W Tree Spirit of Place Festival 2009
04 Apr 2009
The annual ‘Spirit of Place' celebration is to take place on Saturday April 4. This year's celebration will focus on Detarka Park (our public recreational reserve in the heart of W Tree. The WTPPA (W Tree Promotion & Progress Association] has formed a ‘Friends of' group to assist Parks Victoria in the future management of the reserve.
The theme of the celebration is to formally establish the W Tree community's custodianship of the reserve through a creative ritual involving a spectacular performance, at night, amongst the giant forest trees.
The performance will include song, dance and light show and feature giant puppets representing the spiritual nature of this land. Representatives of the Gunnai Nation and Parks Victoria will symbolically hand over the land to the people of W Tree.
To get this performance up and running there will be a series of workshops to create the major props for the show - Bunjil the wedge tailed eagle representing the creator spirit of the land and its inhabitants, the Superb Blue Wren [representing the female nature] and Eastern
Emu Wren [representing the male nature]. These puppetry and music composition workshops run by community arts practitioner Richard Cooke are an excellent opportunity for adults and children alike to get together as a community and create something of great profundity.
.WTree ‘Spirit of Place' Festival - Saturday April 4th, 2009
- Programme -
2.00pm: Festival opening:
Welcome to Country (Gunaikurnai Senior Elder - Durran Bunjil-ee-nee Robbie Thorpe)
Craft & Produce Stalls throughout the afternoon. Chai and Cake tent.
2.45pm to 4.30pm: Stage Performances throughout afternoon. Various local artists including;
- Sarah Jane
- Elfie Schieran
- Manda Canny and friends
- Charley Daniel and friends
- Steve Baxter, Gerry Thurlings and friends
3.00pm (approx.): Children's workshop in preparation for 4.30pm children's play.
4.30pm: Children's play with (Eva Grunden and Heather Coulston)
5.00pm: Eva Grunden and Heather Coulston (Feva Pitch) performance.
5.00 to 6.30pm: Evening meal available. (Please BYO plate, bowl, cup, cutlery and coin)
6.50pm: A dusk gathering in Detarka Reserve for main celebration performance.
Including Parks Victoria introduction/Gunaikurnai ‘Welcome to Country and Ceremony'
and community performance.
Note: Bring a torch/warm clothing/water and sturdy walking shoes.
8.15pm till late: Rock'n'Roll in the Woolshed. A great line up of brilliant musicians including;
- Sime Nugent (Melbourne)
- Ben Smith Band (Melbourne)
- Billy Abbott Band (Melb/WTree)
- Rev. Mick O'Conner (Melbourne)
- Eva's Funk Jam (East Gippsland)
White Throated Needle Tail Swifts
(The Messenger Bird)
As well as the main performance the W Tree Spirit of Place Celebration will also host a range of activities throughout the afternoon and evening including children's activities, local musical performances and for the evening, rock'n'roll under the seductive W Tree Autumn moon.
For general festival enquiries phone Julia Williams on 5155 0353.