For Mr Smith, the chief executive officer of the Worimi Local Aboriginal Land Council, a police presence at gatherings some 30 years ago was about fear and intimidation.

Now that presence is about celebrating the bond that has been forged between police and aboriginal communities.

Mr Smith spoke about the theme of NAIDOC, the importance of history and culture to the aboriginal community and its relationship with police in his address at the opening event of the Port’s NAIDOC Week activities on Monday.

“As a young boy, the presence of police was about fear and intimidation, where today we stand shoulder to shoulder,” he said.

“We see their presence as heartwarming; our hearts aren’t racing for the wrong reasons.”

Aboriginal elder Uncle Neville Lilley addressed the crowd at Monday’s event in Raymond Terrace about the importance of land in Soldiers Point being formally gazetted as an aboriginal place.

Penny Amberg, Port Stephens Council’s community development and engagement coordinator, said the gazetting was already a highlight of the week.

“The gazettal was some 35 years in the making,” she said.

Ms Amberg added that Monday morning’s NAIDOC Week event, which included a march through Raymond Terrace, smoking ceremony and morning tea outside the council administration building, was “fantastic”.

Port Stephens Mayor Bruce MacKenzie spoke to the crowd of about 50 on the council’s relationship with the Worimi aboriginal community.

NAIDOC Week runs during the first full week in July, which this year is between July 3 and 10.

A range of activities have been planned to mark NAIDOC Week in Port Stephens.