Media Release
13 July 2021
The Australian Embassy Jakarta together with The Australian Consulate-General Makassar will hold a public virtual tour of the National Museum of Australia’s temporary exhibition, Yidaki: Didjeridu and the Sound of Australia, as part of NAIDOC Week 2021.
The tour provides opportunities to learn about Australia’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander arts and culture, especially the story of the Yolŋu people of northeast Arnhem Land and the custodianship of the Yidaki instrument. The audience can explore the history of the Yolŋu people and their connection to the seafarers of South Sulawesi that dates from at least since 1700s, and which sparked the beginning of the Indonesia-Australia relationship.
Australian Chargé d’Affaires Steve Scott said the virtual tour demonstrates Australia’s commitment to promote connections between the Australian-Indonesian historical, arts and cultural communities.
“The relationship between Australian and Indonesian communities was born hundreds of years ago, in the early visits by traders from Makassar to Northern Australia. These early engagements have left an imprint in both countries’ artistic and cultural landscapes, as well as influencing language in both our countries,” Mr Scott said.
“Today I am pleased to invite all Indonesians to immerse themselves in this virtual tour of Yidaki: Didjeridu and the Sound of Australia. I hope this virtual event will support the deep connections between our communities.”
The public virtual tour will be streamed live on Thursday, 15 July at 15:00 WIB (16:00 WITA) on Australian Embassy Jakarta’s YouTube channel and The Australian Consulate-General Makassar’s Facebook page. The tour will be led by Margo Neale, Head of the National Museum of Australia’s Indigenous Knowledges Curatorial Centre, and accompanied by Indonesian student in Australia Vania Budianto.
Australian Embassy Jakarta will also facilitate virtual excursions at Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences (Powerhouse Museum) Sydney that will invite Indonesian students under the Australian BRIDGE school programs in Jepara, Pasaman, Makassar, Denpasar and Surabaya to explore the role played by astronomy at various parts in Australian history.
NAIDOC Week celebrations are held across Australia each July. The theme for NAIDOC Week 2021 is ‘Heal Country’.
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