By Margaret Maccoll
The Peregian Village Vibes Festival kicked off last Thursday and continues across the Easter school holidays with a focus on Indigenous culture, outdoor movies, a live art gallery, twilight shopping nights, live music and great food.
An official festival launch was held last Saturday with a Welcome to Country from Kabi Kabi Custodian Lyndon Davis who talked about the significance of Peregian to the traditional owners, the Kabi Kabi or Gubbi Gubbi.
He spoke of the emu that until recent times roamed the coastal plains area and for which Peregian is named.
“The emu family is a totem for a lot of families in the district,“ he said.
Lyndon also acknowledged the native trees, saying we were honoured to have them to look after and he spoke of the paperbarks in flower that had long signalled heralded oncoming monsoon weather that was predicted.
Noosa deputy mayor Frank Wilkie officially launched the festival, praising it for enriching the social and cultural life of the village and in support of Lyndon’s stories said when his parents bought a house at Peregian Beach in the 1980s emu could be seen regularly running along beside the highway, though not any more.
Village spokeswoman Nicky White thanked the local businesses, community and Tourism Noosa for rallying to organise the event.
“This is a labour of love and we hope you experience the vibe,“ she said.
The festival will include kids’ craft activities, community wellness classes, a Feast & Forage trail, Ocean Vibes education and beach clean-up and much more.
To see the program visit www.visitnoosa.com.au/products/village-vibes-festival-at-peregian-beach
