Schools benefit from indigenous dance troop visit

Published on 13 March 2025

More than 1,200 school children from across the Gannawarra benefited from a series of Indigenous Outreach Projects workshops, made possible thanks to a united approach led by Gannawarra Shire Council.

Council and Northern District Community Health united with Mallee District Aboriginal Services, the Kerang Elders and Leaders Group, Emergency Recovery Victoria and the Foundation for Regional and Rural Renewal to bring the renowned dance troop to the municipality for seven workshops held from 3-6 March.

“Keeping communities healthy physically and mentally is one way our communities can continue to prosper, and Council is proud to work with other agencies such as Northern District Community Health to achieve this,” Council Chief Executive Officer, Geoff Rollinson said.

“The Indigenous Outreach Program is renowned for successfully using dance and music to foster change and deliver healthy and positive messages, with children who participated in these workshops already benefiting from this approach.”

ABOVE: Students enjoy the Indigenous Outreach Program performance at the Cohuna Memorial Hall.

The workshops tie in with the Innovative Gannawarra Reconciliation Action Plan 2024-2026, which aims to create a municipality where Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and non-Indigenous people can live, thrive and collaborate in respect and harmony.

The Indigenous Outreach Project tour of the Gannawarra was supported by Victorian and Commonwealth Governments under the Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA) as part of the Gannawarra Community Flood Recovery Program and the Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal (FRRR) Strengthening Rural Communities Funding Program.

TOP: The Indigenous Outreach Project team performed at schools across the Gannawarra during 3-6 March. (Photo - Northern District Community Health)