The South Sulawesi Family Association (PKSS) celebrated Indonesia's 81st Independence Day at Rayment Park, Lathlain, Western Australia, on 23 August 2026.
The event was lively with a range of activities, from a flag-raising ceremony and the traditional Paduppa dance to various competitions and South Sulawesi cuisine, said Angel Haines, President of the South Sulawesi Family Association in Perth.
Organisers held several traditional Independence Day games, including wooden clog races, cracker eating and pencil-in-the-bottle contests. The atmosphere was very similar to Independence Day celebrations in Indonesia, Haines said.
On the culinary side, the organisers served ayam Palekko and bakso Nyuknyang, a curly-shaped meatball dish that is a Makassarese speciality, Haines said. The event was open to the public and attended by around 200 people from various Indonesian communities in Perth.
The 17 August celebration is important for the Indonesian community in Perth to feel the spirit of independence as they would back home, while also teaching children about Indonesia's history and struggle for independence, Haines said.
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