Ballardong First is a community-led celebration of Ballardong Noongar culture, held over three days in various locations in York, Western Australia, during the Australia Day 2026 weekend. Building on the success of previous years, the event will bring together local Elders, artists, craftspeople, and community members for a vibrant program of cultural sharing, artmaking, music, dance, and storytelling.
Program Highlights:
Cultural workshops featuring Noongar Rapper Zero MC, storytelling chef Zack Green , Bush medicine expert Aunty Viv Hanson and Mort, plus art, basket weaving and tool making workshops led by Noongar facilitators.
Taste of Bushtucker celebrating traditional foods and contemporary Noongar cuisine from emerging celebrity chef, with community members invited to share inconversation and connection. Cultural performances and entertainment from Corroberee for Life, Zero MC, Racheal Blurton and welcome to country from Noongar elder Dennis Kickett.
Truth telling – from Dennis Kickett Ballardong Elder who will host a yarning circle, Tracey Kickett Ballardong Elder sharing Ballardong Culture, Janet Osborne speaking about the Gerald Mission site and Ann Hawke talking about being part of the stolen generation.
