Thrive Festival

A woman with long hair in a braid, wearing a blue shirt, standing in a forest with arms outstretched and eyes closed, appearing happy and relaxed.

Celebrating our region’s abundance on Gumbaynggirr country.

Running alongside the Bellingen Growers and Poultry Market at the Bellingen Showgrounds, ‘Thrive Festival’ will involve all sectors of the Bellingen Shire - community groups, emergency services, food producers, Gumbaynggirr elders, health professionals, renewable energy experts, weather watchers, environmentalists and more.

Let's reconnect, celebrate the things that make our community so special, deepen our connection with this place, and learn from each other.

Saturday 4 March Festival Program

Sunday Sessions 5 March Info + Tickets

Luncheon Room

A man in a yellow shirt holding bottles of flavored syrup at an outdoor market stall.

Preserving and Pickling

with Gabriel Gutnik | Ziggy Wild Foods

9.00 - 10.00am, Luncheon Room

Ziggy's Wild Foods hand forages wild ingredients to create a range of fermented condiments and drinks. They also hold workshops about their process - everything from cured meats, fermented condiments, to miso’s, preserved fruits, veggies and even flowers.
In this workshop you'll learn about their process to preserve seasonal abundance, develop flavour and extend the shelf life of delicate ingredients - like vegetables, fruits, milk and meat - to near indefinite.

A woman with curly brown hair and a bright smile wearing a brown top and red overalls, standing in a cozy kitchen. The other side shows culinary ingredients and tools on a rustic wooden table, including a bowl of pink flower petals in water, small bowls with spices, and a person’s hand pouring ingredients into a container.

Ayurvedic Cooking for the Seasons

with Amy Graham | Hidden River Ayurveda

11.00am - 12.00pm, Luncheon Room

Ayurveda is an ancient healing science which views food as medicine and teaches us how to live in balance with the seasons.
Amy Graham is owner of Hidden River Ayurveda and has been practising as an Ayurvedic practitioner for 12 years.
Join Amy for a workshop on the philosophy and the Ayurvedic seasonal changes. In particular Autumn and Winter foods and practices that can help us stay balanced during the cooler months.

Family of four with two children and a dog sitting on a picnic table outdoors in a grassy area with blooming trees, and a house in the background. Top right shows a cut of cooked steak with green vegetables and roasted potatoes on a wooden table. Bottom right shows packaged raw meats, including steak, sausages, and other cuts, on a wooden surface.

Nose-to-Tail : Nutrient-Dense Cooking

with Bello Beef | Levenvale Farm

12.30 - 1.30pm, Luncheon Room

The Baker family own and run Levenvale Farm, a sustainable beef farm in the bucolic Bellingen valley where they grow their Bello Beef Organic range. The Farm is also home to The Patch Organics, an organic poultry and ethical food range.
In this workshop discover some of the Bello Beef products and learn all you need to know about nose-to-tail eating and the nutritional and environmental benefits.

A man with glasses and a full beard standing outside a house with yellow siding, wearing a blue shirt and patterned shorts. Next to him, a hand is placing fresh vegetables, including peppers, zucchini, yellow bell pepper, and fresh greens, into a black grocery basket.

Nourishing the Community

with Mitch Grady | Bowl of Plenty

2.00 - 3.00pm, Luncheon Room

Bowl of Plenty has been running now for over 4 years. It all started after Mitch Grady, former Popla owner and current co-owner of Lucky Shi San, approached the Neighbourhood Centres of Bellingen Shire (NCoBS) about running a Community meal.
The aim was to reduce food waste and to bring the community together with a warm, nourishing meal and companionship. Today it hosts a community meal in Urunga on the first Wednesday of the month and Bellingen on the second and fourth Wednesday of the month. It also offers a range of frozen meals. Oz Harvest, supports the program with ingredients deliveries every week. The Swiss Patisserie and the Urunga Country oven Bakery, donate the bread. Community members and regular chefs help ensure that the tables are ready, meals are hot and the room is clean again after every community meal.
Come along, have a chat, learn more about the program and share a community meal.

The Pavilion

Colorful sky with large, illuminated orange and purple storm clouds above a flat landscape with a guardrail and road signs.

Weather Showcase

9.00 - 9.30am, The Pavilion

OzGREEN
Bellingen Shire Council
Bellingen Weather

A person's hands holding a bunch of fresh, ripe strawberries.

