Macarthur region residents are invited to be part of this year’s Earth Hour at The Australian Botanic Garden Mount Annan on March 30.
The free family event will also offer the chance to experience Aboriginal culture up close, including interactive workshops, star gazing and live acoustic and dance performances.
Caring for Country will feature elements of traditional Aboriginal culture as a way to connect people with the natural environment.
Campbelltown City Council, Camden Council, Wollondilly Council and The Australian Botanic Garden Mount Annan have joined forces to organise Caring for Country.
“It is fitting that we celebrate the customs of the traditional custodians of the land on a night when we focus on environmental sustainability and turn off the lights,” said Mayor of Campbelltown, Cr George Brticevic.
“Our region is amongst a spectacular natural setting that includes the Nepean River, the Georges River and bushlands that are habitat for some of Australia’s rare and endangered wildlife and plant life,” he said.
“This event is a collaborative effort of people from across our communities, working together to focus everyone on the importance of conserving the natural environment,” he said.
Caring for Country by supporting Earth Hour: Tony Law of the Macarthur Astronomical Society, Camden mayor Peter Sidgreaves, Campbelltown mayor George Brticevic and Dharawal elder Uncle Ivan Wellington at the Mount Annan Botanical Gardens.
Mayor of Camden, Cr Peter Sidgreaves, said he was proud Camden Council was involved in supporting this worldwide movement.
“Camden is home to some iconic and breathtaking natural landscapes and wildlife – the flora and fauna throughout the 416-hectare botanical garden at Mount Annan, the Nepean River and the platypuses that call it home,” Cr Sidgreaves said.
“It’s so important we celebrate our environment and promise ourselves, our children and our community to take care of the neighbourhoods we live in.”
The event will include:
- Didgeridoo playing
- A traditional smoking ceremony
- Dreamtime stories
- Stargazing with the Macarthur Astronomical Society
- Acoustic performance by local musician Hamani Tanginoa
- A lesson on bug hotels and habitats
- Bike n Blend, a bike you can pedal to make your own electricity-free juice
- Seed-sorting workshop
- Eco-art workshop
- Boomerang and stone painting with local artists the Black Cockatoos
- Weaving with natural materials
- Didgeridoo workshop
- Clap-stick message stick creation
Caring for Country will be held 5.30pm to 9.30pm, Saturday, March 30 at The Australian Botanic Garden Mount Annan.
