First Nations focus at upcoming Begonia Festival

The City of Ballarat is striving to highlight First Nations voices, work and culture in the upcoming Ballarat Begonia Festival. 

The festival has an exciting program of presenters, entertainment, food and drink and family activities across the March long weekend. Last year’s event saw more than 50,000 people attend and this year it is expected to grow. There are a lot of different ways to participate in the festival over the three days.  
 
As part of goal two of the Council Plan 2021-2025 — a healthy, connected and inclusive community — the City of Ballarat is committed to prioritising reconciliation. While there are many other crucial elements to this commitment, providing events and activities that celebrate Ballarat’s diversity forms part of how the City of Ballarat is actioning its commitment to reconciliation.  
 
There will be a range of opportunities for festivalgoers to engage with First Nations culture and work throughout the festival and beyond. 
 
Featured artist — Billy-Jay O’Toole 
 
Wadawurrung Traditional Owner and artist Billy-Jay O’Toole has been commissioned to design the ‘Begonia’ letters which will be on display in Sturt Street from today.  
 
The artwork on each letter of ‘Begonia’ represents something different.  
 
B — the artwork on the letter ‘B’ symbolises a journey across country and all coming together on Wadawurrung Country attending the Ballarat Begonia Festival.  
 
E — the artwork on the letter ‘E’ represents ‘Wurdi Yuang’ (big hill) — it refers to the Wadawurrung mountain country around Black Hill and Buninyong.  
 
G — the artwork on the letter ‘G’ symbolises the flowing waters that give life to all and nourish country.  
O —the artwork on the ‘O’ signifies healing and welcoming to country. The eucalyptus depicted welcomes you onto country and cleanses you from the feet up to keep country and people healthy as they come together in peace.  
 
N — the artwork on the ‘N’ represents gathering by fresh water.  
 
I — the pattern on the ‘I’ symbolise the shape and known markings of the stone spear head. Stone head spears were a traditional tool used to hunt food.  
 
A —the artwork on the letter ‘A’ symbolises the many creeks and waterholes across country.  
 
 
Featured chef — Mark Olive 
 
Bundjalung man and celebrity chef Mark Olive will conduct cooking demonstrations from the Greenhouse Ballarat Stage throughout the Begonia Festival.  
 
Mark has been a chef for over 25 years and has become a well known Australian celebrity with his charismatic style and creative approach to food. His passion for fusing native bushfood and culture with contemporary lifestyle cooking has led to a huge international profile specialising in gourmet Australian Indigenous cuisine.  
 
During the cooking demonstrations, Mark will use native bushfood ingredients from local business Saltbush Kitchen.  
 
BADAC parade float  
 
The Ballarat and District Aboriginal Co-operative (BADAC) will have a float in the Begonia Parade, which is held on Monday 13 March from 11am-12pm and attracts 10,000 people each year.  
 
BADAC delivers health, social, welfare and community development programs to local Aboriginal people. 
 
The City of Ballarat has sponsored the BADAC float.  

Making space for First Nations voices  
 
City of Ballarat Councillor Cr Belinda Coates said featuring the work of First Nations people in events like the Ballarat Begonia Festival was a small way Council was prioritising reconciliation with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples.  
 
“We are working to ensure Indigenous and Torres Strait Island people are able to participate fully in our community,” she said.  
 
“There is certainly more to do, but we are committed to taking tangible steps to genuinely walk together towards reconciliation.”  
 
For more information about the Ballarat Begonia Festival, visit the festival website.