News

Visit this page regularly for Amaroo news and updates.

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Amaroo Events
If you would like to be informed when an Amaroo Event with Prem Rawat is confirmed please register for updates at WOPG Events

The ‘One to One’ series is available on YouTube – Prem Rawat Official Subscribe Here

JULY NEWS 2021:

Raffle:
Ticket sales for the 2021 Mid-Year Amaroo Raffle will close on Thursday 12 August 2021 at 7.00pm (AEST).

Our raffles are a great way to help keep Amaroo on your mind as well as an opportunity to win one of four big cash prizes – a big A$3000 first prize, A$1000 second prize and two A$500 third prizes.
The 2021 Mid-Year Amaroo Raffle will be drawn on Saturday 14 August 2021 at 7.00pm (AEST).
We really appreciate your help – from wherever you are around the globe! Click on the image to purchase.

JUNE NEWS 2021:

2021 marks 30 years since Ivory’s Rock was purchased. Since then 20 Amaroo Events have taken place, 17 of them ranging over 3, 4 and 5 days. There have also been many meetings, workshops and trainings during that time. Thank you to all who have contributed their time and skills over the years, and thank you to our sponsors. You continue to make so much possible!

“On Sunday 27^th June we held an afternoon tea at Ivory’s Rock to celebrate the 30^th year of Amaroo. We had a fantastic attendance of 195 people! The afternoon was conducted in accordance with COVID-safe event guidelines.

It was a thoroughly enjoyable afternoon for all, with some videos, information updates, music, product sales and great food! Best of all though, it was a chance for so many of us to get together at Amaroo for the first time since Prem was here in 2018. ”
IRF Chairperson, Joy Winnel

Join the Team!
Would you like to join the team, either in person or virtually? There are New roles listed on the Volunteer Page. You can also make a difference and Join the Sponsorship Team

MAY NEWS 2021:

Ivory’s Rock is hiring:
Are you Ivory’s Rock new administration expert? We are looking for a dynamic person to join our team at Peak Crossing.Take the time to have a look at our amazing facility at www.ivorysrock.org.au

Apply directly to Amanda Hockley at [email protected]
Required One Page cover letter introducing yourself and what interests you to work at Ivory’s Rock and RESUME
Closing date 14^th May 2021

April News 2021:

Inland Rail Update: We would like to thank everyone who accepted the invitation to help and made a submission to the Queensland Government Office of the Co-ordinator General (OCG).
We understand that more than 800 submissions were received by the OCG and that your support helped to reach this number..
Ivory’s Rock Foundation made a comprehensive submission with the help of our lawyers and expert consultants. This submission is currently being considered by the OCG and ARTC will have the opportunity to comment on it, along with all other submissions received. Read Ivory’s Rock Submission

Easter at Ivory’s Rock: Cancelled due to Covid19 outbreak. The Team had put together a great Retreat, and will be putting that effort towards another opportunity at a later date. Thank you.

MAY News 2021:

Inland Rail: Submissions in support of Ivorys Rock close Monday 8th March. READ MORE

Easter at Ivorys Rock : Thursday 1st – Monday 5th April 2021 Bookings will open for the Easter Retreat on Friday 5 March at 5pm Brisbane time. If you did not receive an email about the Retreat please contact the team for the details [email protected]

A Working Bee preparing the Pavilion for the Easter Retreat, will be held every Sunday in March. Meet up with Margaret in the Pavilion at 10am.

FEBRUARY News 2021:

Ivorys Rock is facing a challenge and your help is needed.

The Australian Federal Government is planning a freight rail line from Melbourne to Brisbane, called the Inland Rail. The route passes within a kilometre from the Sandy Creek Campgrounds. READ MORE

There is a possibility that this will not happen, as alternative routes are being proposed for Queensland.

