Pozible campaign for Finding Balance: Mura Gadi
I have created a pozible campaign to help fund my forthcoming exhibition at Belconnen Arts Centre. If you have a few spare $$ to donate it would be fantastic. Check it out at http://pozible.com/muragadi
Regeneration
Over the coming weeks I will let you know how the project is coming along 
Wish me luck!
Night journeys
For some reason ever since I have arrived in Shepparton my nights have been filled with the most vivid and intense dreams. Most of the time I do not remember my dreams, possibly because by the time I go to bed at night I am really tired.
Most mornings, I find myself checking up my dream symbols in online dream journals (dream moods) to try and gain an understanding of what my brain is trying to tell me.
I am not surprised that these dreams are coming to me at the moment, there has been so much to learn, new places, envirnoments , people and culture.
People who know me well, understand my compulsion to try and understand the esoteric, subliminal and ‘fateful’ events in my life. Sounds irrational, but I have never felt comfortable with the western linear concept of time and place. There has been so many times where I have met people and we have both had the sense of already knowing each other or of meeting at another time. I have also many times had the experience of déjà vu, which has also happened quite a bit here in Shepparton. Wikipedia’s interpretation of déjà vu is quite interesting in terms of how the brain works and it is certainly something I would like to try an understand better.
Anyway, someone once told me you should not tell people about the content of your dreams, because then they will manifest in waking life. I don’t want to be cynical, but I doubt I will cross paths with any pandas or white rats any time soon.
Jawun Secondment: Week 2 Round-up
The past week has been a week of learning and sharing. I am not sure where to start with this post as so much has happened. Although I only spent two days in the office, I think I am starting to make some progress with my projects, as I have produced some draft documents for comment, a social media strategy and a scoping paper for my project brief.
On Tuesday we were invited to go to Cumeragunja to participate in the weekly ladies craft get together. We met quite a few women from the community and made some cards and pages for photo albums. Cumeragunja (might be a familiar name for people who have seen the Sapphires) is nestled close to the river Murray, just over the border in NSW. It is a place with a very interesting history as the people walked off Cumeragunja in 1939. Although it is not formally recognised as a ‘remote community’, it is certainly remote and geographically located on the very edge of NSW because of being so close to the Murray River.
Old school at Cumeragunja
On Thursday and Friday we went on our camping trip – which is an essential part of a Jawun secondment. The journey started with another visit to Cumeragunja, where we were met by one of the elders, Sharon Atkinson who talked to us about the history of the health centre at Cumera (as it is affectionately known). Sharon also gave us a tour of inside the old school where there are lots of cultural and historical artefacts. It was also really interesting that Sharon mentioned that there is going to be a multimedia exhibition at the school later this year. The project is titled ‘Kaiela Dreaming’ and you can contribute to the project vis pozible, check out Kaiela Dreaming multimedia art installation
Display cabinets inside the old school at Cumeragunja
Here are some images from inside the old school.
Display cabinets at the old school
Sharon, along with Lois Peeler and Heather Rowe are the authors of a comprehensive text on Yorta Yorta language and culture. The book is titled Yorta Yorta Language Heritage.
Display cabinets at the old school
Here is a picture of Sharon with Lyn and me.
Sharon, Lyn and Tracey photo by Liana
After our tour and talk with Sharon we headed off to the Barmah National Park, where we met with some more elders, Rueben, Sam, Ron and Rob who cooked us a delicious bush tucker meal of fish cooked in clay and damper, hot cakes and johnny cakes. It was really fascinating to see the process of cooking the fish in clay. Although the fish was Barramundi from a nearby fish farm, was not exactly traditional fare but still really yummy!
Watching Ron prepare the fish
Above is a picture of Ron working hard to prepare the fish. Below is the fish – cooked and ready to be devoured.
Barra is cooked!
Here is a picture of Sam posing with his delicious damper. That didn’t last long either!
Sam with his delicious damper
After a long and relaxing lunch at Barmah, one of the Yorta Yorta rangers from Parks Victoria took us through the Dharnya Centre, which is a beatiful building located in the national park and designed as a cultural centre for visitors to learn about Yorta Yorta culture and for the Yorta Yorta people to meet and educate the young people in the community.
We then ventured further east where we finally arrived at Yielima, where we were invited to stay on traditional lands close to the river. The land at Yielima was purchased by the Yorta Yorta community so people could reconnect with country. As you can see from the photograph below, it is a beautiful place, close to the Murray River. We met some more elders at Yielima and then went about setting up camp for the night. Some of the secondees braved sleeping in swags, however I was a bit of a wimp and stayed in the tent
View of the Murray at Yielima
After we settled in, the secondees went about the task of preparing dinner, a beef and vegetable stew.
Preparing the beef stew
Many hands make light work!
Campfire at Yielima
After dinner, we settled in around the campfire to talk, share stories and even a sing along. I just wish I knew more old country and western tunes! For my part there was lots of ‘la la la’ in between the odd word.
It was a really special time and I loved spending time meeting people and sharing stories. Thank you so much to everyone who so generously shared their time with us. A big thanks to our Jawun organisers Liana and Wayne who worked so hard ot make this happen. Also a big thank you to all the people from the Yorta Yorta community for sharing your stories and giving us some insights into culture. A special thanks also to the guys Reuben, Rob, Rod and Sam, who we didn’t get to say thank you to in person on Friday.
MOOC: Massive Open Online Courses
This morning I have learnt a new acronym: 'MOOC' - Massvie Open Online Courses. In previous blogs I have explored some of the free educational offerings online, particularly from the US. I found this article by Andrew McGettigan in The Guardian exploring this growing phenomenon. The article, titled Q. Will 'Moocs' be the scourge or saviour or higher education?, which underlines both the opportunities and the challenges of this growing educational format.
