Amongst the cultural activities on show was a performance by year 11 student Kobi Russell, who jumped at the chance to play his didgeridoo in front of his entire school.

He smiled broadly as he explained his first thought when asked to play.

“Yeah, straight away, I knew I’d do it without a doubt!”

The music resonated through the hall, and every eye was fixed on the boys who moved from the back of the hall to the front.

With Kobi on the didgeridoo and ‘TJ’ on the clapping sticks, the pair played continuously for more than six minutes.

It was moving to say the least, and Uncle Robert ‘Bob’ Glanville, a Wiradjuri Elder from Cootamundra, was very pleased with what he heard.

He congratulated the young men, in particular, Kobi, during his welcome to the country address.

“Kobi, that’s as good as I’ve heard anywhere; congratulations,” Mr Glanville said

Afterwards, Kobi revealed that he performed on the spot, without any form of rehearsal.

For Kobi, playing the didgeridoo is a form of meditation.

“It calms and relaxes me and you feel really good about yourself especially if you’re doing it for your culture.”

He moved to Cootamundra six months ago, and has already made some “good friends”.

“The people here are so much different from the people in the city,” Kobi said. 

Clearly a talented musician, Kobi’s ambitions are not of an individualistic nature, and rather, directed by his Aboriginal heritage.

“I want to get the culture out there more, not only for the Indigenous kids, but for the non-Indigenous kids too.”

Another proud Indigenous Australian from Coota High was there to witness Indigenous students in their element on Friday.

PE teacher Miss Haines organised a series of ‘Koori games’ and she was glad to see Indigenous students “Stand up and say, yes, I am an Aboriginal person.”

She adapted traditional Indigenous games for the event. 

“Most of the kids didn’t really understand exactly what was going on but it was good just to see them get in there and have a go,” Miss Haines said.

“It’s good to be at a school that’s so supportive of these particular events.”