Gascoyne

NAIDOC celebrations across WA

Posted: July 4th, 2016

Filed under: Gascoyne, NAIDOC, Perth, Pilbara, WA, Yamatji

To celebrate NAIDOC Week this year, towns across Western Australia are collaborating with local and national Aboriginal organisations to plan cultural events and activities for their communities.

Working with the Yinhawangka People, the town of Paraburdoo is planning a series of events beginning on 2 July. These events include family friendly gatherings and demonstrations of traditional practices like boomerang throwing and damper-making competitions.

In Tom Price, there are plans for demonstrations of traditional dancing, painting and performances, live music, an outdoor film festival, and a Food Showcase.

In Perth, an afternoon of free family entertainment is being offered at the James Street Amphitheatre. Featuring performances by Jake and the Cowboys, the event is being presented by acclaimed Aboriginal dancer and digeridoo player Olman Walley. Guests can learn about Australia’s native bush plants and bush tucker by trying a variety of samples at market stalls. Those who cannot make it can tune into 100.9 FM for a live broadcast on Noongar Radio.

For more information about the events in Paraburdoo and Tom Price, visit the Shire of Ashburton’s website here, and for information about how NAIDOC Week is being celebrated across WA visit the official NAIDOC week website here.

Fresh opportunity for regional artists

Posted: March 8th, 2016

Filed under: Gascoyne, Goldfields-Esperance, Great Southern, Hachette, Kimberley, Mid West, Peel, Pilbara, Sophie Hamley, South West, WA Regional Arts Project Fund, Wheatbelt, writingWA

writingWA has introduced the Hachette Mentoring Program for Regional WA Writers. The program is open to any resident of Western Australia’s nine regions (Gascoyne, Goldfields-Esperance, Great Southern, Kimberley, Mid-West, Peel, Pilbara, South West and Wheatbelt), and participants are asked to submit a manuscript for the chance to win a mentorship with Hachette publisher Sophie Hamley.

Entries may be fiction, non-fiction or young adult fiction. One manuscript will be selected every year, and the closing date for this year’s selection is 23 March 2016. You can find more information and the application form here.

Also, applications for the first round of the 2016 Country Arts WA Regional Arts Project Fund close on Friday 11 March. Amounts of up to $20,000 are available for community groups and a total of $15,000 is being made available for applications from individuals.

More information is available here.

YMAC Hosts Regional Indigenous Discussions

Posted: May 16th, 2010

Filed under: Gascoyne, IIB, Mid West, Yamatji.

YMAC recently hosted the Mid West Conversation (10 & 11 May in Geraldton) and Gascoyne Conversation (13 May in Carnarvon) events, on behalf of the WA State Government’s Indigenous Implementation Board (IIB). The conversations were an open discussion for Aboriginal people, aimed at opening up a new way of working together in the region.

YMAC’s Co-Chairperson, Roy Bellotti, YMAC Regional Manager, Donna Murdock with Dr Sue Gordon from the IIB.

Around 35 Aboriginal leaders, community members and service providers attended each event to discuss key issues and priorities in the region including; health, education, employment, justice and regional governance. The key outcomes of the conversations will be put into a report for the WA State Government’s ‘Indigenous Implementation Board’ (IIB), which then makes recommendations to Minister of Indigenous Affairs Kim Hames.