DISPLAY OF BOLLARDS
The bollards displayed on opening day are made by students from Aquinas College, Avila College and Genazzano FCJ College.
In conjunction with the Aboriginal Catholic Ministry these and other schools have committed to creating a people scape with figures from our indigenous community. Each figure represents an aboriginal person and describes their achievements. The message is clear. We must be careful to avoid stereotypes. It is also a reminder of the powerful contributions our Indigenous people have made to contemporary Australia.
MC “DEN THE FISH” Dennis Fisher, is a poet, a broadcaster with Radio 3KND Kool n Deadly ‘1503AM’ and a “hoper”. Dennis hopes that we can one day Australians can all sit around a big fire and have a laugh, have a drink, have a cry, and move together as one.
11.30AM – 3PM SAVOURY AND SWEET FOOD PLATTERS, DAMPER, TEA, COFFEE AND COLD “MAGIC TEA”
Uncle Herb Patten, Australia’s leading Aboriginal gumleaf player and damper maker extraordinaire will serve plates of damper and sweet and savoury goodies. Uncle Herb will be supported by a “catering crew” of students from the reconciliation groups of Aquinas College and Avila College.
The Good Brew Company will serve “magic tea” and other delicious healthy, cold brews. Hibiscus, green tea, yerba mate, lemon myrtle tea, fresh pure locally sourced organic apple juice and honey, brewed, carbonated and poured on site with no packaging, served in reusable cups.
1pm WELCOME TO COUNTRY Aunty Diane Kerr, Wurundjeri Elder and Traditional Custodian. Diane has worked within the Aboriginal Community for over 30 years. Her main concern is the wellbeing of her people and the wider Aboriginal community. Her greatest passion is the healing of Aboriginal people. Aunty Di was a foster mum for 26 years and she is still a person children can go to if they are in need of a safe place. Diane has worked in Koorie Education for about 30 years, mostly on a voluntary basis. She has also worked in Native Title and with the Stolen Generations. Diane is currently working at the Wurundjeri Elders council and is going through a journey with Indigenous Leadership and Mentoring. She is the Co-ordinator of the Wellbeing team.
1.15pm FESTIVAL OPENING Cecily Falkingham – celebrated naturalist, educator and longstanding advocate for the Mullum Mullum Valley. Cecily has been living near the bushland of the Mullum Mullum Valley for the past 50 years. She has served on the Yarran Dheran Advisory Committee and the Hillcrest Forestway Committee, and in the late 1980’s, worked with the then Roads Authority on the protection of the Valley at the time the Eastern Arterial Road was under consideration. Cecily has led countless walks through the Valley to give the public an appreciation of the area and just how precious and unique the relatively intact Valley corridor is. She continues to consult with Parks Victoria on local conservation issues, and regularly surveys the valley for fungi, orchids and birds. She is an active member of Birdlife Australia. Cecily has provided advice, guidance and assistance to the Mullum Mullum Festival since its inauguration.
1.30pm MUSICAL PERFORMANCES
- Matthew Weegberg, a young Boonwurong/Mutti Mutti man will join us with a didgeridoo performance.
- Hip Hop dance performance by The Valley Crew, an Indigenous/ reconciliation primary school children’s hip hop group from the Yarra Valley who have been dancing together for about 2 years.
- Lee Morgan, singer, songwriter and guitar player. Born on Framlingham Aboriginal mission in Victoria, Lee began playing guitar at the age of 11 and has since developed into an outstanding and wonderful high energy performer. Lee takes his audience on a journey through this crazy thing called life with his uplifting guitar rifts, distinctive voice and lyrical depth. From love lost to love found, to sunny Sunday afternoons, the war in Iraq and the passionate pleas and reflection of his anthem track Reconciliation Song Lee continues the storytelling that was inspired by his Indigenous grandfather, the great Banjo Clarke.
2.30pm WORKSHOPS
- BASKET WEAVING with Aunty Dot Peters
Well known basket weaving teacher, and Yarra Yarra Elder, Aunty Dot Peters. Aunty Dot has fond memories of sitting with her mother, sister and grandmother at Coranderrk, and learning to coil baskets in the traditional way. This skill has stayed with her and it is the link she uses when teaching groups about Aboriginal culture and tradition. Aunty Dot was one of the Inductees for the 2011 Victorian Women’s Honour Roll.
- FACEPAINTING AND STORYTELLING with John Baxter
John is a proud Latji Latji/Narungaa man, a member of the Stolen Generation fostered into a non-Indigenous family at a very young age, who could not reconnect with his own family until his late teens. While painting faces John will share his story. John has a real gift for educating and sharing cultural awareness with the community. He will discuss the struggle Indigenous people have faced and continue to face today.
- BOOMERANG PAINTING with Arbup Ash Peters
Arbup Ash Peters, Wurundjeri/ Yorta Yorta man, artist, story teller and Koori culture facilitator. Arbup is currently the Koori Employment Advisor for the Department of Justice and mentors the Department’s Koori Trainees. His previous employment as an Indigenous Koori Liaison Officer/ Program Coordinator and Koori Art & Culture teacher gave him the drive to help where and when he can within the local Aboriginal communities.