On the 12th of February, staff from Musica Viva Australia joined us to do a walking tour of Redfern and get a greater insight into the significance of the area for Aboriginal people. Musica Viva Australia are one of the world’s leading presenters of Chamber music and are passionate supporters of First Nations musicians, communities and stories.
Unfortunately our Redfern local, Dean Widders Jnr, decided that he would rather walk the streets of Tokyo, so with him in Japan, it was left up to Jared, Janine, Paul and Kara to give the MVA team an experience they wouldn’t forget.
The group started their journey at The Block, opposite Redfern Station, an area that holds extreme significance to the community. The Block began as a housing project for Aboriginal people and today there are important community services and organisations located there including The Redfern Community Centre, Aboriginal Housing Office and the Tony Mundine Gym. And yes, everyone had to strike a strong boxing stance and throw a few jabs at the punching bag. But let’s just say, we all agreed to stick to our passions of music and singing.
Walking through the area, participants explored photos of ‘The Block’ in the 1990s, highlighting how much the area has evolved and changed over the decades. The tour continued with a stop at the National Centre of Indigenous Excellence (NCIE). Here, the group gained an understanding of how the NCIE embodies the importance of community health, strength, and connection not just for First Nations people but for all Australians.
While we were en-route to Koori Radio, the group ran into country music icon and Gomeroi elder, Uncle Roger Knox. A living legend who definitely aligned more with the industry MVA is used to. He kindly greeted the group with warmth and wisdom revealing the power of storytelling through music for Aboriginal people.
By the end of the day, everyone agreed, the true impact wasn’t found in the punch of the boxing bag, but in the deep sense of community and the powerful connection that brought everyone together through a very educational and inspiring day in the heart of Redfern.