However, if it does proceed:

- The line would pass only 1 km from the closest campgrounds.
- The train line would commence operation around 2027 (6 years away).
- The number of train movements will steadily increase from about 33 to about 47 per day over a 24-hour period including night-time.
- The trains are very loud and will cause significant noise impact on Ivory’s Rock.
- The most serious impact will be on people’s ability to sleep well in the campgrounds and accommodations, and to enjoy the usually quiet natural environment and outdoor event venues.

You can help by writing a submission before 8 March (Brisbane time) READ MORE

Save the Dates – Easter Retreat at Ivorys Rock – Thursday 1st – Monday 5th April 2021

An Easter Retreat for 2021 is in the early stages of planning.

Although there may not be an Amaroo event, we can still come and enjoy this beautiful place. Come stay onsite, rest and unwind, and enjoy the videos and activities.

You can also help keep Ivorys Rock beautiful and in readiness for the next Amaroo event by plugging into the volunteer opportunities on offer.

All the details including pricing and the booking link will be coming soon. Our team is working hard to ensure the price will be affordable and good value.

An email was sent to Australians and New Zealanders – it incorrectly stated Tuesday instead of Monday 5th April. If you did not receive the email and would like to be on the mailing list please click here

January News 2021:

Australia Day 26th – We recognise the Jagera Daran people who are the traditional custodians of the land which Ivorys Rock is a part of. Please enjoy this video of about the ancient rock formations – produced by Mike Brown and Sara Watson Watch Video

The New Year is here!
During these very difficult and uncertain times we hope you are keeping heart and are safe and well.

Here in Australia we are fortunate to have the virus in check. Covid safe regulations are in place and volunteers can go to Ivorys Rock. However even if you dont live locally there are Virtual Roles available. Volunteer Roles

No matter where you live, you can connect and give back either with your time and skills or financial support.
Join the Sponsorship Team

Please enjoy this video made for Peace Day 2020. Duration 2mins

December News 2020:

Wishing you a safe and happy festive season! Although there is no Amaroo Event on the horizon, please enjoy this message from team who keep Ivorys Rock ‘Amaroo ready!’ Read the Newsletter

Stay Safe and we look forward to connecting with you in the New Year!

November News:

Working Bee: This Sunday 29th Nov. 10am – 4pm
Come along this weekend for the Pavilion Working Bee. We will be continuing with gardening and gurneying. If it gets too hot we can rest in air – conditioned shop 17. There is also a fridge. Bring your lunch, hat and water bottle. Overnight accommodation is available on request. RSVP to Lorraine at HR [email protected]

Join us
No matter where you live you can be part of the team by supporting financially. You will enable so much with this fundamental support. Join us and donate here

Thank you to Chris Hamerton who photographed this beautiful native orchard behind the Amphitheatre!

Join the Emergency Team: If you live locally and are physically fit, you might like to consider joining the new Volunteer Emergency Team. Training and equipment will be supplied. Help us to prepare for bush fires and other emergencies. Job Description

Queensland had some wild weather recently however we are happy to report no damage. The brown dry grass has been replaced with green fields and beautiful jacarandas are in bloom! Thank you to volunteer Laurence Browne for the photo.

October News:

The Volunteer website is up and running again with new roles for you to check out. To find out more click the picture!

There has been a great response to the call for volunteers. We now have people helping with the Caravan Park, assisting in Accounts and manning Reception.

There was a good turn out to last month’s Working Bee in the Pavilion. If you’d like to help, please meet for our monthly working bee (with sunscreen, water, lunch and hat) from 10am – 4pm on the last Sunday of the month in the Pavilion. Thank you to all our volunteers!

Click on the photo above to view the ‘Creek to Coast’ piece on channel 7 TV.
Thank you to Diana Love for this photo of last month’s hike to Ivorys Rock!
“Traversing up to the base and around the main peaks the trail gives access to wonderful views and many points of geologic interest as well as varying flora and fauna habitats around the cliffs and caves of the peaks.” from Horizon Guides

September News:

Have you always wanted to hike up to Ivorys Rock? Here’s your chance!
When: Saturday 26th September 8.30am-1.30pm.
Explore the geological wonders of Ivory’s Rock peak with an experienced trail guide from Horizon Guides:

Join the Team!
Would you like to join the team, either in person or virtually? There are many New roles listed on the Volunteer Page.

