Walgett community to mark a rare 100th birthday for proud Gamilaroi Elder

The Walgett Aboriginal community in western New South Wales will gather this weekend to celebrate a milestone few Aboriginal people in Australia live to mark – the 100th birthday of proud Gamilaroi woman Nita Gladys “Aunty Glady” Kennedy.

Aunty Glady was born in Walgett in 1926. She is the eldest of seven children, five girls and two boys and grew up at the nearby Gingie Mission – a place that shaped much of her early life on Country.

For many Australians, reaching 100 is a moment to reflect on a long life and celebrate the years lived. For Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, such milestones are far rarer. Lower life expectancy, shaped by generations of dispossession, systemic inequality and limited access to healthcare, means few First Nations people are afforded the chance to celebrate a centenary.

Closing the Gap data continues to show a significant life expectancy gap between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and other Australians, despite some recent progress on a small number of targets. When a community can mark 100 years of life on Country, it carries deep significance – not only for the individual and their family but for the entire community.

The weekend gathering is expected to draw extended family and community members from across the region, with relatives travelling in to share in the celebration. Walgett, on the lands of the Gamilaroi nation, sits at the meeting of the Barwon and Namoi rivers and remains a strong centre of Gamilaroi cultural life.

Aunty Glady’s story is one of survival, family and connection to Country. Born in the early years of the Stolen Generations era, she has lived through the 1967 referendum, the Mabo decision, the formal apology to the Stolen Generations and the Uluru Statement from the Heart. Elders of her generation are widely recognised as keepers of language, story and lore that link younger generations back to Country.

Honouring the lives of Elders has been a central theme in this year’s lead-up to NAIDOC Week, which will run nationally from 5 to 12 July 2026 and centre on cultural strength, youth leadership and intergenerational knowledge sharing.

Local community members say the centenary is a chance to honour Aunty Glady’s contribution and to draw attention to the importance of investing in Aboriginal health, housing and aged care so more Elders can reach this milestone on Country.

The Koori Mail reported that the Walgett community will come together this weekend to honour 100 years of life for Aunty Glady, describing her as a proud Gamilaroi woman whose life has been shaped by family, community and Country.