Bendigo and District Aboriginal Co-operative celebrated Aboriginal culture at a community gathering at Rochester’s skate park. Photos: Jordan Townrow.
Photo by
JORDAN TOWNROW
Bendigo and District Aboriginal Co-operative hosted a day of connection in Rochester on Wednesday, April 16.
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Featuring a range of performances and activities, the event was an opportunity for local Aboriginal people to engage with BDAC and to celebrate First Nations culture with the wider community.
Musicians and dancers included Kinja, a violin and didgeridoo duo; Culture Evolves, a blend of traditional and hip-hop dance; and singer-songwriter MpathSoul or Monica Jasmine Karo.
Uncle Rick Nelson performs a Welcome to Country.
Photo by
JORDAN TOWNROW
Event organiser Stewart Carter said Rochester was a significant location for the co-op to engage with.
“We wanted to create an event that was welcoming to Aboriginal people and celebrated Aboriginal people on this country,” he said.
“It is an important crossover point for Djaara and Yorta Yorta.
“BDAC stands for Bendigo and District Aboriginal Co-op, so it’s about reaching out and making connections.”
The Bendigo Aboriginal Men’s Shed catered the event.
Photo by
JORDAN TOWNROW
Rochester sits at the intersection of Dja Dja Wurrung and Yorta Yorta countries, with the west side of the Campaspe River the traditional land of the Djaara people.
As Dja Dja Wurrung country covers Bendigo and its surrounds, BDAC provides culturally appropriate services to First Nations people on Djaara land.
“Technically, this side of the river is Djaara country,” Mr Carter said.
“The river marked a border between those two groups of people (Djaara and Yorta Yorta).”
Culture Evolves combines traditional dance with modern styles like hip-hop.
Photo by
JORDAN TOWNROW
While planning the event, Mr Carter and his team found that Rochester was home to 90 First Nations-identifying people.
“There’s lots of Yorta Yorta people in this community,” Mr Carter said.
“When we were researching it, there are 90 identified Aborignal people living in Rochester itself.
“Then, you expand that out to the outlying communities, it’s more than people might think or know.”
Djaara Elder Uncle Rick Nelson was the event’s MC.
Photo by
JORDAN TOWNROW
To connect with Bendigo and District Aboriginal Co-operative services, including health, wellbeing, education, family and community, phone 5442 4947, head to bdac.com.au or email reception@bdac.com.au
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