A celebration of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples can be traced back to the 1920's and 30's when the Australian Aborigines Progressive Association and the Australian Aborigines League began raising awareness and promoting rights.
Gradually, the notion of celebration has grown with Torres Strait Islanders added to the NADOC acronym in 1991 to recognise their contribution as original owners.
Like reconciliation, acceptance of NAIDOC Week has been a slow process
Read MoreAnd since the end of World War II parents and guardians have been hyperventilating about ideas and preparation of costumes for primary school book parades with peak stress hitting at around 7pm the evening before.
What have you organised? What time is the parade? Who are your friends going as? You do understand the theme? We have left it too late ...
The questions and frustrated statements and guilt and panic continue creating all manner of hullabaloo.
Read MoreShe craves the unpretentiousness of the people and the way they care for each other in good times and bad.
"There's a certain sense of humility. No one cares where you went to school, the car you drive, or how much you earn (probably because they already know...)," she said.
"Nevertheless, it really doesn't matter."
But even though the district remains her calling, Ms Joyce has her reasons to keep distant.
Read More“As school leaders, we have to be our very best every single day, we can't let them down," the leader concludes.
"In the bright and cheerful office, a moment of clarity has blissfully interrupted a hectic day.
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