Festival unites community to celebrate Indonesian Independence Day

Goldfields Indonesia Community Association had an afternoon of traditional performances, cuisine and activities on Saturday to celebrate Indonesian Independence Day.

The national holiday commemorates the anniversary of Indonesia’s proclamation of independence on August 17, 1945, by Indonesia’s political leader Sukarno.

Ceremonies and festivities are conducted worldwide to celebrate and acknowledge the historical event.

Goldfields Indonesia Community Association vice-chair Kristy Van Kuyl said the Wonderful Indonesian Festival at Centennial Park commemorated this history and shared Indonesian culture with the wider Goldfields community.

She said the festival was one of the largest annual events for the association.

“This year we put the theme as Wonderful Indonesian Festival and it brings all the cultures from all of the Indonesian islands together as one so we can get together with the community and celebrate,” she said.

Later in the afternoon families joined in tug-of-war and cracker-eating competitions, while performers from the association and African community entertained festival attendees.