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Sugar Fest Oceanic Culture History & Music celebrates Australian South Sea Islanders (ASSI) 30th Anniversary

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This Friday 25th join us for the 30th Anniversary since 1994 Commonwealth Recognition of Australian South Sea Islanders as a ‘distinct cultural group’ who value our islands of origin and heritage with our Pacific, Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander families and communities at large.

A historic and moving event that celebrates the courage and determination of those who came before us and the strength of those that have created extraordinary lives that are now significantly contributing to the well-being of their families in the Pacific and Australia.

Opened by the City of Sydney Council – Lord Mayor Clover Moore there will be speeches by Dr Sonya Pearce the first Goreng Goreng / South Sea woman to receive a PhD on ‘Indigenous women entrepreneurs’, Mr Robert Karoo from Kiribati’s Pacific Academy of Sciences and the former Torres Strait Mayor Ms Vonda Malone newly appointed member of the Commonwealth Truth Telling Inquiry.

ASSIPJ chair (Waskam) Emelda Davis and former COS Councillor; “The Royal Botanical Gardens are perfect for this year’s anniversary as it is home to the Tam Tam a slit drum from Ambrym Island in Vanuatu. A powerful symbol sealing Australia’s relationship with the Pacific and descendants of a trade that is largely unknown by our communities.”

Donated to the gardens in July 1992 by the Australian Friends of Vanuatu the stoic figure stands tall as protection looking out across the oceans of Sydney Harbour. The Tam Tam is made of intsia bijuga (Pacific teak). Known on Ambrym Island as a ‘tingting’ slit drums were traditionally used for beating dance rhythms, transmitting messages, or summoning villagers to meetings.

A unifying performance we will be joined by the Peidu Tribal Dance Team from Torres Strait Islands who also have ancestral links to the Solomon Islands (Nggela Island) through their great great-grandfather who was blackbirded.

The group will showcase a number of moving performances from the Eastern Islands namely Erub Island. Their totem is the Frigate Bird, a sea bird that always flies very high and hardly comes to land. The traditional costumes represent the colours of the Frigate Bird of red and black.

Australia’s Blackbird trade started with NSW in 1847 followed by the influx of some 60,000 to QLD between 1863 to 1904. Today’s descendants are mainly from Vanuatu and Solomons including Kiribati, Tuvalu, Fiji, Papua New Guinea and New Caledonia.

Sugar Fest celebrates an alternative narrative to our dark history and will showcase the vibrant, exciting, and self-determined voice of today’s community. It offers emerging and established Pacific, CALD and First Nations performers a chance to share and exchange their valuable cultural and industry specific experiences in a culturally diverse and professionally supportive setting.

Another highlight of the event will be the unveiling of the Museum of Australian Democracy (MoAD) Human Rights Quilt Project ‘Yumi Olgeta’ (Crafting a More Inclusive Democracy). A collaborative quilt inspired by embroidery craftivist Helen Fraser, Josephine Gideon and the HandiCrafts Women’s Markets in Vanuatu, ASSIPJ and the broader Australian community.

Performances will be by Sydney Community Group ‘Earth wind and Fire’ interpretative dance, The Spirit of the Islands performance featuring the 2024 international recipient for ‘the face of beauty 2024’ Miss Niue followed with a dynamic performance by Sydney’s finest from The Voice 2020 – Steve Clisby.

Proud sponsors include Botanical Gardens, City of Sydney Council, Multicultural NSW, Cages Foundation, Vanuatu Government, MoAD and Australian South Sea Islanders (Port Jackson).

VENUE: Botanic Gardens at The Calyx
Date: Friday 25th October 24
Time: 11:30am to 3pm.

ENTER: (there will be a buggy to take people up & down)

  • entry via Morehead Fountain to The Calyx – Botanical Gardens – corner of Macquarie Street and Shakespeare Place

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