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The Blessing of the FleetA Festival of Italian and Indigenous Australian Traditions
This will bring together those timeless traditions the Italian community brought to Ulladulla when it established the town's vital fishing industry with those of the Koori people, the original inhabitants of the area. In recent years' festivals, there has been an involvement of the indigenous community but this year, it will prove to be a highlight culminating in a magnificent parade and performance. This will be produced by the festival's artistic director, Neil Cameron, who is renowned for his staging of the Woodford Festival among other major events. The highlight will be a celebration of The Spirit of Ngulla in the evening of Easter Sunday. 'Ngulla' is the Aboriginal word for the 'still waters' of Ulladulla harbour.
This is traditionally preceded by a grand parade along the Princes Highway to the wharves, of 40 or more lavishly and topically decorated floats headed by the life-size statue of St Peter, the patron saint of the fisherman, and the newly crowned Princess of the Fleet. A daylong picnic with continuous family events follows in Ulladulla's harbour side park and after sunset, the indigenous presentation begins with a 'welcome' performance by eight members of the local Aboriginal dance group, Budamurra Bunan.
Underlining the presence of the Shoalhaven indigenous community will be an exhibition of the arts, crafts and traditions of the 'saltwater people' organised by local personality, Tom Avery. This will be held in the Ulladulla Civic Centre overlooking the harbour and there will be performances, workshops and displays during the festival as well as bush tucker to sample and visitors are even invited to learn to play the didgeridoo. Australians are enjoying more stay-at-home holidays and more and more are heading to the South Coast, particularly Ulladulla with its picturesque harbour and cosmopolitan lifestyle along with the magnificent nearby beach at Mollymook. Indeed, it is an award-winning combination and last year's festival attracted more than 70,000 visitors leading to a shortage of accommodation and giving a warning to book early for potential travelers this year. The indigenous element of the festival enjoys a Ministry for the Arts grant for The Spirit of Ngulla' Reconciliation Project and the lantern parade was made possible by Festivals Australia, a Commonwealth Government program which supports cultural activity at regional and community festivals. The Ulladulla Blessing of the Fleet is a major, annual event staged in conjunction with Tourism New South Wales Authorities. Blessing of the Fleet informationAccommodation & General Enquiries : Festival Committee Inc. Edited by Dave Shultz |
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Thousands of years
of cultural history will come together in Ulladulla over the Easter weekend,
(30 March 1 April) when the age-old ritual of The Blessing of the Fleet is
celebrated in a spectacular festival. 
This true family
festival will be staged over all three days of Easter holiday but the most
significant element will be the actual Blessing of the Fleet, which will be
performed by the local priest, Father David O'Brien, on the morning of
Easter Sunday. 
This is followed by
a parade of more than 200 children carrying beautiful lanterns of silk and
bamboo and led by a massive, symbolic boat, glowing from within and
signifying good wishes for the fisherman and the local community for the
future. 
During the evening,
the harbour will be dotted with floating 'fire pictures' of fish sculptures
and the festivities will conclude with a magnificent fireworks display.