Braidwood had a campus like quality over the weekend as around 300 locals and visitors attended the many sessions of the second Two Fires Festival, commemorating the art and activism of one of Braidwood's most famous residents, the late Judith Wright who died in 2000.
Following on from the inaugural 2005 Two Fires Festival, which was principally organised and run from Melbourne by the Globalism Institute RMIT, this year's event was organised by Braidwood volunteers and facilitated by Christine Watson from Canberra.
With the theme of 'Identity and Environment', various streams included poets and writers, indigenous, music, multimedia, dialogue, and environment and walks.
The township hosted visitors from as far away as Queensland in bright Autumn weather, who wandered throughout the town utilising all the spaces available for public events.
The festival was kicked off by a welcome by Uncle Max Harrison lighting a fire in Ryrie Park, which burned throughout the weekend.
The striking festival t-shirts and catalogue design identified many of the visitors, and cafes were bustling with activity. Most of the sessions were well attended and some brought tears as the stories unfolded.
Along with the exhibitions, book displays and launches, a poet's breakfast, song-writing workshops, community singing session, poetry activities, and performances, there were discussions by poets and writers such as Bronwyn Lea, Sam Wagan Watson, Roger McDonald, Louise Crisp, Kim Mahood, Jackie French, Martin Langford and others.
The highly applauded Community Concert on Friday night at St Bede's Church featuring The Cantors, Richard Steele, Madrigala, School children and the Suzuki violinists, Acapalerang, and Karuna Bajracharya.
On Saturday and Sunday the Women, Writing and Ideas multimedia sessions were held at The Club, convened by Suzanne Ballamy. Professors Elizabeth Webby and Dianne Bell and others hosted discussions held among a quilt exhibition titled Women's Words and Stitches curated by June Weatherstone and Jill McLeod.
Publishers were also present for the weekend, with A Suitable Book launching Libby Robbins, How a Continent became a Nation, and Sharon Beder's Environment Policies and Principles on Friday evening, Ginninderra Press launching Full Circle, a book of poetry by Eileen Haley at the Club and Spinifex Press were on hand with many publications for sale at the Club.
Dialogue on Identity and Environment, an academic forum in two sessions convened by the Globalism Institute, RMIT included speakers Don Henry (ACF), Libby Robin, Val Plumwood, Kate Rigby, Aidan Davison and Peter Hay.
Around 140 people attended the Saturday night Festival Concert featuring Dave Steel, Johnny Huckle, Richard Steele, Merrilyn Simmons and didjeridu player Lewis Campbell.
Unfortunately the walk at "Edge", Judith Wright's home for 20 years, was cancelled at the last minute due to insurance liability.
At the wrap up session on Sunday afternoon it was concluded that the festival exceeded the expectation of the organisers and was applauded as a success by the many visitors to Braidwood.
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