The whole community is invited to formally welcome the whales to our region in a special event hosted by the Traditional Owners of The Whitsundays.
Each year between June and October, thousands of whales – especially Humpbacks – migrate north from the cold waters of Antarctica to breed and give birth within our warm and calm tropical waters.
This year, the community is invited to mark the official start of the 2023 season with a family event on the Airlie Beach Foreshore from 5pm this evening.
Children are encouraged to wear blue to the ceremony and Traditional Owners will invite children to be painted in traditional markings.
They will then be guided to put their handprints on a traditional painting of a mother and calf Humpback to signify the community’s bond and connection with the whales.
In keeping with long-established First Nations ritual, a smoking ceremony will then take place, before an ancient whale chant sung by the Traditional Owners.
Representatives of the Ngaro people will then speak about their cultural connection with the whales and the deep-seated cultural significance of the season’s first whales.
During the event there will also be a pop-up workshop hosted by the Great Barrier Reef Festival and lead by artist Margaret Burgess as part of the Immerse Installation Art Presentation.
A giant whale will make the centrepiece of this activity.
After the formalities and activities, everyone is invited to relax and watch a film by Master Reef Guides about The Whitsundays and the cetaceans that live and visit the area.
This will be followed by Whitsundays Reef Guardian Council’s alfresco screening of The Snail and the Whale movie at 6pm.
WHAT: Welcome To The Whales Ceremony
WHERE: Airlie Beach Foreshore
WHEN: Friday, June 16
TIME: From 5pm-6pm
TICKETS: Free to the community
Come and join the Welcome To Whales event at the Airlie Beach Foreshore this evening. Photo supplied
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