Sonia Weston leading the parade at the Ngangga Festival at Berninneit on July 6, part of a program of NAIDOC Week events across Bass Coast.
Young Yani enjoyed the NAIDOC Week activities.
Illana Atkinson and Paul "Fonzie" Patten joined Uncle Kutcha Edwards on stage at Berninneit during his July 6 concert.
Treaty Victoria stall - one of the many information, market and arts stalls - on display at the first Ngangga Festival at Berninneit on July 6, part of NAIDOC Week celebrations organised by the Bass Coast Reconciliation Network.
Paul "Fonzie" Patten with Birdz and Fred Leone, after their performance at the Union Theatre in Wonthaggi.
Kutcha Edwards on stage at Berninneit, in a special NAIDOC Week performance.
Art stalls had plenty of creative activities for the kids, at the Ngangga Festival at Berninneit on July 6.
NAIDOC Week 2025 marked 50 years of the annual celebration across Australia with the theme Next Generation: Strength, Vision and Legacy.
The week saw the community supporting a showcase of First Nations art, culture, music and talent in one of the largest coordinated programs of events in Bass Coast to date.
The week kicked off with a meet the artists event for the Bass Coast/South Gippsland NAIDOC Week First Nations Art Exhibition at Artspace in Wonthaggi.
Bass Coast Cultural Venues put on two inspiring events at their performing arts spaces in Wonthaggi and Berninneit in Cowes.
"Saturday night was absolutely pumping for the Birdz & Fred Leone gig with local Gunai singer and storyteller Fonzie opening the show," said Laura A'Bell Marketing and Audience Development Coordinator for Bass Coast Cultural Venues.
"The feedback has been phenomenal. There were hundreds of people dancing, singing and getting totally involved."
The Catching the Light exhibition in Lightbox Lane next to the Union Theatre, Wonthaggi was also a hit with show goers and the community.
Across the week the Union Theatre and Berninneit were lit up with NAIDOC projections each night giving a festive atmosphere to the winter evenings.
The region's first ever NAIDOC Festival, Ngangga, was held in Berninneit on July 6 with stalls, workshops and music giving the space a great vibe. Over 800 festival goers enjoyed the Cultural Games as well as live music, market and information stalls, and workshops including art and weaving, led by Bass Coast First Nations Community members Fonzie Patten, Aunty Lizzie Dalton, Patrice
Mahoney, Les Briggs and family, along with stalls from Baluk Arts and Treaty Victoria.
The Sunday ended with Uncle Kutcha Edwards and band giving a moving performance at the Berninneit theatre.
NAIDOC Week events across Bass Coast for were organised by Bass Coast Cultural Venues, Bass Coast Reconciliation Network and supported by Dhelk Dja: Safe Our Way - Strong Culture, Strong
Peoples, Strong Families, an Aboriginal-led agreement to address family violence in Aboriginal communities.
Bass Coast Reconciliation Network would like to thank the community for their support and look forward to working together to promote reconciliation across the year to come.
Keep up to date: www.basscoast.vic.gov.au/reconciliation
