Festival of Us program launches to celebrate Australia Day in NT

A new festival in the Northern Territory is rife with entertainment, inspiration and good food. We reveal this year’s program.

The Territory’s first Festival of Us is set to bring a host of entertainment, inspiration and good food to the Top End community.

The festival kicks off at 11am on January 26 after the annual OzRun, a smoking ceremony, and performances from North East Arnhem Land’s Rirratjingu Dancers.

Australia Day Council NT chair Dr Richard Fejo said this year’s events would be more inclusive than ever.

“The Festival of Us is a multicultural, inclusive event for all ages and abilities, and we look forward to celebrating our unique Territory lifestyle this Australia Day,” he said.

The annual OzRun – starting at the Darwin Convention Centre and ending at the Waterfront Lagoon – is the Territory’s biggest free running event. Picture: Glenn Campbell

This year’s Australia Day theme is “Reflect. Respect. Celebrate. We’re all part of the story”.

Dr Fejo said it was important to be open-minded to different cultures.

“When you go and see other cultures, you open your mind to new experiences,” he said.

“My uncle used to say, ‘you never never know, if you never never go’.”

Dr Fejo said if the festival was a success, it could become an annual event.

“It’s really about community inclusion and coming together,” he said.

“Here’s an opportunity for anybody to be a part of the extended community and embrace our multiculturalism.”

The free festival will take place at the Territory Netball Stadium in Marrara from 11am to 8pm on January 26.

‘Don’t put your dreams on hold’: Inspiring Aussie visits the Top End

Sam Bloom will present as a keynote speaker at the Territory's first Festival of Us on Australia Day, 2023. Picture: Cameron Bloom

An Australian inspiration and two-time world para surfing champion will present as a keynote speaker at the festival.

Best-selling author Sam Bloom said her presentation’s core message would be “don’t put your dreams on hold”.

“If you want to do something, do it today, because you don’t know what tomorrow will bring,” she said.

“You don’t want to live with regrets, thinking ‘I wish I did this or that’.

“If you want to do something, just do it.”

Sam Bloom (pictured with Penguin the magpie) will present as a keynote speaker at the Territory's first Festival of Us on January 26. Picture: Cameron Bloom

Bloom said she would be sharing the story of how a how a baby magpie changed her outlook after she broke her spine in Thailand.

“My husband and I love travelling, and we have three boys and we took them to Thailand just so they get a taste of a different culture,” she said.

“I had an accident in Thailand and broke my back.”

Bloom said she was devastated after the accident and “wasn’t in a very good headspace”.

“Then, we found a little baby magpie, and she kind of changed everything,” she said.

Sam and Cam Bloom pictured at their Northern Beaches home with a Magpie called Van. The inspirational couple and their story has been made into a movie called Penguin Bloom staring Naomi Watts. Picture: David Swift.

Bloom said it was important to show respect for and acknowledge the history of First Nations people throughout the festival.

“It’s not a very good day for a lot of First Nations people,” she said.

“You want to celebrate Australia Day because you love Australia, but then it’s kind of got that flip side, and it’s traumatic.

“We just have to acknowledge all of the wrongs that we did and just show respect to First Nations and Torres Strait Islander people, because they’re so resilient and tough and been through so much.”

Territorians will be able to purchase signed copies of Bloom’s book at the festival for $35.

‘It’s about the people’: NT’s rising stars set to perform at Australia Day 2023

NT rapper J-MILLA will perform at the Territory's 'Festival of Us' on Australia Day. Picture: Supplied

Top End rapper J-MILLA is set to perform at the Territory’s Festival of Us on Australia Day.

The award-winning musician will perform alongside brother and up-and-coming artist Yung Milla in a 30-minute show.

J-Milla said the routine was not about him or his brother, “it’s about the people and it’s about the youth and whoever else is coming out”.

“For this specific performance, I’ll be probably be bringing a positive message, which will definitely be getting up and going on with your life and always having a positive attitude,” he said.

NT rapper J-MILLA will perform at the Territory's Festival of Us on Australia Day. Picture: Supplied

J-MILLA said the festival would be his first performance for the year and he hoped to “come out with a massive ball of energy”.

“It’s going to be a very enthusiastic show and a massive surprise halfway through,” he said.

“We’re going to do a big dance circle for all the kids that I have been doing for the past couple of shows I’ve had, and it turns out to be very successful.”

J-MILLA plans to release an album in 2023 and has several shows scheduled. Picture: Supplied

Best-selling author Sam Bloom is also set to present at the festival as a keynote speaker.

Ms Bloom will share the story of how she fell through a balcony railing in Thailand, lost her ability to walk, and later became a two-time world para surfing champion.

Australia Day Council Northern Territory chair Dr Richard Fejo said the festival would be a multicultural, inclusive event for all ages and abilities.

“To me, Australia Day is a day where we should reflect on the beauty of our identities, the beauty of our knowledge, the beauty our many diverse cultures, and most importantly, the people who call Australia their home,” he said.

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Originally published as Festival of Us program launches to celebrate Australia Day in NT