Saltwater Freshwater Festival

Thank you Coffs Harbour

An estimated 12,000 people attended the inaugural Saltwater Freshwater Festival on Gumbaynggirr country in Garlambirla (Coffs Harbour) on a very hot Australia Day.

Initially we were expecting between 3,000 – 5,000 people and I said to my husband, if we get 5,000 that would be ‘amazing’.

So thank you Coffs Harbour for embracing the Festival – and thanks also to all those people who travelled in to enjoy Aboriginal culture on Australia Day.

We couldn’t have asked for a more beautiful site than the Regional Botanic Garden, which was packed all day, right through to the closing ceremony. And the entertainment was top notch – a real who’s who of Aboriginal music, including ARIA Award-winners Archie Roach and Ruby Hunter, who sadly passed away just after the Festival on 18 February, and Troy Cassar-Daley, soul singer Emma Donovan and funksters Whitehouse. It was also great to hear from some of our local talent.

I also want to thank our wonderful supporters, firstly our Festival Patron, Aden Ridgeway, who is a proud Gumbaynggirr man and also an Australia Day Ambassador. Aden praised the north coast for ‘leading the nation’ calling the Festival “the greatest example of a cross-cultural event I’ve seen on Australia Day, a remarkable coming together.” It was great to see Aden enjoying the day with his family.

The day wouldn’t have been the success it was without our sponsors, Aboriginal Affairs NSW, New South Wales Aboriginal Land Council, Indigenous Coordination Centre Coffs Harbour, ACET Australia, Country Energy and Coffs Harbour City Council and our Media Partners, the Coffs Coast Advocate and Southern Cross Ten.

The leadership and support of Arts Mid North Coast and the Saltwater Freshwater Alliance, made up of nine of the region’s Local Aboriginal Land Councils, also deserves special commendation. As Bev Manton, Chairperson of the NSW Aboriginal Land Council commented, “The Festival was an inspiring showcase of Aboriginal culture and identity. The hard work and dedication of the Local Aboriginal Land Councils – along with the many other people involved – will help ensure the Saltwater Freshwater Festival is the premium event of its kind in the country.”

The Saltwater Freshwater Alliance will be meeting mid March to decide the host town for next year’s Festival, but due to popular demand, we might just see another Festival yet in Coffs Harbour on Australia Day in 2011.

Stay tuned to the website for all the latest news!

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