Cairns Indigenous expo expected to be ‘unique’ and ‘rare’ experience

Visitors will be treated with a ‘unique’ experience on Wednesday at this year’s Indigenous business expo.

Visitors will be treated with a truly ‘unique’ experience on Wednesday at this year’s Indigenous business expo. Picture: Brendan Radke

The region’s best Indigenous stores and creatives will showcase their work this Wednesday at the 3rd annual Cairns Indigenous Business Expo.

Event co-creator Marc Harbrow said the expo was a rare opportunity to see so many businesses under the same roof.

“It’s a unique experience, they can’t walk into a shop and find what they’re going to find here on Wednesday,” Mr Harbow said.

“So it’s going to be unique, it’s going to be rare, and maybe they could have something in their household that nobody else has,” he said.

The event was expected to draw in somewhere between 800-1000 visitors and will have over 50 exhibitors on offer.

Visitors can expect to see unique art, musical performances, native food and demonstrations.

The Cairns Indigenous Business Expo will return to The Pier Shopping Centre for a third consecutive year, with this year's expo featuring interstate exhibitors for the first time. Merindi Schrieber from the Briscoe Sisters, event organiser Marc Harbrow and Bush Tukka woman Samantha Martin admire the artwork of Lorna Jackson, a Northern Territory desert artist who will be selling her work at this year's Cairns Indigenous Business Expo. Picture: Brendan Radke

Local musician Merindi Schrieber is performing on Wednesday as part of the Briscoe Sisters who recently played at the Sydney Opera House.

Ms Schrieber said the event was an exceptional thing to be part of because of the people it brought together and the community it created.

“It’s magic, you know,” Ms Schrieber said.

“I guess for us, it’s about those relationships that we have in the community, and so we’re always, using these times where we can connect.

“It’s about just supporting each other and being all in one space. I think that’s just priceless,” she said.

The Cairns Indigenous Business Expo will return to The Pier Shopping Centre for a third consecutive year, with this year's expo featuring interstate exhibitors for the first time. Merindi Schrieber from the Briscoe Sisters, event organiser Marc Harbrow and Bush Tukka woman Samantha Martin admire the artwork of Lorna Jackson, a Northern Territory desert artist who will be selling her work at this year's Cairns Indigenous Business Expo. Picture: Brendan Radke

Samantha Martin known as ‘Bush Tukka Woman’ is an author, business owner and television star who will be showcasing her knowledge about native food on Wednesday. “I’ll be basically educating people about our corporation and the footprints that we have within far north Queensland and what we’re wanting to do to build the bush food industry up here,” Ms Martin said.

Ms Martin said the event was a great opportunity for people to engage and learn with Indigenous businesses who are just starting out.

“It allows them to sort of have sort of a semi-small platform to be able to launch, either launch themselves if they’re emerging, or if they’re around,” Ms Martin said.

The event will run from 1pm-5pm at the Pier and is open to everyone.

Originally published as Cairns Indigenous expo expected to be ‘unique’ and ‘rare’ experience