Our Caravan and Camping Site is now fully operational and receiving 5 star reviews from happy campers! To find out more, support our Facebook page and keep up to date with this exciting initiative.

August News:

The ‘Moving Into Spring’ Amaroo Raffle 2020 is a terrific way to support Amaroo from wherever you are around the globe. At the same time it offers you a chance to win one of four great cash prizes – a big A$3000 first prize, A$1000 second prize and two A$500 third prizes.

Buying a ticket is an easy and fun way to support the work of Ivory’s Rock Foundation. We really appreciate your support at this time! Click here to buy tickets.

Volunteer!
If you would like to offer your time and help out, there are opportunities on the volunteer page.

July News:

Mike Brown’s video news episode 2 is now available. Highlights include interviews with staff and volunteers, the recent Working Bee, and the successful opening of the Caravan Park. Click on the image.

June News:

Welcome back to our Volunteers!

As you may know, Stage 2 of the Government’s roadmap to easing Queensland’s Covid-19 restrictions has been brought forward. Health experts are satisfied risks appear to be reducing at a manageable rate.

Happily this means we can safely welcome back volunteers!

This Friday 12 and Saturday 13 June there is a Working Bee in Green Campground painting the bathroom facilities. We need experienced painters only for the final painting work, but there is plenty of preparation to be done beforehand on Friday which does not require any professional skill.

This is to be ready for the opening of our new Caravanning and Camping site which will be open to the public 27th June in time for the school holidays!

More help is needed in other areas. If you are interested please contact Lorraine at HR. We are also working hard to provide the possibility for overnight accommodation for volunteers while meeting the Covid19 Safe Gov guidelines. Hopefully this will be available soon.

Please email [email protected] for further information.
Thank you!

May News:

Meet the new Facilities Manager

We’d like to introduce you to our new Facilities Manager Neil Cairns, but first we’d like to thank Ben Salk for his hard work in the role these past 18 months, and wish him all the best with his future pursuits. Thank you Ben!

Neil comes to us directly from The Brisbane Powerhouse where he worked for 17 years, 6 of those as Precinct Director.

For those of you who don’t know the Powerhouse, it is a former power station and now a premier Arts and Festival venue on the banks of the Brisbane River, hosting over 1,000 performances a year as well as hundreds of weddings and events.

As Precinct Director Neil was responsible for Operations, Health and Safety, and the IT side of things. Neil sums it up as “giving everyone what they need to be able to do their job”.

Neil loved his time at the Powerhouse but was ready for a new challenge and jumped at the opportunity to work at Ivorys Rock. After his job interview Neil was given a tour of the site which left him hoping even more that his application was successful. Neil said he is “amazed at both the size and the beauty of the property, and is honoured to be a part of the team”.

It’s also worth noting the considerable experience Neil brings from the Entertainment Industry, where he began his working life backstage in Productions, in lighting and sound. He has worked in every venue in Brisbane including La Boîte, The Queensland Theatre Company and toured with many shows in regional towns.

Neil and his partner live in the western suburbs of Brisbane with their 2 young children about 30 mins drive from Ivory’s Rock.

It’s been a very unusual start for Neil with all the restrictions Coronavirus has brought.

All commercial event bookings have been postponed and the site is temporarily closed with the exception of a few essential staff who are on reduced hours. We are very fortunate that the Australian Government is supporting people during this time with Jobkeeper payments.

Neil says “Its been quite surreal with no people or activities. I’m using the time to go through the maintenance tasks so they are ready to go when restrictions are lifted. Apart from keeping the essential services operating, I’m also tailoring existing Maintenance Software systems to fit our needs.”

Fortunately Neil was able to see the venue in action shadowing Ben during The Earth Frequency Festival and also having a 3 week handover with Ben to familiarise himself with the site’s operations.

