Background

Being
on purpose these days is more critical than ever before. As a
participant in this special opportunity, your journey begins in Darwin, Australia’s dynamic
Northern gateway, with a breakfast briefing to set the scene and
outcomes for the journey of Creative Leadership. The road journey is an
opportunity to parallel and re-view the journey of an organization or
individual through life’s landscapes. The Garma Festival attracts
around 2,500 people, and the Creative Industries Forum, managed by
Yothu Yindi Foundation and CharlesDarwin University brings together expertise and creative solutions that are practical and
grounded. You will see how the journey reflects and creates our
intentions and expectations, develop synergy and team skills, and a new
clarity that is compelling, empowering and applicable within your
organizations and networks.  

Introduction to Garma

Garma is a
nationally significant, intimate, spectacular celebration of cultural
traditions and practices – dance, song, music, and art (including
presentations, collaborations, sales) – and the annual venue for
a major Key Forum on Indigenous issues.

At Garma
2009, the theme of the Key Forum will be Creative Industries. It will
include important and practical discussions on issues and practices
surrounding cultural outputs and inputs and commercial opportunities
afforded Indigenous Australians through training, development and
practice in many forms of Creative Industry, including design, music,
graphic art, multimedia, film and photography, performance arts, visual
arts, broadcasting and electronic media, new media and professional
writing and editing. One of the central issues to be discussed will be
the extent and nature of the Creative Industries interface with
Indigenous Australians, including cultural and commercial rights, and
the place of traditional art.

As well as
the Key Forum and integrated academic presentations on language and
culture, Key Forum participants also have the opportunity to watch the daily bunggul and music performances, enjoy Garma
art exhibitions and projects, and participate in evening
and night activities.

Garma is a unique combination of
education, entertainment and real cultural interaction, exchange and
immersion. It is indeed a privilege to experience Garma, and there are
several categories of registration available for visitors.

Furthermore, all attendance fees and other revenues received for Garma
go to the operation of the cultural and economic programs – which
have real social, cultural and economic outcomes – of the Yothu
Yindi Foundation, a not-for-profit Aboriginal organisation with
charitable status and with the three primary aims of sharing knowledge
and culture; creating economic opportunities for Yolngu; and nurturing,
celebrating and presenting cultural traditions and practices.  

For more
details of Garma Festival, Forum and events see
www.garma.telstra.com/index.html.

Susanne
Rix
has been researching the qualities of successful leadership for over 25
years. Her facilitation will enable you to explore the leadership
qualities required to lead effectively in a dynamically changing world.  The Garma festival and the remote environment
will provide a catalyst for discussion and expanded learning. www.superworking.co

Journey Details
with Creative
Industries Forum & Garma Festival.

Day 1
(August 6, 2009) – Breakfast briefing and
introductions at Darwin Airport Resort at
8 am.   Depart
10 am via AdelaideRiver for Pine Creek, an historic gold
mining and railway town significant to Northern Territory development. We
pass via numerous World War II airfields critical to
the defence of Australia nearly 70 years ago, to arrive in the
NT’s 3rd largest town, Katherine in for an
optional relax in the thermal springs before stocking up on final
supplies. Depart the main

for overnight camp at Mainoru on the road to Nhulunbuy, GovePeninsula.
Debrief journey highlights & application to leadership. BLD

Day 2
– EnterArnhem
Land Aboriginal Land Trust area and continue on the

,
(also known as Bulman Track). The road climbs and descends numerous
plateaus as it winds through grasslands, termite mounds, open woodlands
and stringy bark forests. Birdlife is prolific at billabongs beside the
road with the Australian bustard a common sight. Buffalo are also seen here. Lunch at
a picturesque river crossing before arrival in the afternoon for a
welcome ceremony at the Garma Festival near Nhulunbuy. BLD

Days
3-5
– Join the Creative Leadership Forum – 3 days
interactive forum and Garma events. Optionally and as
preferred, join women’s or men’s business programs or
numerous alternative Garma activities – full details available on
website or on request. Daily debrief
and integration of highlights & learnings. Overnights at Gulkula,
Garma Festival site.
BLD

Day
6
–  Pre, post and parallel to the
forum are opportunities to become immersed in local culture including
school visits, connecting with award-winning
and internationally acclaimed visual art of the region, men and women
indigenous cultural tourism opportunities including women’s
cultural practices and field trips for the collection of bush tucker,
bush medicine and pandanus leaves and bush dyes for weaving. Also
men’s cultural practices including spear-making and spear
throwing.

Day
7
– Return journey via the wildlife, rivers and billabongs of

the Central Arnhem Road, to overnight at Mainoru.
BLD

Day
8 –
We travel via Katherine and after a shady lunch stop
arrive Kakadu National Park. Here we visit the Warradjan Aboriginal Cultural
Centre to experience a deeper
understanding of local culture. Overnight at
Cooinda in Kakadu NP.

Day 9 –
(August 14) – Early start to enjoy the birds and wildlife on the Yellow Waters wetlands boat cruise, near the junction of
the Jim Jim and Alligator Rivers, where
crocodiles and fascinating wetland birds are seen on the flood plain
amongst Paperbark, Pandanus and Fresh Water Mangroves. We visit
the incredible Nourlangie Aboriginal rock art gallery
and the Ubirr Rock site before departure for Darwin. At our
conference centre in Darwin,
final debrief workshop &
integrations of journey learnings. Completes 6 pm to allow flight
connections or optionally stay overnight in hotel for dinner &
flight connections next day. BL

Inclusions

• 
  Professional journey facilitation and learnings integration for the
  workplace from Suzanne Rix & Richard O’Neill.

• Luxury 4WD
  transport with professional driver/guide to Garma Festival from and
  return to Darwin.

• Garma
  Festival and Forum participation in these exceptional events.

  
  

• All
  healthy meals including vegetarian available.

• 8 nights
  luxury camping. * Optional extra 1 night in hotel, means 10 days/9
  nights. Cost depends on booking date.

• All
  National Parks entry and camping fees and Yellow Waters Cruise in
  Kakadu wetlands.

• Aboriginal
  Art connections for “direct” art purchases

• Percent of
  tour price supports Outback Kids Fund and nature care projects.

Key
Benefits

• 
  Involvement in a rare opportunity to experience traditional Yolngu
  culture and leading edge cross cultural integration.

• Garma is organised by
  the Yothu Yindi Foundation, a
  not-for-profit Aboriginal charitable corporation with charitable
  status, and the Leadership Journey by Excelink International P/L, so
  your investment to participate is tax deductable.

Investment
includes Leadership Journey, workshops and debriefings, Garma Festival
& forum, all meals, fees, guides, 4WD transport, 8 nights
accommodation. Limited places are available, and
application is required. APPLY EARLY to ensure your
place using form attached or at  www.spiritsafaris.com/book.htm

  Price based on entry to Garma as forum
participant. You can also join us as a Cultural Tourist. Please ask.

9 Days/ 8
nights * – A$ 4,995 incl GST or $ 4,550 if booked by June 15.  Call 1300
763 188

* Optional
overnight in hotel means 10 days/9 nights. Hotel cost approx $160
depends on booking date.