Badjaling Noongar Cultural Festival The festival honoured those who were born at the Badjaling Mission site and the many people who have lived there over the years. The event was opened by Elders; Ms Jackie Tang, A/Director General Department of Indigenous Affairs; Murray Yarran, Chairperson of the Badjaling Wanderers Aboriginal Corporation and Pilar Kasat, the Managing Director of CAN WA.
Activities at the festival included a tour conducted by Winnie McHenry, meadow hay basket weaving instructed by Nalda Searles and a photography workshop attended by 26 students from Quairading Senior High School. Traditional food such as kangaroo stew were prepared and stalls were organised by Aboriginal services organisations.
When the sun went down, bonfires were lit and the microphones came out. A karaoke session was followed by bands including the Wadjarri Band from Cue, the Pipeline Band from Northam, Dark Shades from Brookton, the Sam Turvey Band and the Abmusic band from Perth.
With an estimated crowd of 1000, a good time was definitely had by all. As Murray Yarran puts it, “It was an emotional day and a happy day with many Elders travelling from Perth for the opportunity to meet up again.” A big thank you goes out to all CAN WA staff, organisers and funding bodies, who without their contribution, the festival would not be possible. With the success of the event, the future looks bright for a second Badjaling festival next year.
This event was funded by the Community Arts Network WA; Department of Culture and the Arts; Department of Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts; Department of Families, Housing, Community Services, and Indigenous Affairs; Australia Council for the Arts; Healthway and Relationships Australia.
|  Badjaling Noongar Cultural Festival opening ceremony 
By the bonfires
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