ACTIVATE GREAT SOUTHERN

2025

 LAKE NEAR

𝘞𝘦 𝘢𝘤𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸𝘭𝘦𝘥𝘨𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘛𝘳𝘢𝘥𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘖𝘸𝘯𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘨𝘯𝘪𝘴𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘶𝘦𝘥 𝘤𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘥𝘪𝘢𝘯𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘱 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘯𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘥, 𝘸𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘺. 𝘞𝘦 𝘱𝘢𝘺 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘌𝘭𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘱𝘢𝘴𝘵, 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘳𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘨. 𝘞𝘦 𝘤𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘣𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴, 𝘤𝘶𝘭𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘥𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘈𝘣𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘛𝘰𝘳𝘳𝘦𝘴 𝘚𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘵 𝘐𝘴𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘌𝘭𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘢𝘭𝘴𝘰 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘥.

EVENT INFORMATION | LOVE LETTER

Hello Activators ! We are thrilled you got a ticket and look forward to spending the weekend with you planting trees, connecting to the land and enjoying each others company!

This year the planting will be at Lake Near- a gorgeous wetland on a private property in Tenterden. HQ + camping will be closeby at Nunijup Hall, a short 5 minute drive to the planting site. We will be planting 12,000 seedlings over the weekend! (and tree guarding a small number of these species) to assist rehabilitation of the beautiful wetland which is already a popular gathering place for birds and other wildlife.

ARE YOU READY???

We have prepared this Love Letter which contains some important information for you to look at prior to the event. Please stick with us here. There’s serious stuff and some very interesting information about the event. Firstly! Let’s get the seriously safe stuff out of the way.

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SAFETY & FIRST AID

GENERAL SAFETY – This event is entirely run by volunteers, we work very hard to bring you these unique Tree Planting Music Festivals, jam-packed with love, music, amazing food, and community. Our budgets are very low and our event management is as perfect as it can be. Please keep an eye out for children (and big children) for general safety. If you see something we have missed – please let us know so we can remove the risk. Everyone has a part to play at this event and we appreciate all extra eyes and ears to keep us with our mission of planting trees.

FEELING UNWELL – If you are feeling unwell with COVID symptoms, or any other illness, please do not attend, and let us know (contacts listed at end). Not only do we need to have the amount of people to plant the trees, but we also have a waitlist of people wanting to attend. Camping down south is not fun if you are feeling unwell so don’t try and talk yourself into it. At the event we will have some RAT tests available and a first aid team. Should you start feeling unwell or suspect COVID, please present to the crew for assistance.

Site OHS – Please abide by signage and follow crew instructions. There will be a short OSH briefing on the Friday night to cover juicy OSH goss; a dedicated tree planting OSH brief on Saturday morning, and a poster with main points/ reminders in the shed. Find a crew member for assistance if you have any concerns.

FIRST AID – We are lucky to have experienced first aiders amongst us. First Aiders and location of First Aid Kits will be identified during the OSH briefing. The crew who will be wearing HIGH-VIS will have radios and can assist you too. If you have any medically important information that will help us assist you in an emergency please talk to Wren on arrival. Your information will be kept as need to know only.

Closest hospital: Mount Barker. 30 minutes. Plantagenet Hospital, 59 Langton Road. Emergency open 24 hours. Ph: 9892 1222

VEHICLE MOVEMENT – You will be greeted at the gates and directed to the camping area. BE AWARE there will be vehicles moving around the campsite. Drive VERY SLOWLY & be mindful of SMALL CHILDREN, especially when reversing, and warn them about the vehicle movements. Drive with lights on, and always have a spotter when reversing (spotter- someone outside vehicle ensuring that behind vehicle is all clear).

WATER SAFETY – We are camping next to Lake Nunijup and ONSITE we are planting around a wetland (deep water body). These areas are not fenced. Parents/ guardians, please ensure if your children are near water that they
are being supervised.

CAMPFIRES – No individual fires are permitted by campers. There will be a central fire maintained by the crew. There will be a safe zone marked around the fire. Please inform your children not to go any closer to the fire than the safety zone and keep an eye on them around the fire.

