Boomerang Festival, Bundjalung country’s very own world-class Indigenous arts and culture festival, is launching a series of satellite events to raise awareness and funds for its long-term future, writes Gaynor Crawford.
Boomerang Festival launched successfully in 2013 only to be hit with cuts to funding for both arts and Indigenous programming for the east coast of Australia, putting it on indefinite hiatus. Boomerang needs upwards of $800,000 to become a stand-alone festival once again, and a minimum of $200,000 each time it presents at Bluesfest.
Last year, Bluesfest Director Peter Noble OAM and Boomerang Festival Director Rhoda Roberts AO joined forces to present a Boomerang Festival precinct at Bluesfest to increase audience awareness, and provide access to the profound and beautiful culture of our First Nations people.
The ultimate goal for Rhoda and Peter is to make Boomerang Festival the foremost Indigenous arts and culture festival in the world. The ambition is huge, but Peter, Rhoda and their team believe the time is right and Australia is ready to step out on the world stage and become known as the destination for authentic and quality Indigenous cultural exchanges.
Rhoda Roberts, AO, director of Boomerang: “….excellence is what we stand for too. It’s about sharing and caring.”
The Northern Rivers and greater community agree, and in a mammoth exercise, a large and diverse group of business and community leaders are uniting with Boomerang and each other, to achieve this goal, together as a community. Local businesses and individuals are standing side by side with Boomerang, building an exciting, rich program of events that focus on creating access to Aboriginal culture and knowledge, and celebrating a united future together as country.
Boomerang Director Rhoda Roberts says: “These businesses are renowned for their standard of excellence, and that they want to partner with us is truly exciting, because excellence is what we stand for too. It’s about sharing and working together to truly close the gap. This is the future of what partnerships looks like, and we’re leading the change right here on my country. It means so much.”
The program is hosted by The Yoga Shack, The Three Blue Ducks, Harvest Newrybar, Earth House Clunes, Byron @ Byron Resort & Spa, Lennox Community Centre, Byron Community Theatre, Byron Bay Tuesday Men’s Club, Ben Knight Photography, Photo Fox Den Lismore, Gold Coast Suns, PS Music, and supported by many others including SAE Qantum, George & Kirsty Negus, Dhinawan, Delta Kay, Rob Appo of Tweed Shire Council, Common Ground, Australian Good Food Guide, Virgin Australia, Jessica Howard, Abbie Gibson, Jim Beatson, and many more.
Says Jeff Bennett of The Three Blue Ducks: “We’re so proud to be able to support the Boomerang Festival and help raise awareness of Aboriginal art and culture. It’s great that Bluesfest has given it a home and if 2016 was anything to go by, then 2017 is bound to be another amazing display of cultural performances from around the world.”
Boomerang invites you to the series that will educate, entertain, and enlighten, all throughout our great region, throughout the year.
Details of each event will be released through the year, and information will be available via www.boomerangfestival.com.au
In addition to attending the events, you can donate any amount you chose on the homepage of www.boomerangfestival.com.au or at the time of purchasing your Bluesfest 2017 tickets via www.bluesfest.com.au
BOOMERANG PRESENTS SERIES 2016 – 17
Aboriginal Access – Cultural Awareness – United Future
OCTOBER 19
‘WILD HARVEST’ DINNER + FORAGING STORIES
HARVEST, NEWRYBAR
$70 dinner + $45 with matching wines
Bookings via Harvest only harvestnewrybar.com.au/
ON SALE NOW
NOVEMBER 9 – 20
BOOMERANG FESTIVAL PHOTOS + PORTRAIT EXHIBITION
HOSTED BY BEN KNIGHT
LAUNCH PARTY NOVEMBER 9
+ LIVE MUSIC + SILENT AUCTION
PHOTO FOX DEN, LISMORE
Venue info: foxphotoden.com.au
Launch party bookings: boomerangfestival.com.au
ON SALE NOW
2017
MARCH 19
JA NGAHRI – ANNUAL FUNDRAISING LUNCHEON FOR BOOMERANG
HOSTED BY HARVEST + THREE BLUE DUCKS
+ SILENT AUCTION + LIVE MUSIC (Special guests to be announced)
EARTH HOUSE, CLUNES
Luncheon = $180
Concert only = $40
Venue info: theearthhouse.com.au
Bookings boomerangfestival.com.au
ON SALE SOON
APRIL 4
“ABORIGINAL AGRICULTURE & FARMING”
BILL GAMMAGE + ROB APPO + RHODA ROBERTS IN CONVERSATION
HOSTED BY BYRON BAY TUESDAY MEN’S CLUB
BYRON COMMUNITY THEATRE
Venue info: byroncentre.com.au/
APRIL 13-18
BOOMERANG AT BLUESFEST! (Dependent on funding)
Tickets: bluesfest.com.au
ON SALE NOW
www.boomerangfestival.com.au
