Interview with Una- Lake Bolac Eel Festival Secretary
Photo taken by John Tadigiri
Hi Una, thanks for your interview today as I know you are a very busy person being the secretary for the lake bolac eel festival ! Can you tell us a bit about how busy being a secretary is ?
Hello Fiona - yes, we are just a little bit busy at the moment. We have a really dedicated team working to produce an amazing festival but even though we are now biennial, and so have two years to prepare, the last few weeks are always very hectic.
Many of us wouldn't know what goes behind the scenes in putting a music festival together ! Can you tell us what motivates you to be a part of such a wonderful and inspiring festival ?
The Eel Festival is much more than a music festival. While we pride ourselves on offering top quality live and original music, we are also focused on environmental issues, Indigenous culture and history and of course art, with the Friday evening welcome dinner and art auction. Working on the festival has been an amazing experience and contributed hugely to my personal development. In particular I have learnt so much about Indigenous culture and the real and tragic story of our history here in Western Victoria. Along the way I have got to know some amazing people who I now consider to be my friends.
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Volunteers make up a big part of putting together a festival and the eel fest has many amazing volunteers, how can more people offer volunteering or help for the festival in 2020?
You are right Fiona, the Festival relies heavily on volunteers to prepare for the festival, work at various tasks on the day and then help with the clean up and pack up. Jobs include ticket sales, manning the registration desk, cooking eels, preparing fruit drinks, selling merchandise and much else. Registered volunteers who compete a goodly amount of work are eligible for a complimentary ticket for Saturday. Obviously not all audience members can also be volunteers !! We do need some paying customers, so it is essential that anyone wishing to volunteer make contact with the Festival committee- registered volunteers for 2020, but it is always worth enquiring and if we can't fit you in this time you will be on our list for 2022.
What are you excited about for this years festival Una ?
We are delighted to welcome Stephen Pigrim from Broome to join us this year. He will be playing on Saturday evening along with Neil Murray and Band. A real highlight for music lovers will be Kavisha Mazzella's concert performance which will be preceded by a voice workshop - a great opportunity to sing with the wonderful Kavisha. We have an excellent line-up of children's activities and of course the buskers stage where we welcome all aspiring musicians to play a tune or two to a very sympathetic audience. Of course the Twilight Celebration, a celebration of song, dance and Indigenous culture, will as usual be a major drawcard.
To get your tickets please visit www.eelfestival.org.au
Festival dates March 20th - 21st 2020I acknowledge the Djabwurung as the traditional custodians of the land where the festival is held and I offer my sincere respect for elders past-present and emerging.
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