By Deb Kloeden, Adelaide correspondent
Review: Operation Jeedara Fundraiser
Venue: The Flour Mill, Port Adelaide. 20th August 2016
Operation Jeedara is the name of the campaign Sea Shepherd Australia is running to raise funds for, and awareness about BP’s plans to drill for oil in the Great Australian Bight, the world’s most significant nursery for Southern Right Whales. We all know the tragedy BP caused in the Gulf of Mexico in 2010. Now they want to drill for oil in the pristine Great Australian Bight. The Bight (as we affectionately call it in Australia) is rich in beauty and marine life and is a major tourist attraction for this reason. Visitors can stand on the high cliffs and view below whales of many species, close at hand, rearing and nursing their young. The Bight waters are deeper, more remote and rougher than those of the Gulf of Mexico. It is one of the last intact wilderness areas left on the planet.
On Saturday 20th August, prominent Australian musicians and guest speakers gave their time to help raise funds to support the Sea Shepherd’s campaign.
Headlining the event was JOHN BUTLER (John Butler Trio) who is a committed advocate of peace, environmental protection and global harmony. He regularly puts his name to environmental causes.
Support musicians were:
• COLOURED STONE, Australia’s premier Aboriginal Band
• TAPIR KINGDOM, an Adelaide progressive rock band
• LOREN KATE, a contemporary Adelaide folk singer
• BABYLON BURNING, a well-established Adelaide Reggae/Rock/Afro Beat band whose music also resonates messages of environmental impact and political unjustness.
• CAPTAIN HELLFIRE and the Wretched Brethren call themselves a ‘Pirate Band’, singing hearty sea shanties and provided rollicking good fun.
• DJ CHARLTONE
Guest Speakers included:
• BOB BROWN, the former Australian Greens Leader
• JEFF HANSEN from The Sea Shepherd
• BUNNA LAWRIE, Mirning Elder and Whale Songman
• PETER OWEN from the Wilderness Society of South Australia
A screening of footage taken from an expedition to The Great Australian Bight, highlighted the precious marine environment which is at stake. The evening also included a silent Art auction, which raised thousands of dollars to help Sea Shepherd fight BP’s intention to drill for oil in South Australia’s back yard.
The evening started early with Loren Kate taking the stage first, followed by a Welcome Ceremony of Aboriginal Dancing. Coloured Stone presented their unique Aboriginal sound, incorporating traditional Aboriginal instruments with contemporary guitars and drums. They performed their popular and well-known ‘Black Boy’, a hit from the 1980s. Tapir Kingdom preceded Babylon Burning, who played many of their signature tunes like ‘Running with the Fool’, ‘Break the Chains’ (about the way Australia is treating their refugees), ‘Silence Rains‘ (about global warming and media silence), ‘Sound Advice’ and ‘Won’t Stand Down’. They also played 3 new songs, which they are currently recording.
John Butler was a huge draw card and didn’t disappoint the eager crowd. He also played many of his most well known songs including ‘Used to get high’, ‘Zebra’, ‘Revolution’ and lastly, the beautiful, long instrumental track ‘Ocean’, which was a fitting finale.
Captain Hellfire provided a rollicking set of sea shanties.
If you feel you would like to donate to Operation Jeedara to help stop BP drilling in The Great Australian Bight, please click DONATE.
For more information, visit www.fightforthebight.org.au
PHOTO GALLERY
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From Darkroom to Lightroom in 4 decades.
Deb is aPhotographer, Music Lover, Ex teacher, and traveller.
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