OUT OF BOUNDS – Please respect the landholders privacy and stay within designated areas. Any out of bounds areas will be communicated at the Friday night briefing.

RURAL – We are in a rural area. Phone & internet are limited. Please make sure you have written down the directions to site prior to leaving home. Please let the crew know if you are leaving site for any reason.

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GETTING TO SITE & CAMPING INFORMATION

Address: : From Denmark/ Albany: travel North of Mt Barker > Turn left off Albany highway onto Martagallup Rd (turns into Stockyard Rd) for 15 minutes until you see hall/lake sign (right turn). We will have Activate signage out front and a friendly welcome team to greet you. 

Type in ‘Lake Nunijup free campsite’ into Google Maps. 
Bit of History on HQ – Lake Nunijup Campsite – 

What do I do when I arrive? Arrive from 2pm (2-5pm) Our friendly team at the entrance will greet you. They’ll check you in, ask you about your camping setup and direct you in to set up camp. Once you’ve set up your camp, head to the Hall and grab a cuppa. There will be Art, Sewing and Carving activities at the hall. Dinner is at 5.30pm and EVERYONE must attend the 6pm Welcome/ Introduction. 

Camping Facilities: Basic bush camping facilities- flushing toilet (adjoined to hall) and compost toilets onsite. No shower facilities. Please bring your own drinking water as there is limited drinking water available at the hall (rainwater tank- non potable). You are welcome to bring campervans etc but please note there is no access to power in the camping area. Families camping may wish to camp further away from the hall so late night music does not keep the kids awake. If you are camping in a swag you are welcome to sleep in the hall or on the verandah of the hall if the weather is looking bad but please beware there will be music and movement in the area.

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TREE PLANTING COMMUNITY

TREE PLANTING: The Hall Family farm where we will planting this year is an operating crop farm with areas on conservation. It sits within Gondwana Link , and is within the Oyster Harbour Catchment. We will be planting out the riparian zone (edge of wetland) with a mixture of 12000 x biodiverse endemic (local provenance) species. This proposed planting project will provide habitat for threatened wildlife and serve as an important corridor for wildlife traversing between nearby nature reserves. This years project is in partnership with Green Skills who have undertaken an Ecological Assessment of the planting area, and have identified best species for the planting.

Saturday day and Sunday morning will be PLANTING DAYS – all groovers in the paddock – all hands on tools – planting tools (Potti-puktis) will be provided. Sunday closing Ceremony will be after lunch.
The planting areas have been freshly ripped (machine site prep) and are ready for planting. Due to the abundance of roos and rabbits, we will be installing tree guards around a section of the seedlings- bring your mallets..

COMMUNITY JOBS ‘CONNECTION AND CONTRIBUTION THROUGH MOBS’ We will be a tree planting community for the weekend and each and every person is involved in the co-creation of this event. On arrival you and your offspring will be allocated a MOB. The whole group will be allocated small groups we call MOBS. At different times during the weekend you and your MOB will support the kitchen crew, the planting crew and help will be a tree planting community for the weekend and each and every person involved in the event is a volunteer. The (volunteer) crew will be all over most things and we will be doing shout outs when we need help with things. On arrival to we ask you to check out any gaps that may need filling on the Community Jobs board which will be up on the wall next to Schedule and Site Map. Jobs such as making sure water is topped up at tea station, kitchen assistance etc.

CONNECT WITH COMMUNITY Activate is a community of incredible humans and we are stoked for you to be joining us this July. Dance with new friends, yarn around the campfire, stretch out under the stars, breathe in the fresh country air and celebrate your weekend achievements.

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SCHEDULE

PLANT HARD !! DANCE HARD !! This is a guide to what we have planned. Due to various factors the program is subject to change. Tree planting and fun is our priority so the flow will revolve around this. Just keep an eye on the program stuck up on the wall, and your ears open to our MCs who will keep you posted as we go along.

