The rehearsal for Pondi, the giant Murray Cod. Photo by Kiah Baxter.

Media Release

Friday, 23 October 2009

Over the past 14 days and nights a giant Murray cod has been swimming through the Swan Hill Aboriginal Health Service and on some nights he makes it down to the steps at Riverside Park –have you seen him? 

The Aboriginal Dreaming story of Pondi and the Creation of the Murray River is coming to the opening of the Go North Arts Festival this Saturday, 24 October at Riverside Park, and will be performed on the steps with the river for a backdrop.

The story of the hunter who makes camp by a billabong with his family and then hunts the giant fish he finds, is important to Aboriginal tribal groups along the river and has been taught recently in many of the local primary schools. 

Local community members have joined the artistic team in making this story come to life through puppetry, theatre, traditional dance and music.

"The line up for the opening ceremony is looking great,” Go North Arts Festival committee member Kim Bennett said. 

"I have been to some of the Pondi rehearsals and I am amazed by the beauty of it. It really will be a beautiful piece of theatre and will highlight some of our local talent." 

Theatre maker Angela Frost and Puppeteer Michelle Fifer are joined by local sound artist Simon McMillan, sound mentoree and VCAL placement student Jeremiah Kirby, Bruce Mitchell on set design and construction, didge player Joshua King, choreographers Rex and Jon Hayne and Jharrad Simpson as the hunter, while Imparja Pettit, Josh Moss, Bayden Clayton and Cianna Chaplin are some of the other dedicated performers in the show.

Local artists Yvonne Mitchell and Ivy Bell will be painting during the show and the cast includes up to 30 community members who have committed to eight-hour rehearsals each day during the past two weeks as puppeteers, narrators, dancers and musicians.

Deadly Project Manager Bruce Baxter, has also been supported in putting the project together by the Swan Hill Aboriginal Health Service, in particular Tania Wise and Ken Knight as well as Kim Bennett from Regional Arts Victoria.

This once-only performance of Pondi will be part of the Go North Arts Festival official opening celebrations and will commence just on dusk (approximately 7.50pm) with a traditional smoking ceremony which will lead the audience to the performance area on the river. Please bring your own rugs and cushions and dress for the weather.

Please note - if it is raining, Pondi will be performed indoors on Sunday night at Longhurst Hall, Payika College at 7.30pm.