What Does "Deadly" Mean?
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In Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander English, deadly means excellent. Awesome. Brilliant. Outstanding. It's a word of praise, of pride, and of recognition — used to celebrate someone's skill, story, achievement or cultural contribution.
You might hear a powerful performance described as deadly. A new artwork. A young leader. A grandmother's weaving. A community coming together. Deadly lifts the moment and the maker — turning everyday English on its head and reclaiming it as a word of joy.
That's why this year's NAIDOC Week theme — 50 Years of Deadly — lands with such weight. It's a celebration of five decades of First Nations excellence, resilience and pride. Fifty years of culture leading the way. Fifty years of deadly people, doing deadly things.
At Broadway, we're proud to celebrate 50 Years of Deadly with our community — through Jessica Johnson's hero artwork, a week-long program of activations, and a centre filled with the colour, sound and spirit of NAIDOC. Find out What's On Here.