Sustainable Food Practices

9.30am - 10.00am, The Pavilion

Dolly’s Run
Biodynamic Agriculture Australia
Women Who Farm

A flowing mountain stream with large rocks and surrounded by green trees.

Water Showcase

10.30-11.00am, The Pavilion

Design with Nature
Bellingen Riverwatch

Person harvesting a purple beetroot in a garden.

What’s Growing in our Shire?

11.00 -11.30am, The Pavilion

The Patch Organic
Levenvale Farm
Northbank Community Gardens

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Future Possibilities

11.30am-12.00pm, The Pavilion

Fractal Economy Coop
Kombu Wholefoods
Centre of Ecological Learning

Row of solar panels in a field under a blue sky with scattered clouds.

Energy Showcase

12.00 - 1.00pm, The Pavilion

Better Volt
SolarRun
Smart Water & Energy Solutions
Bellingen Shire Electricity Alliance

Brown, muddy water with swirling currents and foam.

Fire, Flood & Forecast

1.00 - 2.30pm, The Pavilion

Rural Fire Services
Fire and Rescue
SES
Neighbourhood Care Network
Police Services

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Gumbaynggirr Audience Choir

2.30 - 3.00pm, The Pavilion

In this free half hour workshop, Micklo and Luke will show how music and singing are great ways to learn language.
You will be able to learn two songs in Gumbaynggirr Language, and find the richness of connecting through singing and sharing language.
Micklo and Luke have been working together for several years now, and love to share their love of music and language with others.
They hold a language and singing class every week on Monday’s at 4pm, at the Bello Youth Hub.

Main Stage

A woman playing guitar and singing into a microphone outdoors, with a large drum and a didgeridoo, on a wooden stage in a rural setting with trees and open fields.

Afi James

8.30 - 9.15am, Main Stage

Afi James, aka Aidan MacGillivray, is a one-man jig-hop, reggae-roots funk-soul wonder!
Come experience his unique music and enjoy the start of the festival with this performance at 8:30am.

Collage of three people outdoors: an Indigenous man with facial paint and dreadlocks wearing a yellow hoodie, a woman with long gray hair wearing a colorful sweater, and a man with short gray hair wearing a beige blazer.

Opening Ceremony

10.00 - 10.30am, Main Stage

with Uncle Micklo, Sue Lennox, Mayor Stephen Allan and Bellingen High School Gumbaynggirr Dance Group.
Join us for the official opening of Thrive Festival at Main Stage 10am!
The opening ceremony incorporating a welcome to country by Uncle Miklo, integrated with a performance from the Bellingen High School Gumbaynggirr Dance group, as well as, a welcome speech from Mayor Stephen Allan and OzGREEN Co-Founder, Sue Lennox.

A split image of two portraits of a bald man with a beard and light skin. The left side shows a black-and-white photo of the man holding a tambourine and smiling. The right side shows a color photo of the same man smiling, with a microphone nearby, wearing a blue jacket, in a setting with dim lighting and bokeh lights in the background.

Greg Sheehan

10.30-11.30am, Main Stage

Greg Sheehan has been performing for the last four decades of Australian music as a band leader and member, solo artist and studio musician on hundreds of recordings. He is a major influence on generations of musicians both in Australia and overseas.
As well as hosting a Body Percussion workshop Greg will perform at the main stage - you don't want to miss this!

Two photos side by side. The left photo features two older men outdoors; one with a white beard and hair, wearing a pink Hawaiian shirt with black and green patterns, and the other with gray hair, wearing a blue checkered shirt. The man with the beard is holding a popsicle. The right photo shows a man outdoors with a long gray beard, wearing a large tan wide-brimmed hat, yellow sports jacket with patterns, and sunglasses hanging from the collar.

Elders Storytelling

12.00 - 1.00pm, Main Stage

Storytelling is the beating heart of Gumbaynggirr culture as it is the primary way in which their history has been recorded.
In this segment Gumbaynggirr community members and elders will provide the audience with the unique opportunity to connect to country, themselves and to each other.
The storytelling will commence from noon with Gumbaynggirr elders - Uncle Cecil Briggs, Uncle Alan Phillips and Uncle Martin Ballangarry.

