LIFE & STYLE
Join the Yarn At The Farm this NAIDOC week
Kyla-Belle Roberts.
Jannawi Dance Clan.
Hills Shire residents are invited to celebrate NAIDOC Week and First Nations culture at the third annual Yarn at the Farm event, featuring a diverse range of fun and interactive cultural experiences for the whole family. Council’ s Yarn at the Farm event is delivered in partnership with local First Nations enterprise Muru Mittigar. The day will include Indigenous market stalls, live music, cultural workshops, traditional arts and crafts, and more. Attendees can also enjoy FREE First Nationsinspired cuisine from the Wilka Thalta Food Truck, which showcases bold, street food – style dishes that celebrate native Australian ingredients with a modern twist.
Mayor of The Hills Shire, Dr Michelle Byrne said Yarn at the Farm provides an opportunity for people of all ages to engage in First Nations traditions, creativity and community.
“ Yarn at the Farm offers participants a welcoming space to come together, learn, share stories and experience First Nations culture,” Mayor Byrne said.
“ The event will commence with a Welcome to Country and Smoking Ceremony with Uncle Colin Locke, followed by some incredible on-stage entertainment, including singer-songwriter Kyla-Belle, winner of triple j’ s Unearthed High Indigenous Initiative, Jannawi Dance Clan, Khuna Dance Group and Cheeky Little Emus, a children’ s interactive cultural music experience.
“ We’ re also excited to welcome Deadly Ed, an Aboriginal-owned education organisation, who will host traditional Indigenous games.”
CEO of Muru Mittigar, Christopher Galloway said he was looking forward to building on last year’ s event.“ As Yarn at the Farm enters its third year, it’ s emerging as the cornerstone NAIDOC Week event in The Hills, which continues to grow in strength and significance each year,” Mr Galloway said.
“ We’ re pleased that through our partnership with Council, we can bring this event to The Hills and foster community relationships.”
NAIDOC Week 2026: Yarn at the Farm WHAT: A celebration of First Nations culture with storytelling, performances, free arts and crafts, workshops, market stalls and much more. WHEN: 10am-2pm, Thursday 9 July 2026. WHERE: Bella Vista Farm, Elzabeth Macarthur Drive,
Bella Vista.
FOOD: A variety of food options available including First Nations inspired cuisine from Wilka Thalta Food Truck, a sausage sizzle by The Friends of Bella Vista Farm, Classic Soft Serve ice cream, sundaes and slushies, and Hills Daily Grind with coffee and bakery items.
ACTIVITIES: Live music, boomerang and ochre painting, didgeridoo performances, cultural and dance workshops, market stalls from Indigenous artists, designers and small businesses selling artwork, clothing, jewellery and homewares.
TRAVEL: With limited onsite parking available, visitors are encouraged to use the Metro when attending the event.
This NAIDOC Week Activity is delivered with funding support from the National Indigenous Australians Agency.
Mudjin Aboriginal Arts & Crafts.
Glenhaven artist wins Remagine Art Prize 2026
Glenhaven artist Maree Louise MacDermid has been awarded first prize in the Remagine Art Prize 2026 for her thought-provoking ceramic artwork, NVR ENF( Never Enough).
The annual competition, hosted by Hornsby Shire Council in partnership with the Hornsby Art Society, challenges artists to create works that respond to environmental issues, particularly waste and overconsumption.
MacDermid received the $ 5,000 first prize for her striking piece, which explores modern consumer culture and society’ s growing obsession with acquiring material possessions. The artwork depicts a hearse overflowing with luxury goods, highlighting how the pursuit of more can overshadow life’ s most important values.
“ NVR ENF explores material excess and consumerism as part of the human condition,” MacDermid said.
“ Commercial culture constantly implies we are always just one handbag short of being enough.”
Her work encourages viewers to reflect on both the personal and environmental costs of endless consumption and asks whether there is still room for what truly matters amid our carefully curated lifestyles.
This year’ s theme, Built to Expire, challenged artists to examine the growing problem of products deliberately designed to wear out or become obsolete, from mobile phones and household appliances to cars and everyday consumer goods.
West Ryde artist Karen Coull received the Highly Commended Award and $ 2,000 for her work Traces of Flour and Love. Created using discarded vintage cookbooks, the piece celebrates recycling, reuse and repair while honouring slower, handmade traditions that are increasingly
L-R Cr Olivia Simons, Cr Janelle McIntosh, Mayor Warren Waddell, Maree Louise MacDermid, Cr Monika Ball. being replaced by disposable alternatives.“ I like to give new life to the disposable,” Coull said.
Local artist Patrick Heuzenroder of Hornsby was awarded the Local Artist Prize and $ 1,000 for his artwork Spontalia.
Meanwhile, Gordon resident Adelina Pochueva won the Youth Award( 18-25 years) and $ 1,000 for her upcycled dress, Built to Inspire.
The Recycled / Reused Materials Award, worth $ 1,500, went to Dulwich Hill artist Madi Feist for her sculpture Redback, created using Norfolk pine needles, recycled rope, cardboard, metal and elastic.
Warren Waddell praised the winners and finalists for their creativity and commitment to sustainability.
“ Congratulations to these worthy winners of the Remagine Art Prize. These artists have expressed their passion for sustainability and the environment through unique, thoughtprovoking works,” Mayor Waddell said.
“ The ongoing partnership with Hornsby Art Society plays an important role in delivering this event, and we appreciate their continued support. Through the Remagine Art Prize,
Winner of the Remagine Art Prize 2026, Maree Louise MacDermid, NVR ENF( Never Enough), Underglaze, glaze and Pebeo on stoneware.
Council aims to highlight how we can all play a part in reducing waste and living more sustainably.”
Dennis Fisher said the society had proudly supported the prize for more than 15 years.
“ The prize continues to provide an important platform for artists to explore reuse and recycling themes, while celebrating the creativity and talent of our local arts community,” he said.
The 2026 judging panel consisted of Ed Woolley, Dario Falzon, Sophie Odling and Alex Davies.
THE HILLS INDEPENDENT theindependentmagazine. com. au ISSUE 133 // JULY 2026 15