DRUG COURT: PAGE 24 EXPERTS’ VIEWS
JOEY SHOWS IT’LL BE OK PAGE 122
PhotoNews DUBBO
JULY 1-7, 2021 | LOCALLY OWNED & INDEPENDENT NT | FREE FFREE! REE!
NAIDOC
Zoo cops it DUBBO’S zoo hit the national headlines this week for all the wrong reasons, caught up in a drama allegedly caused by a Sydney-based tour company. Senior police said zoo staff did everything right under difficult circumstances when three local buses – hired by the Sydney tour company to carry the visitors around Dubbo – arrived at the zoo, with zoo staff refusing to allow the travellers off the buses and notifying police. Police claim at least 76 of the travellers were not permitted to travel outside Greater Sydney under the current public health order – officers spoke to the tour operators and established the group had left Sydney last Friday and had continued to travel throughout regional NSW after the Public Health Orders were updated on Saturday. The Sydney-based travel company has been issued a $5000 PIN (Penalty Infringement Notice) for breaching a public health order. The guests were directed to return home immediately. Dubbo Photo News has been told the tour was organised more than a year ago, so this trip of a lifetime Continued: Emergency Report, Page 18
30,000 local readers every week
Edition
By YVETTE AUBUSSON-FOLEY NEVER has the need to pause and consider the concept ‘Heal Country’ been more pertinent than NAIDOC Week 2021. This year’s theme could be a silver lining to the very dark cloud that settled on Australia in the world’s eyes,
and on its Indigenous population who once again had to witness gross disrespect of Country, to which they feel a deep spiritual connection with, in the wake of the destruction of Juukan Gorge in Western Australia. This year’s Dubbo Photo News NAIDOC special feature shines a light on what’s to be considered if healing
country is taken seriously in our own region. Artist Bianca Beetson says in her interview with Dubbo Photo News this week that the beginning of healing comes with speaking the truth about Australian history rather than dismissing it. This week’s cover photo has been
shot by guest Indigenous photographer and local business owner Glen Smith. The photo was taken during the Tubba-Gah Festival held in June at Jinchilla Gardens in recognition of Mabo Day where the Tubbah-Gah (maing) festival dancers performed. PHOTO: DARK EYE PHOTOGRAPHY