Yallukit William Ngargee

The Labour Day long weekend, March 11-12, will see St Kildas ODonnell Gardens transformed into a spectacular two-day indigenous and South Pacific Islander music festival Yalukit Willam Ngargee, meaning people place gathering.

Festivities over the two days include market stalls, childrens activities, a Papua New Guinea Commonwealth Games athletes Welcome Ceremony and musical line up including Aboriginal legend Jimmy Little, Vic Simms and Col Hardy with on the Prowl, Liz Cavanagh, the Dili Allstars, Kutcha Edwards, Aaron Choulai, Charcoal Club, Lou Bennett, and Sunga with more to be announced.

Yalukit Willam Ngargee will start at 10.30am with a silent procession led by Boonerwrung elder, Carolyn Briggs from Cleve Gardens, corner of Fitzroy Street and Beaconsfield Parade, along the Esplanade to ODonnell Gardens near Luna Park, for a welcome to country smoking ceremony.

Port Phillip mayor, Janet Bolitho, who will join Carolyn Briggs and other indigenous Australians on the silent procession would serve as a timely reminder of the injustices endured by indigenous Australians.

You only have to drop into Cleve Gardens, the old Koori meeting spot, to be reminded just how recent some of the affronts to indigenous Australians are, she said. In 1996, the old toilet block, which was covered in paintings of the Aboriginal flag and other symbols, was pulled down early one morning as part of the clean up for the first Australian Grand Prix. This act, immortalised in John Hardings play, No Parking, understandably still rankles with many Kooris who now prefer to get together in ODonnell Gardens.

One of the ways that indigenous Australians have survived and celebrate their survival, despite everything is through the richness and generosity of their culture. The explosion in indigenous music, art, dance, theatre and film over the past thirty years has also transformed many Australians understanding of indigenous Australians themselves. The huge response to indigenous performances in the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2000 Sydney Olympics is proof of the power of the arts to break down stereotypes. We hope that Yalukit Willam Ngargee will tap into that and create a new dynamic for reconciliation in this community.

Yalukit Willam Ngargee will feature art and craft stalls, vegetarian food by Lentil as Anything, and bush tucker cooked by HEAT hospitality trainees. Therell be lots of things for kids to do including boomerang painting with Port Phillip Citizens for Reconciliation, face painting, and storytelling by Yarn Strong Sister all free of charge.

From 3 5pm, everyone can join Meyer Eidelson, President of the St Kilda Historical Society,in hunting and gathering in ODonnell Gardens, discovering the use of native plants and wildlife for food, medicine, tools, hunting, weaving, fire and ochre. See flint tool making demonstrated and learn about the pre-history landscape of Port Phillip.

On the following day, Sunday March 12, the City of Port Phillip will host a welcome ceremony for PNG athletes, with the welcome to country again being offered by Carolyn Briggs. The council is the Commonwealth Games partner of the 100-strong PNG team for the Games as part of the Adopt a Second Team program under which all Victorian councils have been partnered with a Commonwealth country. PNG will be competing in at least seven sports - athletics, boxing, lawn bowls, shooting, swimming, weightlifting, and rugby 7s. It has built a reputation in weightlifting and lawn bowls.

The ceremony will also be attended by PNG High Commissioner and the Officer of Commonwealth Games Coordination and feature indigenous and PNG dancers, Sunga, Lou Bennett, Cook Island Drummers, Liz Cavanagh and the Dili Allstars.

Cr Bolitho said that she was greatly looking forward to meeting lots of Papua New Guineans over the Commonwealth Games.

PNG is Australias closest neighbour and was a colony of Australia till September 16, 1975 when it finally gained independence. PNG remains a mystery to most Australians who know more about the streets of Los Angeles and New York than they do of PNG, its people and their amazingly diverse cultures. Some people hardly know where PNG is let alone that its people speak over 830 different languages. Im hoping the Games will change all that, she said.

The best way to arrive at the Festival is to leave your car at home and either ride your bike, walk or catch public transport.

For more information on the festival line up contact the City of Port Phillip on (03) 9209 6777 or visit http://www.portphillip.vic.gov.au/commonwealth_games.html

Enquiries: After hours
Carmel Shute Janet Bolitho
Media Officer Mayor
Tel: 03 9209 6163 Ph: 03 9695 4754
Mobile: 0412 569 356 Mobile: 0411 096 400
Council webpage: www.portphillip.vic.gov.au