Voyages Indigenous Tourism Australia (Voyages) has raised over $60,000 for the Aṉangu Communities Foundation at its inaugural fundraiser held this week at the Sydney Opera House.
Around 120 guests attended the event which was emceed by Indigenous actor, Trevor Jamieson, an Anangu man, who has starred in movies such as Rabbit Proof Fence and Storm Boy.
He was joined on stage for a musical performance by vocalist, Kristal West who rose to fame after becoming a grand finalist on The Voice. West is also the granddaughter of Indigenous rights activist, Dr Eddie Mabo.
Indigenous artist, Rene Kulitja spoke to the audience through a translator in her local Pitjantjatjara language about the community and the important projects which need funding, asking guests to “leave with empty wallets.”
For more than 50,000 years, Anangu have been the traditional custodians of Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park and the central desert region of Australia.
Established by Voyages in 2003, the Anangu Communities Foundation has been funding projects to support the Anangu communities of central Australia, with a focus on building community capacity in the sectors of healthcare, education, and economic and social participation.
The Foundation is now working with the community on several crucial projects but with the pandemic impacting visitors to Central Australia, donations have dwindled, so Voyages hosted the fundraising event to help raise the necessary dollars to support new initiatives that help build a positive future for all Anangu.
The funds were raised through ticket sales and silent and live auctions which included an array of attractive prizes generously donated by companies such as Accor, Baillie Lodges, Jetstar, Opera Australia, Journey Beyond, Experience Co and the Sydney Dance Company.
Matt Cameron-Smith, CEO of Voyages Indigenous Tourism Australia said: “We are really humbled by, and grateful for, the generosity of both our sponsor partners and our guests who came together to support such an important cause.
“We look forward to repeating this event in other cities and for many more years to come.”
