Esperance Wildflower Festival to be hosted by local Aboriginal native title holders for the first time

The annual festival dedicated to celebrating all things flowers in Esperance will be run by the local Aboriginal native title holders for the first time. Visitors and tourists will have the chance to immerse themselves in flowers native to the region during the 2024 Esperance Wildflower Festival. Running from September 17-21 the festival will include presentations from expert botanists, tours guided by Tjaltjraak Rangers, art and craft stalls, vibrant floral displays and live-art flora-inspired art creations. Organisers invite anyone from seasoned botanists to those simply looking for family-friendly fun to enjoy the more than 600 species of wildflowers on display. Esperance Tjaltjraak Native Title Aboriginal Corporation chair Gail Reynolds-Adamson said the organisation was honoured to be hosting the event Ms Reynolds-Adamson said it was a part of the corporation’s commitment to celebrating and preserving the region’s natural beauty and cultural heritage. The event will be run in collaboration with the Esperance Wildflower Society, Esperance Community Arts, and St Andrew’s Anglican Parish The parish’s Rev. Brett Guthrie said he was looking forward to the new collaboration with ETNTAC. “The wildflower festival bloomed into life 34 years ago within the Rectory of St Andrew’s,” he said. “It is with immense joy that we collaborate with Tjaltjraak Native Title Aboriginal Corporation to nurture and expand the wildflower festival even further. “Our parish eagerly anticipates a lasting and fruitful relationship with this beloved festival’s new chapter.” Esperance Wildflower Society president Ken Mills said the event was a calendar highlight for the society’s members. “The annual wildflower festival is a keenly anticipated event for Esperance Wildflower Society members,” he said. “Each year we learn something new and get to share our appreciation of the local flora. “We welcome the opportunity to continue working alongside ETNTAC to learn more about the role of plants in Wudjari culture.”