Welcome Neil, we look forward to working with you at the next Amaroo Event!

April News:

The ‘Nurture Your Nature’ Amaroo Raffle 2020 is a terrific way to ‘nurture’ and support Amaroo from wherever you are ‘locked down’ around the globe. At the same time it offers you a chance to win one of four great cash prizes – a big A$3000 first prize, A$1000 second prize and two A$500 third prizes.
Buying a ticket is an easy and fun way to support the work of Ivory’s Rock Foundation. We really appreciate your support at this time!  A single ticket is only $10, and the more you buy, the cheaper they get. Choose the $31 Bundle, the $65 Super Bundle, $106 Mega Bundle and the $180 Uber Bundle Find out more

*** The Raffle is now closed and has been drawn with the winners being notified by email.

March News:

A message from the IRF Board during this time of COVID-19.
Includes a short video of the Amaroo after the rains!

Greetings from the IRF Board – 20 March 2020

Hi everyone,

We wanted to take this opportunity to express our gratitude for all the support that has been consistent for so many years towards Ivory’s Rock (the home of Amaroo) and IRF. We hope above all that you remain safe and healthy.

In these extraordinary circumstances, we all remain linked in our desire to keep Ivory’s Rock functional and maintained, and ready for re-opening! In accordance with official guidelines, the site has been temporarily closed for all non-essential activities, so for the time being, the wallabies and wildlife are keeping an eye on everything, along with the handful of live-in caretakers.

The Board and the Ivory’s Rock teams continue to work behind the scenes with weekly ‘virtual’ meetings to ensure that communication remains robust, and relevant information is shared with the broader community.

Staying in touch:

Volunteers and staff at Ivory’s Rock receive regular communications and updates from the HR team.
Periodical updates will be posted to the Amaroo facebook page.
Enquiries can be directed to [email protected].

So once again, we wish to thank the Ivory’s Rock staff for your tireless efforts, and in particular to honour the extraordinary commitment of our sponsors and volunteers, who have been the lifeblood of our wonderful Amaroo.

We look forward to celebrating with everyone as the situation evolves for the better. In the meantime, take the best possible care of yourself and each other.

With very best wishes
Ivory’s Rock Foundation Board of Directors

Joy Winnel
Sherry Bolton
Jeffrey Johnson-Abdelmalik
Brian Murray
Roland Klepzig

By the way, the drought broke last month … take a look!

Video News from Ivorys Rock
Mike Brown will be producing regular video updates from Ivorys Rock. We hope you enjoy this first edition.

Easter Retreat UPDATE:
To protect everybody’s health and well-being and due to the coronavirus (COVID-19), it has been decided to cancel the Easter Retreat at Ivory’s Rock.
For those of you who have booked and paid, a you will receive a full refund. Please allow 7 days for the refund to come through.
We apologise for any inconvenience caused by this cancellation.
For enquiries or assistance email [email protected]
Warm regards
The Ivory’s Rock Retreat Team

February News:

Volunteer
Preparations and improvements happen all year round, offering opportunities to help out for a few days, weeks or even longer. Did you know you are also welcome to stay onsite when you volunteer? Contact Volunteer Liaison Bruce Parmentier email

We now have a terrific new volunteer website. Subscribe and receive notifications Visit

Retreats and Volunteer Weekends
Although there wasn’t an event with Prem last September, approx 100 people came from around Australia and as far afield as Canada, the UK, Israel and New Zealand for 9 days. Volunteers helped out for appox 4 hours a day, and then enjoyed the offerings of yoga, Qi-jong and videos in the afternoons, as well as time to rest and take in the beautiful environment. The days ended with music and good food, with a party at Dayas being the highlight on the final evening. Read more on the Volunteer page

Knowledge Review
On Saturday 22nd Feb, 78 people attended a Knowledge Review in the beautiful Hall. Afternoon tea was served and followed by the screening of the Madrid Event. Thank you to everyone who helped make it a thoroughly enjoyable afternoon.

