Life Ed NT joins the celebration at Freedom Festival
Monday, 8 Sep 2025
Every August, the vibrant communities of Kalkarindji and Dagaragu come alive with pride and joy during the Freedom Festival - a powerful celebration of resilience, culture, and history. This special event honours the historic Wave Hill Walk-Off of 1966, when the Gurindji stockmen and their families courageously stood for fair working conditions and land rights, sparking a movement that resonates across Australia.
Life Ed Northern Territory was honoured to take part in this year’s Freedom Festival, spending a full week in Kalkarindji, engaging deeply with the local community and joining the celebrations.
The week began with Kalkarindji School’s lively sports days, where our team cheered alongside students and supported their important Bullying No Way and NAIDOC Day activities. A standout moment was the colourful school colour run, spreading smiles and rainbow chalk powder everywhere!
Healthy Harold was a festival favourite – dancing at the school disco, greeting children with his signature fun, and delivering vital messages about health, respect, and resilience in a light-hearted way.
As the Freedom Festival weekend unfolded, Life Ed NT hosted a diverse range of engaging activities:
- Screen printing workshops featuring designs by local students and community members
- A welcoming Chill-Out Zone providing families a relaxing space
- A community BBQ at the AFL Carnival, nurturing connection through great food and sport
- Interactive games and educational activities including Healthy Harold’s obstacle course, book sharing, colouring-in, and a giant snakes and ladders game
Our team proudly participated in the Freedom Day March, walking alongside community members to honour the festival’s spirit and the legacy of the Gurindji people’s courage.
Beyond the fun, the festival was a rich learning environment. Children explored health education through playful activities such as spotting smoke-free signs on Harold’s cardboard car and linking them to real-life smoke-free areas in their community. Through games, roleplay, and open conversations, students discovered how second-hand smoke harms health, impairs sporting performance, and why speaking up for their wellbeing matters. Many shared the simple but powerful insight that healthy choices keep their bodies strong.
Life Ed NT was supported by Executive Officer Martha Baker, Board Chair Peter Burnheim, along with their families and volunteers, who helped make the week extra special. Their support highlighted the importance of standing together, as a team and as a community, to celebrate culture, connection and health.
This year’s Freedom Festival was a wonderful blend of learning, laughter, and community spirit. Life Ed NT is proud to stand in solidarity with the Kalkarindji and Dagaragu communities, celebrating history while inspiring healthy, positive futures.
We look forward to returning next year to share in this joyous occasion once again!
