Garma Festival 2023 and a ‘tremendous thanks to Sea Swift’

The Garma Festival is an important cultural celebration on the Indigenous Australian calendar. It is Australia’s largest and most influential first-nations event, a four-day celebration of Yolngu culture, held in remote Arnhem Land in the Northern Territory.

In 2023, the Gove Peninsula once again became home to a vibrant celebration of country for what was an unforgettable 4 days in the Territory from 4 to 7 August … and Sea Swift was there.

Sea Swift has been a proud contributor to the Garma Festival since 2013. The four days come together through intricate planning and Sea Swift teams on the ground to ensure all facilities, supplies, catering and comforts are safely brought to the Arnhem Land site for the festivities. The Gove Depot, a gateway into Arnhem Land, is a hive of activity before the annual event.

“Given the remoteness of the event… I don’t feel as if we can deliver this event unless there is solid support behind it,” said Denise Bowden, Chief Executive of the Yothu Yindi Foundation. “[Sea Swift] understands the significance of Garma on a national level [and] go out of their way, above and beyond!”

Delivering freight up to Garma is one part of Sea Swift’s long-running agreement with the Yothu Yindi Foundation and something the company is delighted to partake in. Since expanding into the Northern Territory, Sea Swift has gone from strength-to-strength in keeping Northern Australia connected.

Denise relayed at the 2023 Garma Festival just how important partnerships like these are for a successful outcome. “[We are] very grateful that Sea Swift have been great friends of ours for many years”, she said.

Sea Swift acknowledges the Gumatj people and the tireless work from Yunupinju to make Garma the incredible celebration we enjoy today.

Sea Swift supports Australia’s Indigenous communities and strives to create opportunities for all young Australians in the workplace. Sea Swift services some of Northern Australia’s most remote communities, enabling ease in movement of freight and essential services to and from remote islands and mainland Australia.