VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

The first Indonesian Festival in Scotts Head City, New South Wales, Australia on Sunday (30/5) attracted the local community. The Indonesian Embassy in Canberra explained on Monday (31/5) that the small city located on the north-central coast of Australia with a population about 5,000 people suddenly became crowded when a cultural event titled "ASYIK Indonesian Arts Festival was held. The Indonesian Festival event was opened by Deputy Ambassador of the Republic of Indonesia to Australia, Mohammad Syarif Alatas. In his remark, he hopes that the festival would bring Indonesia closer to the people of Scotts Head City and promote the wealth of Indonesia's cultural diversity.

Furthermore, this festival can become an annual event to strengthen people-to-people contacts between Indonesia and Australia.  The main stage of the Indonesian Festival which was continuously held at Scotts Head Reserve Park on the beach from 10 am to 3 pm of the local time featured various performances supported by more than 120 performers consisting of Australian students and volunteers.

The performances of traditional cultural arts, such as the Saman - Aceh dance, plate dance, Jaipong, Leather Puppet, mask dance, as well as a demonstration of various Indonesian traditional clothes drew special attention   of all visitors. Moreover, the event also held variously popular Indonesian culinary delights, including meatballs, satay, chicken curry and other snacks.

The success of the festival, which was being held for the first time at Scotts Head City, is inseparable from the spirit of community cooperation, the Indonesian Diasporas who live in various cities in New South Wales, Queensland and the government and even local Australians who have considered Indonesia as their closest relative.