Twenty years on twenty acres twenty kms west of Alice Springs

Presented by Keith Castle and Stella Hayes

Eremos Online Annual General Meeting and end of year gathering
Sunday 23rd November 2025, 2:00 – 4:15 pm AEDT

The AGM will commence promptly at 2.00 AEDT and Keith and Stella's presentation will commence at approximately 2.45pm. 

Almost two decades ago, Keith and Stella Castle relocated from Hornsby in suburban Sydney to live on Arrernte Country on the outskirts of Alice Springs, at Ilwempe-Ilwempe, Mpwaltye Arntaye, aka ‘White Gums’, Honeymoon Gap. As well as working in local organisations (Keith in community development and Stella as a psychologist) they have lovingly nurtured White gums as a place of community, and cultural and spiritual engagement.

In 2014 and 2016, they hosted ‘Edge of the Sacred’ gatherings, fostering conversation between indigenous and non-indigenous voices. People travelled from far and wide to participate. Edge of the Sacred gatherings aspired to reflect on the context and circumstances of our current relationship with the land. Sessions were led by local Aboriginal speakers along with some non-Aboriginal people who are passionately focused on listening to place.

Rachael Kohn attended the ‘Edge of the Sacred’ in 2016 and made two ABC Radio National programs for The Spirit of Things,  interviewing participants and speakers. Here are the links: 

Listening to the Land January 2017

Come together AUG 2016  Keith and Stella feature on this towards the end of the Podcast. 

In 2020, they hosted the inaugural Ghost Gum Rhythm and Blues festival, an open-air live music event featuring numerous local artists. This has become an annual event, celebrating the rich diversity of the Central Australian community.

In 2015, Keith and Stella provided logistical support for the first ever European tour of the Central Australian Aboriginal Women’s Choir, made up of women from remote desert communities singing in English, Western Arrernte and Pitjantjatjara. It was a profound experience for all (https://www.sbs.com.au/ondemand/watch/1268042307847).

In 2018, they did it for a US tour. Later, Keith was invited to join the choir, and recently they toured Australia. Singing with these women, he describes, is the greatest honour of his life.

Keith and Stella have an amazing story to share, and we are delighted that they have agreed to speak at the Eremos AGM. We hope that you will join us.

This event is open to all and free for Eremos members or $10 for non-members. 

Bookings essential. The Zoom link is emailed with your registration confirmation.  
 

Thanks to Neil Millar for the photos used in this post.