ngulla NAIDOC Festival 2024: Keep the Fire Burning, Blak, Loud and Proud

The ngulla NAIDOC Festival marked a powerful revival of local NAIDOC celebrations, returning for the first time since the disruptions of COVID-19 and the 2020 Black Summer fires.

Hosted by Walking Together in the Milton Ulladulla District in collaboration with the Ulladulla Local Aboriginal Land Council, the two-day event at the Ulladulla Civic Centre on July 12–13, 2024, brought First Nations voices, culture, and community to the forefront. It fostered unity, cultural pride, and lasting memories, reinforcing the importance of collaboration in celebrating and preserving First Nations heritage.

Thank You to Sponsors & Supporters

A heartfelt thanks to all stallholders offering free activities or food, including:
NSW National Parks & Wildlife Service, Lions Club, Noah’s Aboriginal Family Playgroup, Ulladulla Districts Community Resource Centre, Shoalhaven Women’s Health Centre, Flourish Australia, Milton Ulladulla LandCare, Senior Rights Service, Aboriginal Chronic Care Unit, Grand Pacific Health, Milton RFS, APM, Beyond Empathy, Waminda South Coast Women’s Health Service, Ulladulla Youth Centre, and Bunnings.

Special thanks to our sponsors, who made this free community celebration possible:
National Indigenous Australians Agency, Bendigo Bank Community Bank Milton & South Coast, and Ulladulla LALC.

Supporters who contributed in-kind donations included MilkHaus, Hayden’s Pies, Lagom Bakery, Woolies Ulladulla, Milton IGA, and the Milton Ulladulla District Tennis Association. Beyond Empathy also provided free filming services, capturing the vibrancy of the festival.

Festival Highlights

The festival featured a Welcome to Country by Uncle Paul Carriage and a Smoking Ceremony led by Uncle Victor Channell, alongside insightful cultural talks by local Elders and Yuwinj cultural leaders such as Michael Robinson of Doolagartefacts.

Attendees engaged in youth didgeridoo workshops with Jayden Perry and Riley Nolan, and a standout performance from Ulladulla High’s didg’ group, Miribi Bunbal. The Mudjingaal Yangamba Dhurga Choir brought the language to life, while children’s storytelling showcased books by First Nations authors, facilitated by Lisa Collins and Uncle Phil Butler of St Mary’s.

Interactive workshops—including art with Jordan Magi, circus skills with Sharon McCutcheon (Circus35South), weaving with Tracey Turner, and free activities from stallholders including the chance to hold baby crocodiles with the Dragon Mobile Training Zoo —added really fun and engaging hands-on dimensions to the festival.

Community Showcases

The festival’s extensive exhibit celebrated First Nations artists, activists, and creators, featuring contributions from local preschools and schools, the Ulladulla Local Aboriginal Land Council, Wandarma Aboriginal Education Consultative Group (AECG), and the Yila Healing Trail.

Displays included a possum skin cloak, pottery, message sticks, HSC Aboriginal Studies projects, and a cultural burning video and talk featuring Uncle Vic Channell. A standout was the breathtaking 3m x 1m artwork by emerging artist Hope Gardner, illustrating her life journey—solidifying her as a rising star to watch.

It was wonderful to see Aunty Nellie Mooney there to enjoy the artworks that have been created in her honour, with tributes from Shane Snelson, Michael Lloyd and Mia Smith.

Community Reflections

Feedback from attendees was overwhelmingly positive. Many described the festival as an enriching experience—whether feeling immersed in the strength of their own culture or engaging in meaningful cultural exchange.

Children especially loved the circus workshop, free activities, and didgeridoo performances, while adults reflected on the deep sense of connection and healing the festival provided. One attendee wrote: "So much fun—coming together to connect and celebrate has been so needed for myself as an individual, and I can see it is the same for our community. Thank you."

Honoring Our Volunteers

Walking Together in the Milton Ulladulla District thanks everyone who has been part of this team effort, with approximately 30 at the festival and many more helping out in different ways. Their passion and commitment made this event possible.

Thank you to our Walking Together “runabouts” Georgia Lowe, Mitchell Lasker and Glenn Findley who were there to answer and solve any and all issues from beyond dawn to dusk.

Caring for Country

Milton Landcare distributed free native plants and resources on land regeneration, while Shoalhaven City Council provided educational pamphlets on topics like planting with natives and identifying bird species.

Cultural burning was a key theme in talks by Uncle Vic Channell and ways of connecting with Country even in our modern lives and modern world were shared by Uncle Michael Robinson. Treading Lightly supported the festival’s waste minimisation efforts, ensuring sustainability through composting, recycling, and education.

Reflections on Success

"Truly, the festival was done in the spirit of community," said Aunty Sharon Bunyan, Vice President of Wandarma AECG, Aboriginal Studies teacher at Ulladulla High School, and Walking Together co-leader. "My heart is full of gratitude to all who passionately supported NAIDOC celebrations and made our dreams a reality."

Walking Together co-leader Mitchell Lasker: "The Ngulla NAIDOC Festival was a great success—it truly brought the community together as one. I’m already looking forward to planning next year’s event."