Building on the success of last year’s event, the University of Newcastle is proud to welcome the wider community once again to Ngarrama.
The free public event, in partnership with Awabakal Ltd and the City of Newcastle, will return to King Edward Park on 25 January.
Ngarrama is an invitation for all to bring along your friends, family and a picnic blanket to engage in meaningful reconciliation through truth-telling, performances, open dialogue, and historical acceptance.
Wiradjuri man and University of Newcastle Pro Vice-Chancellor of Indigenous Strategy and Leadership Mr Nathan Towney said the event is a powerful opportunity for the Mooloobinba (Newcastle) and Hunter community to come together.
“Ngarrama is an incredibly special event, and we hope everyone is able to come down and join us for a family-friendly evening of reflection and celebration,” Mr Towney said.
“At the University of Newcastle, we believe that we are all enriched by cultural knowledge and a connection to country.”
“The word Ngarrama translates to ‘to sit, listen, and know,’ and I think that truly captures the essence of the safe space we’re trying to create, with the help of our amazing event partners.”
More than 2,500 people attended last year’s event which was awarded a ‘Golden Pineapple’ for Event of the Year at the 2022 Hunter Diversity and Inclusion Collective Awards.
Held on the eve of Australia Day, the inaugural night of reflection aims to consider traditional life before 1788 and was inspired by Sydney’s Vigil at Barangaroo.
The program includes a smoking ceremony, welcome to country, traditional dance, music, storytelling, and knowledge sharing.
It will feature performances from award-winning Worimi and Gamilaroi performer Jacob Ridgeway with band, Gamilaraay country music star Loren Ryan and youth dance troupes Midnight Dreaming and Winanga-y Dreaming. Kamilaroi man Len Waters will give a talk on Aboriginal Astronomy, and the much-loved Curious Legends giant puppets will be there to delight young and old.
Ngarrama celebrates the rich culture of all First Nations people, in particular the Awabakal and Worimi people, the traditional owners of the land upon which Newcastle now stands.
MC for the night, Rod Smith from Awabakal Ltd, said he is glad to see Ngarrama is an annual occasion.
“For us to change as a nation, we need to come together and learn from one another and it’s events like this that create progress,” Mr Smith said.
“It was so great to see the huge turn out last year and I know it will continue to grow and grow.”
Representing event partner the City of Newcastle, Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said she hopes all Novocastrians can attend.
“I couldn’t be prouder of our city and the journey we’re going on and learning from 60,000 plus years of cultural knowledge will ensure we have an even better future,” Lord Mayor Nelmes said.
Ngarrama will be an event for unity and togetherness, according to the University of Newcastle Vice-Chancellor, Professor Alex Zelinsky AO.
“As the University’s Reconciliation Champion, I am proud to continue our longstanding commitment to Indigenous higher education, innovation and engagement,” Professor Zelinsky said.
This year, the University of Newcastle recorded its largest ever enrolment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students.
“These growing numbers and the exemplary event that is Ngarrama show how the University of Newcastle is celebrating a strong, continuing culture and leading the way in Indigenous community engagement,” Professor Zelinsky said.
“I invite the community to join us at Ngarrama where there will be a valuable opportunity to connect with, and learn from, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.”
An art workshop will commence at 6:15
Series of events*
6.15pm Collaborative Art workshop (all welcome)
7.00pm Welcome and smoking ceremony
7.20pm Midnight Dreaming and Winangay Dreaming Dancers
7.30pm Youth address
7.40pm Loren Ryan performance
7.50pm Wollotuka address
8.00pm Jacob Ridgeway and Band performance
8.10pm Len Waters Astronomy Story Under The Stars
8.30pm Wakagetti Dance Performance
9.00pm Closing remarks
(subject to change)
