Three decades of support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students at UNE will be celebrated in a month-long program that includes art and cooking exhibitions, and live music headlined by Isaiah Firebrace, 2016 winner of Australia’s X-Factor.
Established in 1986, the Oorala Aboriginal Centre is Celebrating 30 Years of educational programs in support of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students. Over the last 30 years, Oorala has grown from a mere handful of students to over 800 enrolled students in 2017.
The Oorala Aboriginal Centre will host a number of events in honour of the achievements of former staff and students where locals and visitors have the chance to join in celebrating these achievements.
The Oorala Centre transformed with a richness and diversity of colour becomes a gallery hosting the Oorala Art Exhibition. A collection of paintings, works on paper, weavings and sculptures by local and regional Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists will be on show. There will be a slideshow of images covering the 30 year journey of the Oorala Centre. Bark paintings by respected Arnhem Land artists will sit alongside artefacts on loan from Earle Page College, UNE. A special opening of the exhibition will be held on Wednesday 18 October, 5:30pm. All are welcome.
The Sunset Opening Ceremony, on the lawns of Booloominbah, will be held on Monday 23 October. This leads to the Oorala 30 Open Day on Tuesday 31 October – a day filled with live music including a performance by Isaiah Firebrace, 2016 winner of Australia’s X-Factor. There will be cooking demonstrations with Clayton Donovan, Australia’s highest acclaimed Indigenous chef renowned for his fusion of flavours, Duval Deadly Dancers, markets stalls, workshops including a weaving circle with Dolly Jerome, painting a community canvas with artist, Lloyd Hornsby, a flint knapping workshop with UNE archaeologist, Mark Moore and many more activities.