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CANCELLED - The 2010 Annual Stone Country Festival has been CANCELLED.
However we look forward to seeing you all in 2011 for a bigger and better festival!!
Stone Country Festival
29 August 2009, 8am - late
"We want people to know us and enjoy what we know" – Jacob Nayinggul
"What people get when they come to the 'Stone Country' festival is a real community event" said Festival Coordinator and Injalak Art Director, Anthony Murphy. "I’ve been involved for ten years now and we always get people coming back who tell us they love the energy that permeates the day." That energy is almost tangible and only people who have been to Gunbalanya can know what this means.
Gunbalanya is located 300 miles east of Darwin and 70 kms from Jabiru via the Kakadu National Park. After crossing the East Alligator River the flood plains open up and the mystical Arnhem Land escarpment begins to appear, rising abruptly to the east. Rocky outcrops and paperbark trees line the road in welcome. The community itself is surrounded by a floodplain and has a permanent billabong full of wildlife on its eastern boundary. Dominating the skyline are three large sandstone monoliths. It is a place of breathtaking beauty and is almost worth the visit for the drive in itself.
The Stone Country Festival was formerly known as 'Open Day' and has been enjoyed by locals, Territorians and visitors for over twenty years now. “We’ve never had an external coordinator come in and tell us how to do it. Its run by the community with input from all. It’s this community spirit that has made it so special and enduring’ Murphy said.
Thomas 'Bundine' Nabegeyo has performed at every festival, wowing the crowds with his intense and animated traditional dance. He is also a fixture at Injalak Arts. "You come and enjoy please. We want visitors to have fun. Come on now, don’t be lazy" is his rallying cry.
Traditional Owner Donald Gumurdul marvels at the number of people who come each year, "I don’t know how so many come all this way, maybe they like it because its so beautiful here. I hope so" he laughs. Another Traditional Owner, Jacob Nayinggul, is more circumspect. "We want people to know us and enjoy what we know, maybe they’ll leave a bit wiser and a bit happier. We’ll try anyway."
Whatever the reason, a good time is pretty much guaranteed.
Activities commence at 8.00am. Indigenous guided rock art tours, art demonstrations, traditional dance and music, bands , film, bush tucker, sports carnival, scenic flights, stalls and lots more make for a full and rewarding day.
One German couple described it like so, "Its crazy. Everything’s happening, but we’ve had a ball. We’ve seen nothing like this in on our holiday in Australia. We got to see something different. Really great. And there were crocodiles everywhere."
Visitors may camp over on the Saturday night but must leave by 10am on the Sunday. It is advisable to camp in the Merle camping ground near the East Alligator River.
Admission is $10 per car which includes a program with a lucky draw art prize.
This year the East Alligator River is crossable all day.
No alcohol is allowed to be brought in and visitors are requested to respect the country and not stop on the road but drive directly into Gunbalanya
Please visit www.gunbalanya.org for more information.
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