You can be sure that Activate’s famous farm-field mobile DJs will be making an appearance deep-south-style! Bringing the high-vibe tunes to elevate your day of planting and keep you grooving while you restore the land. Evenings at HQ will be a treat for your ears – live music, pumping DJs and camp-fire sing-alongs!

FRIDAY

2pm – 6pm Arrival to site
5.30pm Dinner (5.15pm Kids dinner)
6pm ALL ACTIVATORS Welcome/ Introductions 
6.30pm: Live Music LEMON MYRTLE followed by Open Mic **
**We would love for you to prepare/ share a poem/ skit/ song with us. We encourage you to be as weird and creative as you feel!

SATURDAY

7am Morning movement practice*
7-8am: Breakfast + Mob Check In
8am All meet at hall > Convoy to site
8.30 to 16.00: TREE PLANTING DAY
8.30am Welcome + Site Induction > Planting demo > Planting begins!!
Music Truck will be pumping tunes! Including Live Loops set by Echo Omen
11am Morning Tea ONSITE
1pm Lunch ONSITE with Live Music PRIMORDIAL NOTES
Option for kids after lunch – ‘Kids Art with Mezzy’
4pm Pack-up Site and Return to HQ
4pm Afternoon Tea at HQ
5.30pm: Dinner (5.15pm Kids early dinner)
6.15pm Celebrations: Live Music NONI OLDFIELD, THE NOMADICS
Late night Ecstatic dance set DJ HONEY DROP

SUNDAY

7.30am : Morning movement practice*
7.30-8.30am: Breakfast + Mob Check In
8.30am All meet at hall > Convoy to site
9am – midday TREE PLANTING MORNING with Sound Truck tunes
10.30am Morning Tea
Midday Lunch + Closing Ceremony ONSITE

*Please note that participation in any of the workshops involving sport (i.e. Movement or Dance) are at your own risk. Please do not use the Activate event to try any new moves – unless on the dancefloor.

ARTISTS

 Noni Oldfield + Friends. Noni is a songwriter from the sandy soils and sheoak whispers of the south-west, shifting shadows of dreams into love songs to the deep. Also key crew member of the ‘Activate Tree Planting Saplings’ (young adults annual ATP Festival).

Lemon Myrtle sings songs. South West WA artist, Lemon Myrtle’s lyrics celebrate community, explore fear and expose human warmth. With an acoustic and the slow wisdom of the bush, she seeks out wonder, intrigue, connection and good times.

Echo Omen is all about rhythm – in both music and life. The alias of Great Southern Western Australian-based songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, producer and vocalist Matthew Bracknell, Echo Omen crafts soulful, atmospheric sounds from acoustic folk to downtempo indietronica and abstract hip-hop, drawing comparisons to artists as diverse as José González, Quantic and Algiers.

THE NOMADICS – Bec Schofield and Dave Mann (and their three children): “The Nomadics imbibe stories from the heart of Australia, then sing them out with a deep love for the world around them and each other . Their stunning harmonies drew me in, reminding me, what a beautiful thing is music“. Vikki Thorn – The Waifs.

Honey Drop: is a reverent weaver of delicate & dynamic soundscapes, embracing the erotic tension between silence and sound. Her sets traverse sensual & lyrical oases that are designed to inspire both booty grind and spirit uplift. Expect globally inspired bass and a playful yet soulful dance floor. 

Primordial Notes: are a dynamic and rising young duo from Denmark, WA captivating local audiences with their unique fusion of Gypsy, Ska and  unconventional pop. Their performances showcase crafty songwriting soaring vocals, punchy guitar riffs with groove, and the melancholy melodies of folk and soul. 

Rhian Bethan: There is no doubt that Welsh born Kwoorabup Song Dragon Rhian + other Musical Leader friends, will have us all singing songs , in harmony, with meaning on Country over the weekend.

WORKSHOPS

Rod and Bruce: Wood carving with local wood.
Merome: Kids Art activities.
Circus Activities: Circus activities with Sarah Healy.

