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A Brief History of Indonesian Culture on the NSW North Coast.

For at least ten years Indonesian culture and the Indonesian community have been in the forefront of multiculturalism in the North Coast Region. From 1990-1998, members of the Indonesian community co-ordinated regular public events such as Indonesian Independence Day Celebrations and concerts as well as presenting Indonesian Radio programs on Lismore and Byron Community Radio (Suara Indonesia).

In Lismore community members participated in the Lismore-Ujung Pandang Sister-City Committee and generally participated in multicultural events and community festivals. In Byron Shire, Indonesian community members have been actively sharing their culture with the wider community through school performances, Indonesian nights, and performances at festivals and music venues from the NSW North coast up to Queensland as well as Independence Day.

In 1998 two Indonesian cultural organisations were formed in Byron Shire. Byron Shire Gamelan Society (BSGS) was formed from members of the Indonesian Community and people interested in working together to purchase a gamelan for Byron Shire for studying gamelan and other Indonesian art forms.

The first project undertaken by this group was a series of workshops in Sumatran Randai taught by Indija Mahoeddin from Musik Kabau Sati,Brisbane which culminated in a performance at Woodford Folk Festival in Southern Queensland. This project involved Indonesian people of all ages including young children as well people of other ethnic backgrounds. After Woodford Festival, Mike Burns from Perth dropped by to teach the first gamelan workshop in Byron Shire. In 1999, Professor David Goldsworthy from the University of New England agreed to lend a gamelan orchestra to BSGS and undertook to become a visiting teacher along with local gamelan teacher, Kym Hall.

Also in 1998, The Australia Indonesia Arts Alliance (AIAA) - the first national network on Indonesian culture in Australia was founded in Byron Bay. Activities of AIAA National included establishing a website and Inspirasi on-line magazine on Indonesian culture and an Australia-Indonesia e-group to aid communication between Australian and Indonesian artists.

In the local area AIAA supported access of visiting teachers and Indonesian performers to be able to participate in activities in the North Coast. Ron Reeves from Sydney, master of Sundanese Kendang (drums) undertook to become a visiting teacher to the area and commenced teaching Indonesian Sundanese drumming workshops. Meanwhile, through liaising with NORPA, North Coast Performing Arts, AIAA supported visits to the area by Indonesian performing groups, Parahyangan, Warogus and GengGong, performances which brought the community closer together and were also supported by local Indonesian musicians.

Other AIAA activities included Balinese dance classes with Rina Sani and re-establishing Suara Indonesia Radio Show on BayFM Community Radio. AIAA also organised a combined schools concert for the visiting OZ Indo project which raised funds for food relief in Indonesia and East Timor.

Byron Gamelan Class

In September 2000 the NSW North Coast Branch of AIAA was officially formed and immediately began preparing for a visit by Indonesian performing group Krakatau, presented by Arimba Culture Exchange, Sydney. AIAA helped to promote the concert, organised a gamelan workshop, welcoming party, radio interview, and welcoming ceremony for the group.

After the tour, Deni Tudi Rahayu returned to Byron Bay to undertake a one month musician-in-residence program. During November 2000 Deni taught workshops in traditional and contemporary gamelan, as well as undertaking school visits and performances. The local gamelan groups were able to develop their skills, culminating in a farewell concert at the end of the month with performers from as far away as the Gold Coast Indonesian Dancers and Anything But Roy from Sydney. This event also raised funds for Hope in East Timor and AIAA.

During 2001 Byron Shire Gamelan has continued to practice, albeit without a teacher, and has recently hosted another visit by Prof Goldsworthy from Armidale. Many of the local gamelan students are presently waiting for another visiting teacher to visit the area so that they can resume their study of Indonesian music.

AIAA and BSG are currently hiring a set of instruments from Professor Goldsworthy, but would prefer to purchase their own gamelan orchestra to be created permanently within the Byron Shire Community. The two groups are also working together to plan future visiting musician programs such as a return to the area by Deni Tudirahayu and a residency by Warogus musician Wahyu Roche in 2002 (funded by Australia Indonesia Institute). This is essential as there are no gamelan or Indonesian music teachers presently residing in the North Coast Region.

With the support of auspicing body Byron Bay Community Centre, AIAA NSW North Coast Branch has requested support for the continuation of the development of Indonesian cultural activities in the region through requesting assistance from the NSW Community Liaison Commission for purchase of instruments and tutor's fees.

AIAA NSW North Coast Branch
Contact: indoarts@dingoblue.net.au