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Celebrities coming for first Narrungdera Earth Festival

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Narrandera’s first ever three day Narrungdera Earth Festival will start tomorrow with a welcome event at the Narrandera Fisheries Centre.

Michael Lyons
Michael Lyons.
Photo courtesy Narrandera Argus.

The event includes bush tucker by Narrandera’s Uncle Michael Lyons and traditional dance performances and music by Lollipop Barlow.

There is no cost to participate and transport is available from the Narrandera Visitors Centre from 9am.

Friday night festivities move to the Narrandera Showground with live music, a didgeridoo contest, art installations, a coffee van, traditional food by Uncle Michael Lyons and a debut screening of the film by Jessica Byrne Sandhills Stories.

A free Aboriginal Art workshop with well known Aboriginal artist Owen Lyons is also on offer but must be booked via a link on the website.

Owen Lyons
Owen Lyons.
Photo courtesy Narrandera Argus.

Saturday’s activities include a Cultural Day at the Narrandera Showground featuring animal encounters by Taronga Zoo, a rock climbing wall by Base Zero and weaving with Nioka Dupond.

Aboriginal Elder Uncle Michael Lyons will deliver a Cultural Talk and celebrity chef The Black Olive will talk on bush foods.

Young and young at heart can participate in a Hip Hop dance workshop with Tahaliana Soward-Māhanga. Tahaliana will also be singing on the day.

This 16 year old Wiradjuri girl recently auditioned on The Voice television show and has been a backup dancer for soloist Stan Walker.

Earth Festival patrons can also enjoy market stalls (at own cost), food vans and drinks (at own cost).

In addition there will be an Elders Area, face painting, Lions Train, Pop up Art Gallery, live music by River Country Band, Lisa Byrne, Dookie Thorne, Amanda Hayes and Tahaliana Soward-Māhanga and traditional dance performances by Dinawan Connections.

Lillardia Houston
Lillardia Briggs-Houston.
Photo courtesy Narrandera Argus.

Other Saturday activities include Cultural Tours with Sandhills Artefacts (free, but a ticket needed via website), a screen printing workshop with Lillardia Briggs-Houston (tickets needed via website, cost $25 with proceeds to go back to the community towards a Suicide Prevention Healing Day and Wayapa Wuurrkshop with Margaret Snowden (free, but ticket needed via website).

Sunday’s program features an artists talk with Lillardia Briggs-Houston at The Shack at the Narrandera Showground from 10am to 11:30am, including morning tea. This event is also free but intending participants must book a ticket via the website for catering purposes.

A Cultural Tour with Sandhills Artefacts will take place from 9am to 11am and this event is also free but a booking must be made via the website.

Sunday’s Celebrity Lunch at the Narrandera Racecourse costs $100 per ticket, with proceeds to go back to the community towards the costs of a Suicide Prevention Healing Day.

It features a three course meal, cooked by the Celebrity Chef The Black Olive (Mark Olive) with dessert made by Uncle Michael Lyons.

Mark Olive
Celebrity chef Mark Olive, known as The Black Olive.
Photo courtesy Narrandera Argus.

Lunch patrons will hear a cultural talk by Uncle Michael and live music by Dane Kennedy plus patrons can watch a screening of Sandhills Stories.

Tickets are available online at narrungderaearthfest.com.au or at the Narrandera Visitors Centre.

Narrandera Argus 19 May 2022

This article appeared in the Narrandera Argus, 19 May 2022.

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For all the news from the Narrandera Argus, go to https://www.narranderaargus.com.au/