Latest News

Harmonious at Harwood this Saturday

Yaegl Elders, the Harwood Island Community and the Gallery Foundation invite you to the Harmony Day event at the Harwood Hotel this Saturday June 24. Organisers are ready to build upon the success of last year’s celebration, with a huge day of sharing and entertainment on the menu. Image: file pic Amanda Allan. Inset: Zoe Brown wears an Irish head piece created by her mother, florist Debbie May – ‘world culture head crowns’ created by florists will be the subject of an Instagram picture contest.
The Harwood Hotel will be harmony central this Saturday June 24 and everyone is invited. Kathleen Werry, public officer for the Biirrinda and Harwood Island Community Committee, said that the postponement of the Harmony Day event in March has resulted in an expanded program, with the Grafton Regional Gallery Foundation throwing its support behind the celebration. “We have heaps of performers lined up, including opera singer Michelle Ryan, who is back from performing in Europe, performances from local schools, cultural dance and music groups and tons of bands,” she said. “We will have food from all over the world, including South America, Italy, India, the Marshall Islands, Ireland, and of course an Aussie sausage sizzle. “We also have guest speakers including Clarence MP Chris Gulaptis, experts from Macquarie University and free face painting for the kids. “The Grafton gallery will have an art display and we’ll be raffling hundreds of dollars of prizes throughout the day, all generously donated by local businesses. Celebrating the theme of Everyone Belongs, the day’s entertainment starts following the Welcome to Country, official opening and speeches at 10am. This will be followed by a stellar line-up of performing artists who have donated their time to the cause: Michelle Ryan, Flame ’n Mad, Piper and Saskia Ramsay, the Ryan Enns School of Music and harpist Geoff Welham get the show started. Then from around 1pm Les Rault (Dirt Music), Declan Hickey and Maddie Robinson, Grace Hickey and the Honey Drops and The Undecided take to the stage. From around 4.30pm, Lionel and Perry, Rob Imeson, Willie Hona and Friends, Sea of Stones and Jackie Kempnich and Jayc Salter move the show along to around 9pm. The Maclean and District Pipe Band will make an appearance, too, and there will be a designated Instagram photo shoot between 1-3pm featuring world culture head crowns created by local florists. “It’s shaping up to be an incredible day, and we can’t wait to show off everything the Clarence Valley has to offer,” says Kathleen Werry. The day is sponsored by The Gallery Foundation, Multicultural NSW and the Clarence Valley Council.