Rain and lightning did not put a dampener on the region’s first Treaty Day Out.
People of all ages gathered at Rumbalara Football Netball Club in Shepparton, relaxing on picnic rugs and in camping chairs, ready to enjoy the star-studded line-up of First Nations artists in support of Treaty.
The event, held by the First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria, was to coincide with the assembly’s by-election in which voting opened for First Nations people in Victoria’s north-east region to choose a representative throughout the Treaty process.
First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria head of engagement and communications Amy Rust said the day exceeded all expectations.
“It was absolutely amazing, the only thing that could stop us was the gods and they gave that a crack with the lightning storm that passed over but other than that, from our perspective it was just incredible,” she said.
Ms Rust said the event ran smoothly with more than 3000 patrons attending from across the state.
Goulburn Valley locals Madi Colville-Walker, Scott Darlow and Wulumbarra dancers managed to escape the weather, along with a show-stopping act from Elder Archie Roach that stunned the audience.
Organisers were holding their, hoping for a clear day as the possibility of rain shadowed the week before the event.
The day started with sunshine and a top of 32°C, with the rain holding off until the night, when skies darkened and lightning lit up the sky.
Yothu Yindi performed half a set before being halted by the lightning warning, but punters persisted.
After a half-hour downpour, the band continued and performed its famous Treaty anthem.
The group was followed on stage by Mo’Ju, Shepparton hometown star Briggs and Electric Fields.
Rumbalara Football Netball Club president Joshua Atkinson said it was both a privilege and an honour to be considered as a venue for such a significant event.
He said the whole experience had been “surreal to a degree”, giving thanks to JL Productions and Hire, Greater Shepparton City Council and the properties surrounding the venue.
“We hope that our football club and our branding has some cut-through with the Aboriginal community and the mainstream community in being able to get the message of Treaty out there as far and as wide as possible,” he said.
“To hopefully erase any fears of what Treaty may be or what people may be anxious about in relation to Treaty.”
The festival was the first event of its kind, celebrating and raising awareness for Victoria’s path to Treaty.
The First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria was formed in 2019 for the purpose of negotiating a Treaty or Treaties with the Victorian Government.
Representatives from the assembly were available to discuss all things Treaty with attendees.
A voting poll was open to eligible First Nations enrollees, receiving a “healthy turnout” of voters on the day, Ms Rust said.
“As far as we’re concerned, everything that we set out to do and the purpose and the outcomes actually aligned, it was really excellent,” she said.
Plans for the next Treaty Day Out are not in the works just yet, but Ms Rust said there was hope.
“The assembly is broken up into five regions so if we were looking to do another one, we’d definitely look to share that love around,” she said.
Voting in the by-election is open now and could be done online, via post or at a voting location listed through www.firstpeoplesvic.org
The Shepparton voting location at 33 Nixon St, Shepparton, is offering a raffle prize of a Treaty Day Out T-shirt for those who vote.