Yarrabah rocks to Black Arm Band, The Cairns Post
22 July 2009
MUSIC rang out at Yarrabah on Saturday night as about 1000 people crammed into Jilara Oval for a free Black Arm Band concert.
Well-known Australian performers including Archie Roach, Ruby Hunter, Dan Sultan, Kutcha Edwards, Shellie Morris, Bart Willoughby, Shane Howard and Emma Donovan performed songlines of contemporary Aboriginal life.
The concert was organised through Black Arm Band, an organisation that aims to perform, promote and celebrate contemporary Australian indigenous music as a symbol of the spirit and action of reconciliation.
Organiser Mala Neal said the concert was a much-needed morale-booster for residents of the town, still reeling after the Federal Government scrapped CDEP, an indigenous work-for-the-dole scheme.
"It was the best thing to happen to this community for a very, very long time and it couldn't have come at a better time," he said.
"The opportunity to go to the concert just blew everyone away."
Music morale: Peter Rotumah delights the crowd. Photographer: SEAN DAVEY© 2009 The Cairns Post PTY LTD. Back to Reviews