Gallery | ASHE fest 2023

By Jay Bryce

Sep 21, 2023

Sharing culture: ASHE student Nathan Bourke leads the Traditional Dance workshop. Photos: Amy De Paola.

ASHE Fest, a three-day extravaganza led by the students of the Academy of Sport, Health and Education and supported by ASHE staff, descended upon Shepparton on Wednesday, September 6.

Hold tight - we’re checking permissions before loading more content

This year’s ASHE Fest, at Rumbalara Football Club and Shepparton Sports Stadium, was a vibrant celebration of sports, culture, and community that brought together 1500 students from 25 regional schools.

At its core, ASHE Fest is a joyous celebration of First Nations culture.

The event fosters understanding, appreciation and respect for Australia’s Indigenous heritage.

Over three days, participants engaged in a diverse array of activities that brought them closer to the rich tapestry of First Nations traditions.

ASHE Fest catered to students from Prep to Year 12, ensuring that everyone had an opportunity to participate.

For the older students (Years 7 to 12), the highlight was Buroinjin, a traditional First Nations ball game played by the Kabi Kabi people of Southern Queensland.

The younger participants (Prep to Year 6) were treated to a kaleidoscope of activities.

From ASHEletics to face painting and story time, to creating First Nations artefacts and crafts, traditional games to dancing, there was no shortage of fun and educational experiences.

ASHE students services officer Seldan Andrews said ASHEfest promotes physical wellness, cultural pride and a relationship with the land.

“First Nations education can encourage students to stay active, develop a connection to their community, and lead a healthy lifestyle that can also help to build relationships among students, teachers, and communities,” he said.