Newcastle's Ngarrama festival, a free event celebrating Indigenous culture, returned to King Edward Park on January 25 for its fifth year. The event invited attendees to listen, reflect, and celebrate the cultures, stories, and knowledges that have shaped the region for tens of thousands of years.
Hosted by the University of Newcastle on Awabakal and Worimi country, Ngarrama translates to 'sit, listen and know' in a number of local Aboriginal languages. Bandjin woman and University of Newcastle acting pro vice-chancellor of Indigenous strategy and leadership, Loren Collyer, said the event was about sovereignty, togetherness, and shared history.
The Ngarrama 2026 program included a welcome to country, traditional dance and musical performances, storytelling, and knowledge-sharing. Children were invited to join a lantern parade led by local theatre and puppetry company Curious Legends.
Councillor Deahnna Richardson, a proud Wiradjuri woman and co-chairperson of City of Newcastle's Guraki Standing Committee, said the event was an opportunity for the community to reflect on traditional life in Mooloobinba before 1788 and the journey towards reconciliation. She described Ngarrama as a time for listening and quiet reflection through the sharing of stories, knowledge, and culture.
