One Day a celebration of music, art and culture

Multi-award winning duo Gina Williams and Guy Ghouse are among the artists who will perform in a free concert as part of the City of Fremantle’s One Day celebration on Saturday 28 January.

Gina has been involved in One Day since its inception in 2017. She and Guy will use their music to celebrate life, community and to showcase the Nyoongar language.

Bibbulmun Nyoongar singer-songwriter Kobi Morrison will follow with a solo set, before leading the Walyalup Kannajil Community Choir in sharing culture, history and language through song.

The performances will take place at Walyalup Koort, in the heart of Freo, as part of a program of entertainment that will also support community education on the Voice to Parliament for the referendum expected to take place later this year.

One Day activities will begin at 8am with a Welcome to Country and a smoking ceremony by Nyoongar Elder Trevor Walley.

The celebrations will continue with free cultural activities including bush tucker education, Dreamtime stories and learning by Aboriginal Elders and leaders and a live art display.

Market stalls will also be on display by Fremantle Arts Centre and the Walyalup Aboriginal Cultural Centre for the community to support local Aboriginal artists.

Mayor Hannah Fitzhardinge said a highlight of this year’s event will be a guest appearance from leading advocate for a First Nations Voice to Parliament, Thomas Mayo.

“Australia is on the cusp of a historical decision with a referendum proposed in the next 12 months to enshrine Aboriginal voice to parliament through constitutional changes,” she said.

“In consultation with Elders from our Walyalup Reconciliation Action Plan Group, the focus of this year’s event will explore Voice as part of the Statement from the Heart.”

Between August 2017 and March 2019, Mr Mayo took around Australia the original canvas on which more than 250 people had signed the 12-paragraph Statement from the Heart and later wrote a book—Finding the Heart of the Nation.

A tireless campaigner, Mr Mayo has garnered nation-wide support for a constitutionally enshrined First Nations voice to parliament, and a Makarrata Commission for truth-telling and agreement-making or treaties.

Mr Mayo will deliver a powerful keynote address on the Voice and a Q&A session for One Day from 10am at Fremantle Town Hall.

There will also be stalls by key information providers including Reconciliation WA, Voice Dialogue and more.

The move to Walyalup Koort for One Day provides a more versatile and central location for the full program of activities which will be spread across Fremantle Town Hall, Fremantle Library and the outdoor lawn amphitheatre.

“The WRAP group were supportive of the move to accommodate more of a focus on referendum engagement,” Mayor Fitzhardinge said.

“We’re committed to evolving One Day to ensure it remains at the forefront of the national conversation for reconciliation as well as being a fantastic day out for the community.” 

Visit the One Day Fremantle page for program details and further information.