Koojay Corroboree
Celebrating Aboriginal ceremony, tradition & culture
Council, in conjunction with the La Perouse Local Aboriginal Land Council, is holding the annual Koojay Corroboree on Coogee Beach as part of National Reconciliation Week. This year the event will be held on Friday 31 May 2024 from 11am.
The sands of Coogee Beach come to life as Aboriginal Dancers performed traditional and contemporary dance in an event where Australia’s First Nations People interact with the Dreaming through dance, music and storytelling.
The Corroboree is held during National Reconciliation Week; a time for all Australians to learn about our shared histories, cultures and achievements and explore how each of us can join the national reconciliation effort and take fresh action in creating a nation strengthened by respectful relationships.
The National Reconciliation Week theme for 2024, Now More Than Ever, is a reminder to all of us that no matter what, the fight for justice and the rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people will —and must —continue.
Stallholders
This year we are excited to be bringing stalls to Koojay Corroboree. Please come along and visit our stallholders from 10am-1pm.
- Smoking Ceremony by David Johnson from Gamay Dancers
- Welcome to Country from La Perouse Local Aboriginal Land Council
- Jannawi Dance Clan Performance
- National Anthem in Dharawal Language sung by Cianna Walker and Olivia Coe Fox
- Gamay Dancers Performance
- Speech from Cr Philipa Veitch, Mayor of Randwick
- Speech form Noeleen Timbery, Chairperson La Perouse Local Aboriginal Land Council
- Speech from Keren Longbottom, student speaker from Matraville Soldiers’ Settlement Public School
- Speech from Nessa Ingrey Student Speaker from Sista Speak Program at Matraville Sports High School who created this years' artwork
- Saltwater Dancers from Chifley Public School Performance
- Galu Dancers from La Perouse Public School Performance
- Doonooch Dancers Performance
| Stallholder Image | Stallholder | Social Media |
|---|---|---|
 | Dollies Tribe of Jarjum Dollies | www.dolliestribe.com.au |
 | Mara Designs | |
 | Na Joomelah | @NaJoomelah (Facebook, Instagram and TikTok) |
 | Ngurrbul Collection | www.NgurrbulCollection.com.au |
 | Tarni Jane Designs | www.tarnijanedesigns.com.au |
2024 Event Program
Eric Avery in the Watchtower
Join Eric Avery, Indigenous musician and dance artist, for an incredible and intimate violin performance in the Macquarie Watchtower.
Date: Friday 31 May
Time: 6 pm - 7 pm
Location: Macquarie Watchtower, La Perouse Headland, 2036
Apologies, this event has sold out. For more information, please click here
History
National Reconciliation Week (NRW) runs annually from 27 May – 3 June. These dates mark two milestones in Australia’s reconciliation journey:
- The 1967 referendum and the historic Mabo decision, respectively.
- The 1967 successful referendum paved the way for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to be counted in the census and gave Commonwealth Government powers to make laws for the benefit of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
- The Mabo decision by the High Court of Australia turned over the notion of terra-nullius recognising Aboriginal native title of the lands of Australia.
For more information on National Reconciliation Week please click here
Koojay Corroboree was first held in 2015 and has grown in to a significant Council event. The Koojay Corroboree is a celebration of the continuation of local Aboriginal culture and knowledge.
Check out some photos from our 2023 event