Three women stand close together in a black-and-white photo, with the woman in the middle holding a violin and a bow. The woman on the left is holding a guitar, and the woman on the right is partly out of the frame. They are all wearing stylish tops and large earrings.

Wild Thyme

1.30-2.30pm, Main Stage

Wild Thyme consists of three captivating female artists, Arlene Fletcher, double bass, Katie Crane, guitar, and Laura Targett, fiddle.
Soulful, upbeat and wild - their unique and instrumental expertise, outstanding improvisation and sweet harmonies will mesmerise audiences one minute and have them up and dancing the next.

Crowd gathered at an outdoor festival featuring dancers in white dresses with red flowers in their hair, with drummers in the center playing percussion instruments, and large colorful decorations and banners in the background.

Samba Soul

3.00-4.00pm, Main Stage

Samba Soul is a drumming group made up of soulful and captivating musicians led by husband and wife team, Kaya and Holly.
The group aims to put a sparkle in the corner of your eyes and lift up the vibration. Come along for a groove and to feel the fun!

Nourish Tent

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Mindfulness and Compassion

with Lisa Brown & Jude Baderle

9.00 - 10.00am, Nourish Tent

Discover how mindfulness and compassion practices can help in times of immense change and uncertainty. This workshop is facilitated by Lisa Brown and Jude Baderle.
Lisa Brown is a Psychologist, Certified Mindfulness-based Stress Reductions Teacher and Yoga Teacher. Jude Baderle is a Mindfulness-based Somatic Psychotherapist. Both women have a special interest in creatively working with the Dharma and Meditation to support health and wellbeing.

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Herbs for Resilience

with Laura Harrison | Chamomile Natural Health

11.00am - 12pm, Nourish Tent

Laura Harrison is co-creator of Chamomile Natural Health and has over 10 years of experience as a Naturopath and Herbalist. She offers consultations from her Bellingen clinic and facilitates workshops for other practitioners and enthusiasts.
Join Laura's workshop and learn how to manage your health during times of stress. She will guide guests through the different signs and symptoms your body uses to show you areas of imbalance. Then the herbs, techniques, nutritional support and wholistic food choices to strengthen your mind and body.

Group of diverse women playing drums outdoors during daylight, with trees and sky in the background.

Drumming Workshop

with The Rhythm Realm

12.30 - 1.30pm, Nourish Tent

The Rhythm Realm offers global percussion workshops, retreats and performances where you can experience the transformational qualities of group drumming.
Their mission is "to lift the vibration of people, communities and the quality of their daily practices with the universal language of music".
Come and learn the samba drills, footwork, playful choreographies and get moving at this super fun day - all ages welcome!

Close-up photograph of an older man with a white beard and mustache, smiling gently, against a plain background.

Body Percussion Workshop

with Greg Sheehan

2.00 - 3.00pm, Nourish Tent

Body percussion is an amazing way to learn about rhythm in a fun group environment. The workshop will be facilitated by ‘Rhythm Magician,’ Greg Sheehan. Greg is a local artist with decades of experience, he will provide information on his unique style of rhythmic notation and body percussion techniques.
This workshop will get you clapping, stomping and discovering music using your own body, no instruments needed!

Discovery Room

Close-up of a 3D printer nozzle depositing orange filament onto a print bed.

Repair & Replace with 3D Printing

with Anton Juodvalkis | OzGREEN

9.00 - 10.00am, Discovery Tent

Discover how we can re-use our plastic waste with 3-D printing. Also repair bits and bobs around the house by simply printing! Anton Juodvalkis from OzGREEN will host the session.

A smiling woman with long wavy hair and earrings, wearing a colorful knitted cardigan over a dark blue top, standing outdoors with a blurred green forest background.

Big Picture Thinking

with Sue Lennox | OzGREEN

11.00am - 12.00pm, Discovery Tent

Learn a tool to connect, share ideas and ignite action. Let’s create the world we want to live in.
A session run by Sue Lennox Co-Founder of OzGREEN.

Close-up of a small, furry primate with large, dark eyes, pink nose, and rounded ears, sitting on a wooden surface with a dark blurred background.

Caring for Country

with Mark Graham | Bellingen Nature Tours

12.30 - 1.30pm, Discovery Tent

Ecologist Mark Graham, who has spent thousands of hours in the rainforests and rivers of our region, shares his lived experience of how much connectivity between flora and fauna matters to the healthy existence of earth.
He will take attendees through the globally significant natural values of our region: how to care for, fix up and expand them for the benefit and wellbeing of all.
Join Mark at 12.30pm in the Discovery Room.

