Press Release

Confirming the rumours that have been circulating since the beginning of the year, Port Macquarie has been confirmed as the host town for the 2011 Saltwater Freshwater Festival. The Festival will be held on Australia Day (Wed 26 January 2011) at Westport Park on Birpai Aboriginal land. “With ten Local Aboriginal Land Council regions to choose from, Port Macquarie was selected because of its attractiveness to tourists, its excellent infrastructure and capacity for large crowds and the support shown by Port Macquarie-Hastings Council” said Barry Ford, Chair of the newly formed Saltwater Freshwater Arts Alliance Aboriginal Corporation.
With over 12,000 people attending the inaugural festival held in Coffs Harbour on Australia Day this year, next year’s festival is shaping up to be a mammoth event with nationally renowned and local Aboriginal talent, workshops and markets. “The 2011 Saltwater Freshwater Festival will run from 10am into the night, with a special sunset concert closing the day” said Festival Director, Alison Page.
The Festival is the brainchild of the Saltwater Freshwater Arts Alliance Aboriginal Corporation, which is made up of the ten Local Aboriginal Land Councils from Karuah to Coffs Harbour. The Festival is nomadic and will be hosted in a different community each year. Local Birpai Elder Bill O’Brien said “The Festival in 2011 on the Hastings River here in Port will have a distinct Birpai flavour”.
Alison adds that the nomadic nature of the Festival is a great way for people in the Mid North Coast to get to know their region. “Because entry to the Festival is only a gold coin donation, it is affordable to travel and stay overnight for a unique family holiday”.
This year’s event is made even more special by the fact that the Saltwater Freshwater Arts Alliance has incorporated and is now a peak Aboriginal cultural organisation in the Mid North Coast. It has been born out of the Foundations of our Future program, initiated by Arts Mid North Coast who will continue to work in partnership with the new Corporation to help get it off the ground.
The organisation works all year on programs that culminate at the Festival. This year will see an exhibition of baskets produced at weaving master-classes held in ten communities and will celebrate the launch of Saltwater Freshwater Arts, a publication showcasing 40 Aboriginal Artists from the Mid North Coast. Cultural Camps, Aboriginal design and recording stories are also programs being developed by the organisation.
Support from sponsors and funding partners is key to the success of the Festival, which has received support from Country Energy and the Port Macquarie-Hastings Council.
 

Mark Ella, the Sports and Event Manager at Port Macquarie-Hastings Council believes that the event will have a lasting positive impact on Australia Day celebrations in Port Macquarie. “We are excited to be incorporating our Citizenship Ceremony into next year’s Festival as it will add to the special symbolism of the day”. Saltwater Freshwater Arts Alliance is now seeking other corporate sponsors for the event.

Media are invited to attend the:

Saltwater Freshwater Festival Announcement Event
11.30am – 12.30pm
Birpai Local Aboriginal Land Council
33 Aston St Port Macquarie

There will be a performance by the Badu Dance Group at midday.
Mark Ella, Port Macquarie-Hastings Council’s Sports and Event Manager, Jaclyne Fisher, Port Macquarie-Hastings Council’s Acting Director of Community and Cultural Development, Alison Page (Festival Director) and Barry Ford (Chairperson – Saltwater Freshwater Arts Alliance Aboriginal; Corporation) will be available for interviews with the media.

For more information, contact Alison Page on 02 6658 1315 and 0422 187 602.