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All proceeds go towards saving the Wongutha Birni Aboriginal Corporation headquarters (in Kalgoorlie) from closing due to COVID restrictions, more info below.
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A BIT ABOUT THE EP, MICROBATS AND WONGUTHA BIRNI

This EP is both a dedication to the importance of community organisations such as Wongutha Birni, and to one of Perth's least known residents, the microbat.

Now, while it might seem like I'm making a dodgy claim that "bats are like community organisations", if you would grant me a minute, I think there's some important lessons for us in all this.

Over the past few years, I've spent a lot of time listening to microbats fly overhead, in the warm evenings of the summer months, as they go about their business eating 1000s of mosquitos and other insects. Often this has been to the dismay of friends as I interrupt more important human things, like conversation, to make everyone listen to this creature that is rarely seen, only heard.

Other times, their presence has been truly special. During the initial recording sessions of this EP, we lay outside for quite a while and stared at the stars as their calls criss-crossed our vision. Stopping to listen to microbats has been an important reminder of the living systems that swirl through and around our everyday lives, often completely unnoticed.

Not unlike the microbats, our community organisations serve a vital role in our communities. Arising from the fringes, they provide support and space for the huge diversity of sub-cultures and sects within our society.
They deserve to exist in their own right, forming their own networks, apart of the living systems that swirl through and around our everyday lives.

I've been lucky enough to be welcomed on to the beautiful property of Wongutha Birni, and been taught many things. Wongutha Birni is an important organisation in the Goldfields community, some words from them:

Wongutha Birni is a grass roots Aboriginal community organisation that exists on volunteers and donations to support and empower the Aboriginal people of the Goldfields of Western Australia. We have a beautiful, heritage listed building that we have restored and is the only venue that is easily available for community events, meetings, workshops and emergency accommodation for community groups.

But we have no funding to cover the insurances and rates - and without paying these we will have to close! COVID 19 means that we cannot be open, cannot have fundraising events and many of our donors are out of work and unable to help. Wongutha Birni cultural centre is a hub for the region and provides a place where Aboriginal people can meet, feel comfortable and work together. There is no other place in Kalgoorlie that can provide this - even our land council is closing!!

To view their campaign and contribute directly: https://chuffed.org/project/keep-wongutha-birni-alive-copy

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