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FOOD & DRINKS

Our cook’s have got you covered; all your meals for the entire weekend are provided! Vegetarian menu. They will be nourishing us all with freshly made, healthy, and delicious meals made with care and love. Dietary requirements will be catered for. The absolute best way to end a day of planting together is to gather for a wholesome communal meal together. BYO snacks, water bottle, plate + utensils.
Mae will be rocking the drinks again this year! Woohoo! FYI Cwych Drinks bar will be offering a range of caffeinated and non- caffeinated Teas, Coffee, Chai, Rhythm Cacao and Mocktails!!! On offer is Cows Milk and Oat Milk. If you require any other special milks please bring.

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PACKING LIST

• Camping gear – Tent/ Swag/ Car. Bed + bedding.
• Camping chair for sitting around the fire or resting up at lunchtime.
• Plate, bowl and utensils.
• Good boots/shoes for walking & tree planting. If it has rained, it can be very muddy. Gumboots or at least waterproof shoes or a spare pair are highly recommended.
• A mallet (for tree guard stakes) and any planting tools you may have ie. kidney bucket, hand trowel, Potiputki.
• Waterproof jacket/ outfit in case we get blessed by rain a day earlier than wished for.
• Warm clothes – it might be t-shirt weather during the day but it gets VERY COLD at night. A thick coat, thick socks, and a beanie are essential. Spare socks! Hot water bottle.
• We are making some patches that can be sewn onto shirt/ jacket/ whatever you like, as a memento, so bring something you’d like patched (we will have sewing stuff in the shed).
• Sunhat and sun protection ie. covered clothing/ sunscreen.
• Backpack for planting days containing: plate + utensils, water bottle (we will have refill stations onsite), Lip balm (important!)
• Torch
• Toiletries
• Musical instruments, yoga mat, games.. paraphernalia for a magical weekend (Open Mic Friday night)
• Bring something to share at Open Mic. This could be a song, poem, skit, hot tops for life, a skill share… last year the seed propagation demo was very fun and educational! 

And that’s it  Oh, lastly:

• Drugs and Alcohol to be left at home. This is a drug and alcohol free event. Smokers, please smoke out of view of kids and away from communal areas.
• We love animals, but please, DO NOT BRING YOUR DOG (or other animals) to the event.

CONTRIBUTION

We ask for your contribution please. Everything little helps! Some items you already have at home can help us keep our budgets low, and encourage everyone to participate as much as they can in a variety of different ways. Things we are always on the look out to make our event sparkle:

• Snacks for morning and arvo tea – homemade preferable (less packaging)
  Do you make a mean bliss ball, snack bar, dip etc. that you’d like to share with all your new planting friends?
• Fruit It’s apple time. Do you have an abundance of fruit from your place or a nearby tree?
• Toilet Paper. How much would you use? Bring it along

There are lots more items we are always on the hunt for and even though it’s not listed here if you think you have something that’ll be useful to us – send us a message. According to our sustainability ethics, we try to keep our purchases to a minimum, buy 2nd hand or build ourselves if we cannot borrow. This helps us keep our costs down, supports out environmental values as a priority and makes our community working together.

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WITH GRATITUDE

Thankyou the whole ACTIVATE Team/Crew/Planters (that’s you!) and our major sponsor Carbon Positive (grant funding for trees) and our partner Green Skills Inc,, for enabling this event to occur, and to our collaborators:
Form Nursery, South Coast NRM and other awesome supporters who will be announced and acknowledged at the event.

Big thank you to the Hall Family for hosting the Activate planting. They welcome us with excitement and gratitude

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CONTACT

Please do not hesitate to reach out, we will respond as fast as possible:
greatsouthern@activatetreeplanting.org.au

From Wednesday 16th July onwards (TEXT MESSAGES ONLY): Rhian 0415 473 994 Olly 0407 772 621

Now… get excited, get packing and we’ll see you VERY SOON!

WithActivate Great Southern Crew