Interplay Project x Desert Festival
The audience is invited to an experience of Deep Listening to the important but less-heard voices of in our community.
4pm – The Edge Community Bush Expo; Sharing Knowledge & Ideas
The Edge huts host a bush style expo event that brings together people and cultures to share knowledge, passions and perspectives around issues that our community cares about most. This session will focus on ways we can work together to give back to Country.
Opportunities to create change through community will be explored on topics ranging from Working Together to Care for our Children and their Futures, Being Good Ancestors, Health and Country, Looking after Country and Country will look after You, Healing Together across Cultures and Worldviews, Weaving, Continuity and Unity.
Participation is invited by First Nations People, Rangers, Healers, Scientists, Media, Healthcare Professionals, Artists, Teachers, Cultural Groups and other groups interested to work together for the shared benefit of our Community and Country.
6pm – Voices from The Edge; An audience experience of deep listening to the voices we want to hear
Intimate bush-style storytelling
An experience of deep listening to the inspiring grassroots voices that shape our colourful community.
Speakers share stories and perspectives on what they love about this Country and ways they give back.
To encourage deep listening, questions or discussions will not be part of the talks but meaningful conversations and connections may flow after the event.
Faron Peckham – Traditional Owner
Faron Peckham is a local born in Alice Springs who has a strong sense of community and cultural connections throughout the Central Australian region.
“Join me on a journey of unique voices from the ground up from people who care for the community of Alice Springs. Let’s connect to listen to these stories together.”
Tanisha Vincent – Community Development Support Officer at Central Land Council
Tanisha Vincent is a twenty-two year old Kaytetye and Yolngu woman, who wants to preserve her language and culture. “I love to spend time with my family and friends sharing language and culture”.
Teddy McDiarmid – (they/them/he/him) – Queer, non-binary, trans masc community organiser.
Ben Mack – Arrernte, Arabana Man
Ben Mack is a former alcoholic and drug addict. At 32 years of age, he was morbidly obese with diabetes, high blood pressure, thyroid disease, and chronic obstructive sleep apnoea. Doctors advised he would not live to 40 years if he did not lose weight. Ben has reversed all health complications and is now running ultra marathons and living his best life!
Ben founded Team Irrkerlantye in memory of his late son, Myrical Seven Mack who was born and died on 27th August 2017. Team Irrkerlantye acknowledges all children taken before their time as well as parents dealing with the trauma of losing a child. Team Irrkerlantye also supports all people battling mental, physical and spiritual unease. You can read more about Ben and those that have joined him on this story on Facebook and Instagram.
Ben wants to inspire and support others to make positive change for themselves, their families and especially, our children.
“All are welcome, please reach out!”
Jacqueline Arnold- Environmental Advocate
Jacqueline was born and raised in Mparntwe. In many years of travel, she often found herself drawn to the world’s arid lands. A decade ago, she couldn’t resist the pull and returned home for good.
With a background in public health policy Jacqueline’s work focuses on governance of invasive species.
Harpal Singh Sandhu
Harpal Singh sandhu was born in a small kale farming village at Amritsar Punjab, India on 21st June 1977, the oldest of four siblings born to parents Balwinder Kaur and Surjit Singh.
“I had a very happy childhood living with my parents and siblings. During my high school days I usually spent my free time in my father’s factory. He manufactured enamelled copper wire. On weekends we spend time with family helping my mom to do housework. I wish to work for the environment and be a part of the organisation which plays an important role to work on humanity.”
After arriving in Australia in 2011, Harpal Singh became an active member of the Gurmat Parchar Sewa Society (GPSS) Australia and has volunteered with the Arid Lands Environment Centre since 2018. Harpal Singh is also a member of Red Cross Australia and the Multicultural Community Services of Central Australia who support culturally and linguistically diverse new Centralians. His sister, Arvinder Kaur who also lives in town describes him as, “a really kind person”.
Ezmarelda Rose – Visual Artist
Ezmarelda is a vivacious Earth centric Visual Artist, Creative Arts Therapist, Creatrix of Elemental Art Therapy and current student of Eco Therapy. They feel strongly about cultivating collective and personal connections to art, creative expression, community and our Earth. Their practice is centred on creating spaces for people to gather in ritual, share stories and open up conversations that expand how we communicate with our soft animal bodies and the larger earth body we inhabit.
Ez hopes to afford holding spaces where people can access alternative forms of expression that support breathing air into the songs of the soul.
Abuela Xquenda, Mexico – Exchanging cultural wisdoms and practice
Abuela Xquenda is a Traditional Mexican doctor who reads Tonalpouke, an ancient Mexican understanding of destiny. Xquenda travels and connects wisdoms across the world’s ancient deserts – from Durango and Chihuahua in Mexico, to Rajasthan in India, the Atacama desert in Chile, the Sahara in Africa and now for the first time, Arrente Country in Australia.
Xquenda is certified in herbalism, traditional Mexican medicine and Mexican literature in Indigenous Languages, and co-founder and Director of the Meyahuel Intercultural Center. An Elder and Grandmother, she has worked for over 30 years to preserve and spread traditional medicine across the world.
Abuela Xquenda is travelling with her daughter Eurice Citlalkiawitl – also trained in Tonalpouke and fellow co-founder of the Meyahuel Intercultural Center – and Pau Tlanezi, a Chilean Australian researcher and apprentice of Mexican and Andean traditions.
Amelia Turner – Angangkere, Traditional Healer
Amelia was born and grew up at Ltyentye Apurte (Santa Teresa). She went to school at Santa Teresa and in Melbourne. She lived in Maningrida for about 10 years. Amelia’s parents were both senior cultural leaders. Amelia is following in their footsteps, as a cultural leader, traditional healer (Angangkere) and leading artist. She sits on a number of boards.
Amelia has played a key role supporting Akeyulerre’s Angkwerre-Iweme (Traditional Healing) Project over the past four years. In 2014 she was awarded Indigenous Person of the Year by the Alice Springs NAIDOC Week Committee for her tireless service to her community.
The Edge is community collaboration project by Interplay Projects and community members – Shez Cairney, Ben McIntyre, Walbira Murray, Mark De Souza, Natalia Rosas, Faron Peckham, Kirrily Jordan, Cherie Hughes, Matthew Boyd, Ez Meralda, Benjamin Mack & Fiona Webb.