Yindyangidyal Ngurambang. Let’s Celebrate!

Yindyangidyal Ngurambang is local Wiradjuri language meaning to honour/respect country. It captures the theme of this year’s festival.

We’re celebrating Cowra. Our history, our people, our cultural diversity, our region, our villages, our town.

There’s plenty of free activities this year with something for everyone.

Head on down to Cowra Visitor and Information Centre this month to see the amazing History of the Festival display compiled by Cowra Historical Society. If you’ve been involved in any of the 55 Festivals since 1965 then there’s a very good chance you’ll find a photo of yourself in one of the scrapbooks. This fascinating display includes finalist entries in the 2022 My Cowra, My Place competition.

Our Youth Ambassadsors are raising funds for a number of local and Lismore based organisations. They’re running lots of activities including raffles, sport days, pie drives and the Great Cowra Bakeoff. They’ll also host our Festival Opening Dinner at the Civic Centre on 1st April.

The Rotary Duck Race makes a return to the carnival this year along with IWC Wrestling, over 40 food and market stalls, pony rides, cultural activities, carnival rides and RFS display and lots of performances. There’s the Cowra’s Got Talent final, the free Mahogany Flow concert at 8pm and a massive fireworks display at 9.15pm.

And of course, don’t miss Festival On Darling – all day Sunday 3 April on Darling Street!

__Welcome to the 2022 Cowra Festival of International Understanding. __

I acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land on which we gather for this event and pay my respects to their elders past, present and emerging.

Conducting the Festival over the past few years with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has been a challenge. Rather than a focus on an individual country this year, the Festival Committee has come up with a program that celebrates of the proud history of the Festival and the cultural history and diversity of the Cowra region.

To emphasise and celebrate the essential role that Indigenous language plays in Cowra’s cultural identity, the Festival Committee invited the Cowra Local Aboriginal Land Council to contribute a phrase from the traditional owners of this country which is a wonderful addition.

Thank you as always to the Festival sponsors, schools, sporting clubs and community organisations that continue to support the Festival each year. We look forward to sharing this wonderful community event with you, and welcome the opportunity for reconnecting, recovering and renewing.

Cowra Mayor, Councillor Bill West

• Topics:
• Living and Lifestyle
• Festivals