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Media releases Friday, 5 June 2009 Smart kids-proud culture- a fantastic Barunga Festival The Barunga Festival, offering the best of Indigenous culture and sport, gets underway today and runs through the long weekend, inviting visitors to a proud and vital Aboriginal community 80 kilometres south east of Katherine. Member for Lingiari, the Hon Warren Snowdon, MP, said he looks forward to the festival every year and this year is set to be something special. “I first visited the Barunga Festival in 1987, and have been at almost every one since, watching the event grow and evolve, offering, amongst many activities, sport events for neighbouring communities, bush medicine walks for visitors, and a spear throwing competition that I have never won. “This year the festival costs $20 for the whole long weekend, and features Jessica Mauboy at the Saturday night concert. “Barunga Festival is a significant event, that has been the scene of many important moments in Indigenous politics, and I’m pleased the Federal Government provided $55,000 to this year’s festival through the Indigenous Culture Support Program. “The theme, Smart Kids – Proud Culture: the importance of Education is very timely, and reflects the Rudd Government’s commitment to close the Indigenous education gap. “Through the National School Pride Program, Barunga School has already received $75,000 for an exterior repaint, and in the neighbouring community of Wugularr $75,000 will be spent on new sports storage sheds, while Manyallaluk Homeland School will invest $50,000 on an Outdoor Learning Project. “The National Secondary School Computer Fund has also seen 3 new computers go into Barunga School and 2 into Wugularr. “They can also access funding for major new infrastructure under the Primary Schools for the 21st Century program, to build new libraries and classrooms. Lingiari primary schools have already received $44.8 million through this fund. “Education gives our young people opportunities and that is absolutely critical in improving Indigenous lives and livelihoods. “Barunga should be proud of its young people, its strong culture, and its alcohol and drug free festival. I wish the community, and all the visitors to Barunga, a wonderful weekend.” Ends
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Copyright © 2004-5 Warren Snowdon MP. This page was last updated on 30 June 2009. |
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