The Global Village is the place you will encounter when you first arrive and lies between Gate 1 and the main entertainment oval.  It is the place where community based groups such as Amnesty International and environmentally concerned groups are able to set up to help inform the public of some of the critical issues of the day.  These groups dedicate themselves to the causes in which they believe and are run by volunteers who we applaud for their selfless and tireless commitment.

This year Kombu Wholefoods is the proud sponsor of the Community Village.
Proprietors, Lowanna and Kevin wished to support the Global Carnival as well as the great work of the Community groups at the Festival. Kombu is a health-food and organic grocery store which was set up in Bellingen by the couple after completing an epic environmental-awareness-raising journey between England and Australia by bicycle! Their aim, in their words, was ‘to see the world whilst contributing as little as possible to its' destruction.’ This meant avoiding airplanes during the entire expedition, relying instead on cargo ships for ocean crossings. As Lowanna explains: “Air travel consumes 37 times more energy than that taken by sea - and for that reason alone we wanted to travel by ship when we couldn’t cycle.”  12000 kilometres, 485 days, 16 countries and four ships after leaving Oxford they achieved their objective - to cycle to Australia. Video reports from the journey are online at www.bike2oz.com.

Having both worked in the environmental and social justice arenas for many years, they were keen to develop a store in town that offered a large range of affordable local and organic produce and products- and thus Kombu came into being.

Kombu Wholefoods is located at the top end of Hyde Street in Bellingen just beyond the Gelato Bar and is remaining open and at your service from 10am to 4pm throughout the Long Weekend. The Carnival encourages you to take the time to walk a few extra paces and savour what they have on offer.