Multi-Aria Award winner Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu will perform at Dreamtime at the G on Saturday night. Gurrumul will help set the scene for the highlight of the AFL’s annual Indigenous Round, the Richmond vs Essendon match at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

Blind since birth, Gurrumul (his traditional name) is a member of the Gumatj clan of north-east Arnhemland. A member of Yothu Yindi until 1992, Gurrumul is currently a member of the Saltwater Band, which was awarded the Album of the Year and Song of the Year at the 2008 NT Indigenous Music Awards. Gurrumul also won two ARIA Awards in 2008 for Best World Music Album and Best Independent Release.

Gurrumul supported Elton John’s Darwin tour, performed before the Pope at World Youth Day in Sydney and has had sell-out shows at the Sydney Opera House.

Gurrumul will be joined by Dan Sultan, together with Scott Wilson, who will perform “This Land is Mine” (originally written and performed by well known Indigenous singer/song writer Kev Carmody), along with a dance performance from the Movement Australia Dancers. The pre-match entertainment will again be broadcast around the country on Network TEN.

The Long Walk will precede the pre-match entertainment. Long Walk activities commence in Federation Square at 4pm with entertainment including Joe Geia, traditional games and the Koorie Night Market; the walk departs Federation Square for the MCG at 5.50pm.

The day also includes a community curtain raiser between the Brambuk Eels (Vic) and the Imalu Tigers (NT) from 4.30pm. The pre-match entertainment will commence at 7pm with the match starting at 7.45pm.

Tickets are now available at Ticketek: 13 28 49.

The Australian Government through the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR) is again proud to support Dreamtime at the G for a fourth year in 2009.

In collaboration with the AFL and its corporate partners, DEEWR highlights the opportunities for corporate Australia to take a leading role in closing the economic and social gaps between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians.

The AFL is a valued member of DEEWR’s Corporate Leaders for Indigenous Employment program. Through this program, Indigenous Liaison Officers work with the AFL’s sponsors to create employment and training opportunities for Indigenous Australians. For more information about Indigenous employment call 1802 102.

Dreamtime at the G is also supported by DESA Australia and the Melbourne Cricket Club.