GECO's 30th Anniversary

** If you already registered through our GECO website we've moved your registration already over here. All future registrations need to come through here now. 

WHAT A YEAR!!

GECO is turning 30 in 2023 and...we get to celebrate the end of logging native forests in Victoria too!!

With the announcement in May that native forest logging will end in Vic by 2024, this is turning out to be the event of the decade.
Time to celebrate big and get old and new friends together. 

This will be a kid friendly event.

Unfortunately Uncle Clayton, Bidwell Traditional Owner, won't make it for the Welcome to Country anymore due to health reasons. However were fortunate to have Bidwell elder Daryl Andy come down and Welcome us onto his Country.  

LINE-UP OF EVENTS 

Friday

The festival site will open around 2pm on Friday.  The main stage will be opening at 5pm commencing with a Welcome to Country.

Friday night includes an exciting array of performers, DJs and speeches. Our memorial will also be held on Friday night around 8pm. We are setting up a shrine of remembrance for all our legends that have passed. People are welcomed and encouraged to bring items to contribute to the shrine and write in our memorial book. 

Saturday

Saturday will be an opportunity to chill, catch up with people, go out to the forest and check out one of our marked bush walks, help with volunteering etc. There will also be some DIY workshops and updates from other community groups running campaigns, details of these workshops will be displayed at the cafe (blackboard stage), so head there if you want to see what's going on, or if you want to facilitate a workshop. 

Events on the main stage will open around 4 pm on Saturday. 

Sunday

Sunday we anticipate most people will be packing up and heading home however there will be a Sunday late morning bush dance for those still wanting to get their groove on! Also check out the blackboard stage at the cafe for any further DIY workshops. 

BANDS

• The Bedridden
• The Bigots
• The Double Dole String Band - who will also lead a mass bush dance!
• Affordable Repayments
• Encierro Crust
• PALA
• Old Places
• Izzy MC + Elf Tranzporter (Combat Wombat)
• James Brook (Ecowar, Skreechtramps, and Boarding House)
• John Fraser (Keynes Brothers)
• Billi Sinclair
• Ruth Hanson
• Elfian

DJ's

• Phil Bastard
• DJ Screama

PERFORMERS

• Glitter & Snatch

KID ZONE

**We can no longer offer facilitated activities or first aiders due to capacity.

However there will be a big bell tent set up as a kids zone, and this will be an autonomous parent and child space away from the main party site that parents are welcome to utilise. We can't guarantee it'll be quite during performances. Remember also that Goongerah is in the remote wilderness so children must be under supervision of a guardian at all times.

Quiet camping will be available at the Goongerah campground though. 

DOGS 

Dogs are NOT allowed at the event site, dog friendly camping is available at the campground. 

WALKS + SWIMS

The Brodribb river and the Goongerah Creek run through Goongerah and are beaut spots for swims in Summer. We just need to remember that these tributaries are the community's drinking water. So enjoy the water but no nasties near or in it! 

We'll mark out some walks up at the Errinundra Plateau for folks to explore bits of beautiful unburnt bush we've helped save over the years.

FOOD & COOKING

There will be a communal camp kitchen where we can share delicious meals. You are welcome to use this space to cook and clean your dishes. 

Due to fire risk there will be NO individual fires or solid fuel cookers anywhere at event site, aside from within the GECO kitchen area. 

GECO kitchen and cafe will be in full swing, with Flynnys Deep Fried Tofu and volunteer camp chefs taking turns in cooking up some vegan delights. 

Don't forget to bring your cash for donations to cover costs + your own cups and eating utensils! 

Meals will be available: 

• Friday Evening Dinner
• Saturday Lunch & Dinner
• Sunday Breakfast

GECO MUSEUM

We'll be setting up a museum space showcasing all of GECO's shenanigans over the last 30 years, as well as a dedicated shrine to remember all those folks who passed before being able to see this win through. Bring any mementos you would like to add. 

MERCHANDISE

We have had an awesome artist @bone.char design a special edition GECO 30th design for sale on shirts, stickers, magnets, and stubby holders. Bring cash!

We will also have the screens if people want to print their own, so bring a spare T-shirt / hoodie etc if you wanna do that.

GETTING TO GOONGERAH

https://goo.gl/maps/fKziDuFMQLRdhEfE7 

There is no public transport that will bring you all the way to Goongerah. V-line trains will get you to Bairnsdale and the bus will get you to Orbost. From Orbost it is a windy 70km drive up the Bonang Highway, please drive with caution to keep our wildlife safe, avoid driving at dawn, dusk and dark. Once you get to Goongerah, follow the signs to the event site. 

CARPOOLING

If you can offer a lift or are looking for a lift post a message here - https://fb.me/e/4903K86ZN . 

SUPPLIES

There are no shops or fuel in Goongerah, last stop for supplies is Orbost (70km away) or if coming from NSW - Bombala. Check opening times before risking supplies. We recommend buying all supplies before you get to East Gippsland. If coming from Vic we suggest Bairnsdale being your last stop before arriving to camp. 

WATER

There is no mains water in Goongerah. The event site will be equipped with drinking water, however water will be from the creek and may cause sensitivities. It is recommended you bring enough drinking water for the weekend if you don't want to drink creek water. BYO Water bottle to refill. 

CAMPING

We will be camping together at the event site which is on private property, or if you prefer a quieter camp experience there is the option of camping at the Goongerah Camp Ground.

AMENITIES

There are composting toilet/bush loos at both the event site and the Goongerah campground.
There are no showers.

WASTE REMOVAL

Goongerah does not have rubbish collection. Please take your rubbish home with you. 

SUGGESTED ITEMS TO BRING

1. Enough Water for the duration of your stay if you don't want to drink creek water
2. Water bottle
3. Snacks and breakfast foods (consider bringing some extra as there are no shops in Goongerah) 
4. Tent or Swag
5. Camper trailers can be brought onto the event site, please note there are no powered sites.
6. Cup, Coffee mug, plate, bowl, cutlery
7. Esky/ice
8. Sleeping bag, pillow, bedding
9. Warm clothes
10. Rain coat, waterproof pants
11. Hat
12. Eco friendly sunscreen 
13. Torch
14. Battery bank 
15. Comfortable shoes for hiking
16. Towel
17. Swimmers
18. Rubbish bags
19. First Aid kit

WEATHER

We are likely to have some wet weather before the party which means possible soggy ground. Come prepared.. Put gumboots on the packing list maybe. 

SAFETY

We don't anticipate any trouble but as we are all aware there has been opposition to GECO's tireless work in campaigning to save our forests, there may be a police presence locally.

MEDIA & PHOTOGRAPHY

This is a private celebration, therefore only photography for personal use is allowed. For professional enquiries, send us an email at geco@geco.org.au

WE STILL NEED VOLUNTEERS!

Enroll here. 

Here's what we need volunteers for:

• DJ’s
• Cabaret, drag, or other performance artists

• Site Artists/Decor
• Screen Printing/Merch Sales
• Event Volunteers - happy to help out with whatever needs to be done during the festival
• First Aid
• Tech volunteers
• People to welcome folk at the gate

WE NEED MORE ARCHIVAL MATERIAL TOO!

Use this form to upload stuff.

Specifically:

📷 - Any material documenting GECO activities from around the 2000's until about 2015.
🎥 - Especially from Survey Rd, Centre Rd, Ferntree Rd, Martin's Creek, DM coupe or BC coupe, or Yalmy.
📷 - Any of the multi-day walks we took people on.
🎥 - And any of the music festivals we organised!