From division to connection: A new tradition in Brunswick Heads
Cully Rose, Loui Lawson-O’Doherty and Peta O’Doherty at the Connection Day event at Brunswick Heads. Photo: ANGELA SAURINE
INDIGENOUS and non-Indigenous people came together for an informal ‘Connection Day’ event at Torakina Park in Brunswick Heads on Sunday.
Local DJ collective Chameleon played a mix of global tribal beats as people danced on the grass under trees decorated with Aboriginal flags with a fire burning in the background.
Two giant Aboriginal flags also hung on both sides of the nearby timber bridge, alongside a row of international peace flags. The event’s organiser, Wilsons Creek artist and activist Coda Dhuwa, said the idea came about around five years ago when he was camping on country the day before Australia Day and had an epiphany.
He decided to pack up a day early to make the flags to hang on the bridge. “My buddy and I stayed up until 4am or 5am sewing them and then we just went and put them up,” he said.
The idea to have an integrated event in the park evolved from there.
“Everywhere around the country opposition to Australia Day is quite negative,” Dhuwa said. “I get it but I don’t see how expressing that negativity is going to help the situation, so this was my take on it.
“Let’s just leave all of the differences and move forward. It’s about connecting to country, which is essentially about connecting to spirit and that doesn’t differentiate between black and white.”
Bundjalung man Peter Roberts said the event offered the chance for the Indigenous and non-Indigenous community to connect.
“We are sharing our culture and knowledge and coming together,” he said. “It’s getting the next generation to respect and love each other. We’d like to reach the whole of Australia one day.”
Longtime Mullumbimby resident Kirsten Redmond said she liked the inclusive nature of the event.
“This is about connection and brings the community together,” she said. “When we were putting the flags up a number of people asked if they could come too.”
Peta O’Doherty enjoyed dancing with her Indigenous friend Cully Rose.
“It’s the most peaceful and harmonious gathering,” she said.
