munro and the boys began learning about smoking ceremonies , playing yadaki and cultural tools and stories with Shane Laws.

The art will be used in a future project so stay tuned.

πŸ–€πŸ’›β€οΈ

Last week the Dhangurra Nuru Women’s Dance Group performed at the Grose View Public School Spring Fair. If you would like to have the dancers perform at your event contact Merana.

If you would like to join the dance group there will be an opportunity to learn with them in November ...❀️

On Wednesday Melissa and Shane performed Welcome to Country and Smoking Ceremony at the Cumberland Plains Conservation Plan Caring for Country Meeting at the Demonstration Farm at Richmond Lowlands. Melissa did a presentation on the partnership between Merana and National Parks and Wildlife in ...bringing Shaw’s Cretk back to life for all to enjoy.

Shane did a Welcome at the Nepean Hospital Quality Awards on Wednesday night.

Melissa attended the Wentworth Healthcare Care and Connect Program Launch and performed the Welcome on Thursday night.

πŸ–€πŸ’›β€οΈ

Yesterday Merana Youth who attended last Friday night’s Youth Art and Cultural Night helped artists Jess Munro and Cameron turn a concrete eye sore in Richmond Park into a fabulous cultural art work. Great work everyone still a little to go but what great start !! πŸ’›πŸ©·πŸ’œ

Weaving Workshop 🧢🧑

Starts 24th October 2024 until 12th December 2024

About the workshop:

Join Gumbaynggirr and Bundjalung woman, Sarah Merritt, as she shares traditional Aboriginal weaving techniques and history.

Weaving is a culturally, and socially ...important skill - These workshops will give you the opportunity to have a yarn while you create and learn.

Cost:
$40 per class or $300 for 8 weeks

Sarah Merritt - Facilitator 🧑
Ngaya Yaam Sarah-ga

8 week workshop

πŸ—“οΈ Thursdays

⏰ 6pm - 7:30pm

πŸ“Merana; 2/20 West Market Street, Richmond

Register to Merana on:

☎️ (02) 4588 5144

πŸ“§ admin@merana.org.au

Family Fun Day πŸŽ‰

πŸ—“οΈ Friday 11th October 2024

⏰ 10:30am - 1:30pm

πŸ“Merana; 2/20 West Market Street, Richmond

FREE EVENT

β€’ Jumping castle
β€’ Face painting
β€’ BBQ
β€’ Kids Craft
β€’ Animal farm
β€’ And more!!
...
Come along for a fun family day during the school holidays.

Play with some animals, have a pony ride, get your face painted and more!!

For more information contact Merana on:

☎️ (02) 4588 5144

πŸ“§ admin@merana.org.au

Merana Aboriginal Go4Fun (Richmond) Program

Healthy Children’s Network-Penrith,Blue Mountains,Hawkesbury & Lithgow

πŸ—“οΈ Wednesdays in Term 4
16 October to 18 December 2024

⏰ 4pm to 6pm

πŸ“This program will run alternate weeks at Richmond ...Swimming Centre and Merana (opposite Richmond Oval)

🚌 Transport available

Who is the program for?

Get healthier together - Aboriginal Go4Fun is a free healthy lifestyle program for mob. It’s open to kids aged 7-13 and their families.

The program is for children and their families who are looking for support with healthy eating, physical activity and overall wellbeing.

What happens at Aboriginal Go4Fun programs?

Aboriginal Go4Fun is run in partnership with local Aboriginal organisations that know the community and trained Aboriginal program leaders and health professionals.

⚫️ Play Yulunga traditional Indigenous games
🟑 Build self confidence
πŸ”΄ Make new friends
⚫️ Manage screen time
🟑 Go on a supermarket tour
πŸ”΄ Learn about healthy eating for kids & family
⚫️ Get active and have fun
🟑 Whole of family approach – everyone is welcome

A parent or carer is required to attend each session, or an aunt, uncle or grandparent or adult sibling is also welcome.

Families can self-register by contacting Merana on:

☎️ 02 4588 5144

πŸ“§ admin@merana.org.au

Youth Art & Cultural Night πŸ©·πŸ©΅πŸ’›

πŸ—“οΈ Friday 20th September 2024

⏰ 5pm - 7pm

πŸ“Merana; 2/20 West Market Street, Richmond

Join us for Weaving, Art, Cultural tools, Didge for boys, and more..

All youth from 11-17 years are Welcome!! ...

Food & Drinks supplied

For more information contact Merana on:

☎️ (02) 4588 5144

πŸ“§ admin@merana.org.au

Programs

Fitness Activities

Need to get in a few more steps, then come join the Merana team. Enjoy a relaxing walk, fresh air...

Aboriginal Go4Fun

Aboriginal Go4Fun is a 10 week healthy lifestyle program for kids aged 7 – 13 years and their families. The...

Annual Commemoration of the Battle of Richmond Hill

Merana hosts an Annual Commemoration of the Battle of Richmond Hill, remembering the Darug people and other Aboriginal mobs who...

Cultural Awareness Training

Merana provides Cultural Awareness Training for community members and community organisations. The training is a 2 day course at Merana...

Volunteers

Merana provides a volunteer program to people within the community who are looking to develop their skills and increase their...

Confirmation of Aboriginality

The Management Committee of Merana holds a confirmation meetings each term  in order to provide members of the Aboriginal community...

Sorry Day

The National Day of Sorry Day is a day to acknowledge the strength of Stolen Generation Survivors and reflect on...

Aboriginal Community Outreach

Merana hosts a Community Outreach Day once a term on a Tuesday between 11 – 1 pm for organisations and...

Family Fun Day

Merana holds a Family Fun Day each school holidays. It is a free and fun event for families. The event...

After School Program

The After School Program is for kids aged 5 – 12 years to come and have fun in a culturally...

Playgroup

Merana provides a supported playgroup for parents/carers and Aboriginal children aged 0-5 years. The playgroup is held during the school...

NAIDOC Ball

The NAIDOC Ball was first organised by Merana in 2018. The ball has become larger with more anticipation each year. ...

NAIDOC Concert

NAIDOC Week celebrations are held across Australia each July to celebrate the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres...

About Our Logo

The surrounding ochre represents the country; the Darug land of Greater Western Sydney. The circle of white dots symbolises the coming together of various Indigenous community groups. The people holding hands are symbolic of the representatives of Indigenous community groups that make up Merana; working together, sharing resources, skills and expertise. The pathways of white dots connect to the outside and are symbolic of the link that Merana provides in support, networking and shared knowledge which can then be shared with the wider community.
Image