ATSI Children's Day celebrated with historic Bloomfield River photographs

Swimming in the Bloomfield River, ca. 1884, Neg. No. 103567

Celebrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children’s Day (4 August) with digitised images of the Bloomfield River / Wujal Wujal area from John Oxley Library collections.   Wujal Wujal Elders  have recently provided cultural clearance  for many images to go live in State Library's catalogue One Search.   Historic photographs that provide unique views of school life, swimming in the river and other every day activities from as early as the 1880s can be found in APE-61 Bloomfield River and District Photographs 1880-1886.

Elder Carol Toby enjoys historic Wujal Wujal images, SLQ staff photo

Children’s Day celebrates the strengths and culture of the ATSI children. The day is an opportunity to show  support for Aboriginal children, and learn about the crucial impact that community, culture and family play in the life of every Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander child.

Contemporary images of community life can be found in John Oxley collection  7676 Pastor Roennfeldt Slides, Photographs and Videocassettes.   This collection is a significant photographic collection charting the development of the Hope Vale community from 1958–83. It contains slides, photographs, glass plate negatives and video cassettes relating to the Lutheran Church Missions at Hope Vale, Wujul Wujul, Cape Bedford, Bloomfield River and surrounding areas.  All celebrate children, community and culture.

Children coming across the Bloomfield River to the Wujal Wujal Primary School, Image No 7676-0001-1347

Children working with their teacher in the classroom 7676 Pastor Roennfeldt Slides, Image No. 7676-0001-1050

C.Cottle - Digital Collections Curator, State Library of Queensland