burrinja community celebration day

Well it's been quite a journey for our community. From council amalgamations which saw our Shire of Sherbrooke offices under threat of sale by the Commissioners, a long and passionate community campaign to keep our shire offices and turn them into a community cultural centre, the trials and tribulations of funding, design and construction through to a $9million performing arts facility. What a journey!

And this Saturday is the day when all of community can come and celebrate their achievements at the Burrinja Community Celebration Day.

Saturday 30th July will be a free day of activities throughout the centre, including:
The official opening by Yarra Ranges Mayor, Cr Terry Avery
Performances in a brand spanking new theatre by Burrinja Choir for a Day, Singularity, Mullum Mullum Indigenous Dancers, Ranges Young Strings, Utassy Ballet School, GEMCO and many more local groups
4 new art exhibitions including Stories of Song and Dance - showcasing items from the Burrinja/McLeod Gift Collection (thanks Neil - we're indebted to your generosity), Our Place-Our Space - Koori Art exploring the theme of identity in contemporary Australia, Focus - a group photographic exhibition behind the scenes of Utassy and ActUp and Rodney Saulwick: Silent Speech and GUIs, a retrospective of Rodney's work
Bush tucker in the newly created Art of Place Indigenous Garden
Mask Making workshop, indigenous weaving, films from the Black Screen Festival
Tours of the centre, led by a dedicated bunch of wonderful Burrinja volunteers
To end the day, the grand finale, a live performance of Peter and the Wolf by the Nicholas Chamber Orchestra with special guest narrator Derek Guille. (small fee of $7 for this one and starts at 4:30pm)

To download a program click here.

What a great way to open, I look forward to seeing you there.