ERINEARTH NAIDOC IN THE GARDEN 2025

---

 The 2025 NAIDOC in the Garden celebration at ErinEarth was a joyful and vibrant community event held on Wiradyuri Country, honouring this year’s national theme — “Keep the Fire Burning: Blak, Loud and Proud.” Surrounded by nature, the event brought together families, Elders, youth, and community members for an afternoon of music, culture, and connection.

Organised in partnership between ErinEarth and Bernard Higgins, the event reflected a shared commitment to celebrating Wiradyuri culture and community spirit. Bernard, through his business Birdyulang Animations, proudly sponsored the event, helping to create a space where people could gather, learn, and celebrate culture together.

The evening featured a lively program of entertainment and activities for all ages. Live music came from emerging rapper Beacho, whose powerful words and beats inspired pride and positivity, and local favourites Buzzkill, who had the crowd dancing and singing along to classic 90s and 00s covers.

Guests enjoyed delicious bush-inspired food from Little Bush Kitchen, adding a local flavour to the celebration. The event also showcased traditional Wiradyuri weaving with Aunty Libby Warren and Debbie Woods, inviting participants to learn hands-on cultural practices and connect with ancestral knowledge. Alongside weaving, there were a variety of creative and family-friendly activities, including nature crafts, ochre face painting, and language sharing, ensuring everyone  could join in the celebration.

The event’s warm, welcoming atmosphere captured the essence of NAIDOC — honouring legacy, uplifting youth, and strengthening community bonds. NAIDOC in the Garden 2025 was more than a celebration; it was a living expression of Wiradyuri culture, resilience, and joy, keeping the fire burning for future generations.

The 2025 Wagga Wagga NAIDOC Ball was a spectacular evening of celebration, connection, and pride, honouring this year’s national theme — “Keep the Fire Burning: Blak, Loud and Proud.” Held on Wiradyuri Country, the event brought together community members, Elders, youth, and allies for a night filled with joy, culture, and recognition.

This year’s Ball was proudly organised by Bernard Higgins, in his role as Secretariat for Mawang Gaway, the Wiradyuri Elders of Wagga Wagga. The event reflected Mawang Gaway’s vision to celebrate and uplift First Nations leadership, cultural strength, and community achievement.

In addition to leading the organisation of the event, Bernard’s business, Birdyulang Animations, proudly contributed $10,000 in sponsorship as well as all of my time as an organiser in-kind.  As part of this sponsorship, Birdyulang Animations had the honour of naming an award — the Birdyulang Animations Gudharraamarra Award for Innovation.

“Gudharraamarra,” meaning “Making the world shine brighter” in Wiradyuri, represents the spirit of creativity, progress, and cultural innovation within community. The 2025 recipient of this special award was Simone Jolley, recognised for her outstanding work at the Aboriginal Services Unit (ASU) and her leadership in bringing Circle Sentencing to Wagga Wagga — a groundbreaking initiative that strengthens community justice through cultural practice and restorative principles.

Guests were welcomed with a red-carpet arrival, a three-course dinner, and a program that beautifully blended tradition with contemporary excellence. The evening featured heartfelt speeches, cultural performances, community awards, and live music performances by two talented young rappers — Beacho and Philly — who brought energy, pride, and passion to the stage, filling the room with powerful beats and messages of empowerment.