In celebration of NAIDOC Week 2021, Dubbo Square proudly partnered with author, Warrawu (Maree Yoelu (McCarthy), a Wadjigany woman from the western Wagait region of the Northern Territories and talented students from local schools to create a Community Storybook, celebrating this year’s topic “Heal Country”.

The storybook Dancing For Country is about Nana Ruby and her shadow, her Grandson Claude, and their relationship with the land and their desire to help heal country when they see the land is hurting.

Throughout the July School Holidays, we invited you, our much-loved community, to have your say and vote on your favourite of 56 illustrations created by local student artists to be featured in the community storybook. We received overwhelming support with 2,450 votes over the two-week period and thank all the talented student artists who contributed illustrations.

Download your copy of the Dancing For Country community storybook <here>.

Or listen to the audio book read by author, Warrawu - Maree Yoelu (McCarthy), <here>.

WINNING ILLUSTRATIONS

Front Cover: Cheyenne Nixon from Dubbo Public School

Page 7: Cheyenne Nixon from Dubbo Public School

Page 8: Lachlan Guy from Dubbo Public School

Page 11: Lucy Stewart from Dubbo South Public School

Page 12: Lacey Delia from Dubbo South Public School

Page 15: Ethan Cohen from St Pius X Primary School

Page 16: Jayden Stevenson from St Pius X Primary School

Page 19: Bo Gordon from St Laurences Catholic Primary School

Page 20: Grace Ellis from St Laurences Catholic Primary School

Page 23: Georgia Johnson-Francis from Wongarbon Public School

Page 24: Lucy Collits from Wongarbon Public School