THERE’S plenty of reasons to celebrate NAIDOC Week locally, but probably none more than catching stand-up comedian Sean Choolburra in Hilton.

The Queenslander, who’s performed for the Dalai Lama and Prince Charles, weaves gentle tales about growing up with his 11 brothers and sisters with high-energy dance moves and even some hip hop didge playing.

Politer approach

He first came to prominence and toured the world as a member of the highly acclaimed dance company Bungarra, but 15 years ago took the plunge, grabbed a mike and headed onto an empty stage.

Choolburra says he doesn’t like to swear in his shows, preferring the politer approach of the early comics.

• Sean Choolburra’s a clean, family-friendly comic.

It’s made him a favourite on telly, appearing in Thank God You’re Here, the Squiz, Yarramundi Kids, Show us Your Roots and the Melbourne International Comedy Festival Gala.

He’ll be performing at the Hilton PCYC on Friday July 7 from 7pm, and tickets are a hilariously low $10 or $5 concession.

Fremantle’s having a big NAIDOC week this year, including the opening event on July 2, which is also at the Hilton PCYC, and features The Struggling Kings (a unique blend of acoustic and electric guitar), a traditional dance performance by the Willagee Koolanga Girls Dance Group, and a fashion show put on by the Noongar Arts Aboriginal Corporation.

There’s also a Noongar language class, dot art workshop, indigenous book cubby on loan from the state library, Greg Nannup talking indigenous history at Hilton Harvest, a NAIDOC skate session at the Esplanade Youth Plaza, and other art classes.

Meanwhile, Yangebup local Haydn Howard has been recognised as this year’s top carer at the NAIDOC awards.

It was a huge weekend for Mr Howard, who also tied the knot with his now-wife Corina Abraham and helped celebrate her birthday following a fundraiser at Clancy’s.

by STEVE GRANT