Knowledge Reviews are available by request, through PEAK. More information is available on Prem Rawat’s website https://www.premrawat.com/engage/peak-know-yourself

January News:

Wishing you a happy and prosperous New Year

The summer wet season has begun with good rainfall recorded at Amaroo. The wallabies and kangaroos are enjoying the fresh green grass, and the koalas are safe in their treetops. The lake is filling.

Many parts of Australia are still in drought, but the terrible fires are now out.

Thank you all for your concern. The team was calm and prepared, having worked very hard putting in place a fire plan. The caretakers were trained, and leaves and debris were cleared from around buildings. The closest fires were 35km away and were being fought with an army of QEFS volunteer firemen. We are grateful to them, and the local community who rallied to support the efforts Read more

We hope 2020 brings the possibility of an event. As always, it depends on Prem’s busy global schedule. You can keep up to date with event announcements through WOPG

We will also keep you posted here and you can also follow us on Amaroo Facebook
Best wishes to all.

Photo by Kim Gunther

Ivorys Rock Foundation Website has more interesting stories – Read More Here

Ensuite Cabins progress report

96 Air-conditioned Ensuite Cabins have been purchased, providing a new level of comfort and privacy for guests.

21 Aug Turf was laid this morning along the “Avenue.” Steps and landings are continuing for the others
3 August All the bedrooms are wired up but getting the power to the whole area has been hard. We got delayed ten days by underground obstacles. Similar with the water. Ten bedrooms have full water supply now, we start again on Monday. I think by Thursday we will have good results!
27 July – The last of the Cabins was hoisted onto the foundations at 11:08 this morning and is being welded down. The first bathroom became functional with all plumbing connected (but not electricity yet) at 2:00pm.
23 July – Big day today. Fourteen bunkhouses hoisted into position ready for electrics, plumbing and steps!
20 July – Five of the twenty-four buildings have been craned onto the foundation poles and plumbing and electricity connection started. We lost a week because of a crane shortage but we are back on track now.
6 July – Most of the trenches are now filled in. Next week the foundation poles go in, then the cabins are lifted in & welded into place.
25 June – Work is underway to have all the cabins sited & plumbed.

Thank you to Chris Hamerton for the photos / updates – and the hard work!

1. Mapping it out
2. Cabins arriving
3. Digging the trenches
4. Trenches filled in
5. Craning into place
6. Placing on the Footings
7. In place ready for plumbing and turf.
8. New Steps and lights
9. The Avenue is turfed!

Recycling – How you can help

Amaroo 2018 – further steps taken in the commitment to recycling!

A Brisbane based Waste Removal company which has a good recycling program was contracted in for Amaroo 2018. The Operations and Event managers went to visit the plant and were very impressed with their operations.

Dumping charges have risen, so by recycling and composting as much of our waste as possible we can reduce our bill. You can imagine the amount of waste that 3,000+ people generates each day of the event!

How you can Help

The recyclable waste has a value to the Waste Company (and to Amaroo) The key factor is that it is well sorted.

Recycling Bins are situated in the Pavilion by the posts of the main Dome. Each bin is clearly signed.
You can help by putting your bottles, cans and general waste into the appropriate bins.

- Plastic – water or juice bottles
- Metal – aluminium cans, metal lids
- Glass – bottles, jars
- General Waste – food scraps, soft plastic bags, disposable plates, cups, cutlery.

Food scraps are not able to be sorted for compost, as volunteers only have the resources to deal with the restaurant compostable waste.

Behind the Scenes

All compostable waste from the restaurants and Pavilion vendors is collected by volunteers and taken to a pit on-site, where it is mixed with soil and later used around the property as compost. (It is not used at the farm as it is not organic.) This greatly reduces the amount of waste needed to be dumped!

The spent cooking oil from the restaurants and food vendor’s kitchens has a value. It is collected and sold on by the waste company to make Bio-diesel Fuels. This is factored in to reducing Amaroo’s waste costs.