Numeralla and District Activities Inc.
Contact
Secretary: Steve Donkers 02-6453-3360
Treasurer: Ken Dane 02-6453-3387
Numeralla and District Activities Inc.
PO Box 1323
COOMA NSW 2630
email: numeralladainc@gmail.com
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Local Snapshots
Local FloraNews
November 2010
This article was written by Fran Robertson, and recently published in Australia’s No. 1 traditional and comtemporary folk, blues, roots, alternative and world music magazine Trad & Now. Recent issues of Trad & Now have pondered the questions “What is folklore?” and “Are there too many folk festivals now?”
Many would agree with Alan Musgrove that folklore is an ever-growing amalgamation of old traditions and popular culture; some of the popular culture sustains its popularity and eventually becomes tradition. As for too many folk festivals? Perhaps that’s like too much dancing or too many sessions – oxymorons. But somewhere in the crowd of new festivals, the traditional style of folk festival has become almost lost. Newer, “popular culture” folk festivals, serve to inspire us with the array of talent they provide for our entertainment. They are tightly timetabled, methodically organised events. You book your ticket on the internet, pitch your tent in a grid pattern paddock, locate missing friends and children with your mobile phone as you pound the pavement in your rush from one event to another; you get some respite from the hectic round of activities by sharing a cappuccino in a take-away cup at the coffee van. All great stuff. I love them. They are part of the wonder that is popular folk culture. But where can a person experience a traditional folk festival? The answer is simple. Numeralla.
At Numeralla, there are no paid performers. As each festival unfolds you can savour the talents and friendship of the people who are camped right next to you. Some are old favourites you can’t wait to see again and some are delightful new surprises. Numeralla is a very loosely organised weekend of music, dance, dips in the river, yarns around the campfire and convivial conversation. You never have to rush anywhere. The only commuting you’ll need to undertake is to paddle across the riverstones to stroll up to the nearby hall (or you could drive over the bridge). You don’t have to book your ticket on the internet... there are no tickets. Numeralla is a festival where all the camping and entertainment is absolutely free and no booking is required. Just come along. You’ll be most welcome.
At Numeralla you don’t need to spend your time locating the strayed members of your party. They’re probably sitting in the shade on the log beside you, and if they’re not, they’ll wander along by and by. You won’t be able to get a cappuccino at Numeralla, but somewhere along the banks of the river, there’ll be a billy on the boil for a cuppa, anytime of the day and right through the night. So, if you love “popular folk culture” festivals but would like to experience a traditional folk festival, meander down to Numeralla from Friday 21st to Monday 24th January 2011. You might find it becomes a tradition. The village of Numeralla is twenty minutes from Cooma (S.E. NSW), nestled in a picturesque valley where the Badja River joins the Numeralla River. If you’d like to know more visit www.freewebs.com/numeralla or phone Fran 02 6453 3282.
This year, the public holiday is on Wednesday 26th January; if you’re a chalkie or you have school-aged children, you’ll have the rest of the week to wander home and get organised.
May 2010
Some of you may recall that through Steve Whan's interest in Numeralla we were advised of the Community Halls Renewal Fund.
We subsequently put in for, and were successful in obtaining, a grant of $50,000.00 to undertake the refurbishment of the Numeralla Diggers Memorial Hall.
Work on refurbishing has begun and Dick Swain has the insulation of the main hall area well in hand and almost completed.
The NDAI has also purchased a replacement stove/oven for the kitchen, has obtained quotes for a replacement hot water system and the sanding and resealing of the hall floor. So all in all, work is progressing and the NDAI Committee is keen to see the end results.
The Renovation