Wuruniri Music and Dance

Matthew Doyle formed Wuruniri Music & Dance which is made up of a group of professional musicians and dancers presenting traditional and contemporary music and dance performances.

The Wuruniri group have performed for many of the elite functions in Sydney and nationally.

Wuruniri's past performances include National Sorry Day, the APEC conference in 2007, they have performed for the Pope and were involved in the World Youth Day Celebrations in 2009. They have also performed with the Edinburgh Military Tattoo, at the 2009 Masters Games and in the Opening and Closing ceremonies of the 2000 Olympics.

Performances are tailored to each event depending on the requirements and can include, didgeridoo, songsters, dancers, clap sticks, welcome to country and smoking ceremony.

The Smoking Ceremony

This performance is also a welcome to country which is done with ceremonial fire and smoke, it cleanses the space and people who are guests on the land and gives them the right of passage to visit the land and in particular the traditional land of the Gadigal clan of the Eora nation. The Didgeridoo and vocal songs are part of the ceremony and welcome visitors to the land.

Message Stick of Welcome

An alternative or additional welcome can include the use of the Message Stick of “Welcome”. The elder shows the welcome stick to the audience and then hands it to the leader of the event to pass on good spirits. Alternatively, the elder might break the stick or spear and step over it with the leader of the event before presenting it to the leader.