A woman sitting outdoors by a campfire, weaving with natural fibers, with a backpack and camping chair nearby and trees in the background.

Bushcraft & String-Making Workshop

with Evelin Oaktree

1.30 - 3.00pm, Discovery Tent

Evelin Oaktree facilitates Bush Clinics in Kalang and surrounding areas which foster a connection with nature, support health and restore the mind and body.
Join Evelin’s workshop and discover how our well-being is intimately connected with our natural surrounds. She will guide guests through the process of string-making, the bushcraft way.

Malaami Tent

Looking up at a large tree with thick, twisting roots and branches covered in green leaves, creating a dense canopy.

Conversation circles for future building

10.30am - 3pm, Malaami Tent

The Centre for Ecological Learning (CEL) will hold conversation circles for future building throughout the day in the Garraam Project Tent. These will include:
Activism and holding actions
Creating new structures
Shifting consciousness
Each Conversation Circle will be guided by facilitators grounded in that area, and will allow for engaged listening and cross pollination of ideas.

Outdoor Events

Front view of red and white fire truck inside fire station with wet floor and garage doors open.

Emergency Services : Water Games & Fat Fire Demo

with Rural Fire Service & Fire Rescue Service

A woman sitting on a park bench by the ocean with a bicycle parked nearby during the daytime.

Bike Station : Electric Bikes demo and display

with Zippy E Bikes

A split image showing a black and white photograph of a smiling man with messy hair and teeth, outdoors with tree branches in the background on the left, and a colorful digital or artistic rendering of a face with detailed textures and swirling patterns on the right.

Reflections Workshop

with Gumbaynggirr man Bernard Kelly-Edwards

Meet at 1pm at the entrance to the Nourish Tent

Kids Space

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Bush Clay

with Bronwyn Napiorkowski

10.30am - 12.00pm, Kids Space

Join Bronwyn Napiorkowski, a local Art Therapist for a fun craft session experimenting with bush clay.
Bronwyn will bring along clay collected from The Bellinger river bank and show participants how to make some interesting and unique creations.
Come along - crumble earth, add water and roll! Fun for all ages.

Collage of two photos: the left shows a young woman with a nose ring, long hair, and a patterned top outdoors smiling, the right shows a group of people and a young boy gathered around a table, engaging in an outdoor activity with trees in the background.

Bellingen Riverwatch Waterbug Workshop

with Sam Daykin | OzGREEN

1.00 pm - 3.00pm, Kids Space

Explore the world of Waterbugs with Bellingen Riverwatch and find out about all the different critters that call our rivers home.
Featuring games such as bug bingo and ID races come see if you can be the next macro master... Or simply just come along and have some fun!

Jumping Castle

All-day, Kids Space

sponsored by Mid North Coast Legal Centre

Exhibitors

Collage of various scenes: a firefighter in uniform standing next to a fire truck hose and equipment; a modern small house with an outdoor patio in a grassy area; a grid of soil plugs with green seedlings; a person with a bandaged finger being bandaged by another person; a young woman smiling while serving food through a window.

The Rosti Project - Potato Rostis
Never Never Dumplings
Twisted Potatoes
Lions BBQ
Coffee vans
Ziggy’s Wild Foods
Bellingen Organic Tea
Dorrigo Pepper
Chocolate DR
Patch Organics
Bello Beef
Rural Fire Service
State Emergency Service
Fire & Rescue
Neighbourhood Care Network
Dolly’s Run
Women Who Farm
Bello Food Box
St Johns First Aid
MidWaste
Rethink - plastic alternatives
Rethink - composting
Biodynamic Agriculture Australia
Rethink - composting
Northbank Community Gardens
Farmers for Climate
Bello Activist Network
Kalang Headwater
Centre for Ecological Learning
OzGREEN
Bellingen Riverwatch
Bellinger Landcare
Housing Matters
Fractal Economy
Bellingen Shire Council - Ways you can volunteer in your local community
Country Women’s Association
Men’s Shed
Lions BBQ
Smart Water & Energy - Hot Water Tanks
Enesol
Better Volt
SolarRun
Kabin