This year’s Woodfordia Folk Festival has not (so far) been tainted by the annual uncertainty or intensity of weather patterns typical for this time of year. In fact most of us are enjoying a welcome break from the stifling heat or heavy downpours, which usually turn everything to slush and sludge.

The first day of the festival began with its usual vibe of fun, frivolity and a hint of fervent expectation. Colourful clothes stalls beckoned to passers by daring them to step out in alternative styles. Artists stood proudly over their finely designed crafts with prices that can never really reflect the time, effort and ingenuity that go into their work. Food stalls sent out exotic, tempting aromas enticing you to come and sample a feast of foreign flavours.  Music beat its rhythms and tunes out over the valley, bringing people together under tarps to sway to the harmonies.

Queen of Clubs

The random street entertainment diverted attention for a while giving you the feel of being part of a child’s dress up party or stepping into a real life pack of cards. The kings and queens speaking in haughty tones, setting dares and challenges for eager, wide-eyed children. The roles of each of these street characters are so realistically played that for a moment you forget yourself and jump readily into the land of Make Believe.

For those who want to be more than observers there is the chance to participate in the age old crafts of: weaving, drawing, stitching, constructing and creating your own works of art whilst basking in the harmonious glow of a communal gathering. Even in the middle of pathways stones were mounted upon each other in a haphazard, folklore fashion, becoming alters to honour the creative genius in us all – young and old.

The undeniable thread of the Dreaming showed its earthy hue in the tapestry of the festival of Woodfordia. An indigenous artist displays his paintings which encompass  nature, movement, ancient tribal and spiritual symbolism and yet blend fittingly into the now of today’s world. Turtles swimming forward in synchronicity, dancers drumming out their firey energy and kangaroos silhouetted against an Australian dusk. And of course how could the festival open without the official sanctifying nod from the original caretakers of this land. Crowds of first day attendees witnessed and applauded the Dreamtime lantern procession, accompanied by the Ethno Folk Orchestra. Noel Blair’s words were followed up by a burst of fireworks and celebratory music and the Woodford festival fired up her engines ready to flow.

 Amidst all the celebrations and the full flow of the night’s entertainment many festival loyalists, social and environmental activists and other interested members of the community attended a public forum where the contentious issue of this festival’s boycott was aired.

The boycott was instigated as a result of information, which came to light about money that had been accepted by the Dreaming committee 18 months ago to assist in the costs of running the event. The money itself amounting to $75000, is not the problem. It is the sponsors who have provided it that has caused many people to question the ethical standards attached to the funding of the Dreaming. The sponsors are SANTOS – the multi national mining company that has started coal seam gas operations all over Australia. Environmentalist s and social activists are severely opposed to this mining and its destruction of large areas of forested land, as well as the disruption and contamination of residential areas and whole communities.

Professor Ian Lowe, Michael Williams, Dr Wendy Sarkissian and Noel Blair

The forum had a panel of representatives elected to speak about the issue and ultimately decide on what is to be done about the donated money (which has been put aside until June). Afterwards members of the public were allowed to give their personal responses to the subject. The topic was thoroughly explored and the orators were all passionate and well informed. The general feeling was that SANTOS was the antithesis of all that the Woodfordia festival stands for but that ‘accepting’ or ‘rejecting’ the money was not as simple a decision as it appeared. Questions like ‘Where does the Dreaming get its funding from when there are very few sponsors putting their hands up to support this kind of thing ?’and ‘On whose shoulders does the responsibility really lie for preventing the blatant raping of our land by these mining monsters?’

Let’s hope that this unique, annual festival, which brings our community together in a way that celebrates cultural, musical and artistic diversity and honours the environment and its ancestors, does not become another victim to the war against the mining giants of today.

Written by Jennifer Diplock