Unity Cup
On Saturday we were very privileged to be invited to attend one of the major events in the Yorta Yorta community calendar, the Unity Cup.
The event was held at the Rumbalara Football Netball Club, which is a key meeting place.
Here is some information from the promotional flyer:
In its 7th year in 2013, Rumbalara Football Netball Club along with Congupna Football Netball Club continue to unite all women by honouring the significance of the many roles we play as Grandmothers, Mothers, Aunties and Sisters and our importance to creating our strong families and community.
This year the theme was ‘Women and social inclusion’.
To mark the event, we (all the women and girls) were invited to participate in the ‘Women’s Walk of Solidarity’ which was very moving. At break time in the footy, the two teams formed a guard of honour and the women and girls all congregated on one side of the field. Firstly there was a traditional smoking ceremony and then we all walked across the field. As we approached the two teams they were clapping, a slow but strong rhythmic beat. There are women of all ages and walks of life, including the Victorian Minister for Aboriginal Affairs Janette Powell and the Mayor of Greater Shepparton Jenny Houlihan. Here is a picture of us getting ready.
Women’s Walk of Solidarity
This ceremony reminded me a little of when we were in New Zealand and went to the marae (sacred community space). When you come to a marae, as a visitor you must wait until you are called by the elders, then the men flank the women on either side as you approach the marae.
The lunch featured special guest Lois Peeler, one of the original Sapphires and community leader, who shared with us her amazing story. Lois gave her insights as the first Aboriginal model and compare on television, to her adventures with the Sapphires and her long standing work helping her people. It was wonderful to hear one of the stories behind this wonderful film.
Proud, strong family… That’s Rumba!
A bit more about the club – Rumbalara in Yorta Yorta language means ‘the end of the rainbow’, the tag line is “Proud, strong family… that’s Rumba!”, which connects strongly with the core values being: Loyalty, Respect, Passion, Determination and Integrity. There is heaps more information on the club’s website.
Rumbalara Football Netball Club also hosts every week a family meal which is a great way for people to connect and support the club. All the secondees helped out last week serving the dinner. Here is a picture of the lovely Lyn stirring the huge pot of beef and vegetable stew, which was delicious!
Lyn stirring the stew
Here is the club’s theme song in English and Yorta Yorta:
We’re the best in the Goulburn Valley and we’re out to heed your call
Nyundak duta ina Kiella Banimina Nyundak wanyawala nak birra nhurrang ganyin
We’re the boys from mightly “Rumba” and we’re always on the ball
Nyundak dunguda yiryirr nin dungudja “Rumba” nyundak yamin nonu
Our elders give us inspiration and we haven’t any fear
Yenbena Nyuwandan dipa (tippa) nyuwanda Yorta djiyaman
We are the boys from “Rumbalara” and we’re gonna be premiers this year
Nyundak dunguda uiryirr nin dungudja “Rumbalara” nyundak duta imilang
We’re the best in the Goulburn Valley and we’re out to heed your call
Nyundak duta ina Kiella Banimina Nyundak wanyawala nak birra nhurrang ganyin
We’re the boys from mightly “Rumba” and we’re always on the ball
Nyundak dunguda yiryirr nin dungudja “Rumba” nyundak yamin nonu
We are the boys from Rumbalara and we’re gonna be premiers this year
Nyundak dunguda uiryirr nin dungudja “Rumbalara” nyundak duta imilang
Go Rumba.
Ya Rumba.
I am really looking forward to participating in other activities at Rumba over the coming weeks.
Morning walk
This morning my house mate and I went for a walk around the lake.
It was a little bit cool but not cold and by the looks of this sunrise it will be a magnificent day.
We saw all manner of bird life and enjoyed watching these little ducks squabbling with each other.
While I write this post, I am thinking about Marty making his way here for the weekend and hope he has a great trip.
First days in Shepparton
I have now been in Shepparton three days and so much has happened since I arrived last Sunday evening.
Shepparton Cows
The first thing that stuck me about Shepparton was the diversity of international cuisine, as there are many restaurants in town with all manner of foods – including Indian, Thai, Turkish, Chinese, and most interestingly Albanian. I was very surprised to learn that Albanian migrants have been in the region for several generations, mainly fruit farming (along with Italian migrants).
Lutfiyes Shish Kebab
On Sunday evening, I met the other secondees and the Jawun organisers and went out to dinner at a yummy Indian restaurant where we got to know each other a little bit. There are five secondees on this rotation, all women and interestingly most of us are over 45 years of age. I am the only secondee from government, with the other women coming from the private sector.
Our accommodation is very comfortable and I am sharing with a lovely woman who specialises in risk assessment in the banking sector. I have my own tele hanging on the wall but so far I have been going to sleep early as I think my brain has been in information overload.
Monday was a busy day where we spent the morning undertaking an induction into the Jawun program. In the afternoon we went to a number of local Aboriginal organisations and met with some key people in the community. We didn’t visit all of the organisations that Jawun work with in the region, rather, we went to the places where we will be placed over the next 6 weeks.
Tuesday and today we have been settling in with our host organisations. There are two of us working with Yorta Yorta Nation Aboriginal Corporation, which is nice as I have someone to walk to work with and share insights. My co-worker comes from Brisbane so there is plenty to talk about on the way
Today we were very privileged to preview a documentary being produced for SBS about Yorta Yorta youth learning about country and culture. There was a very large focus on the significance of water to Yorta Yorta culture, and the stories shared by elders were really engaging. Some of the topics reminded me very much of my learnings from SCANZ2013, particularly in relation to caring for country and integrating Indigenous knowledge into finding solutions for the challenges that humanity face in regards to climate change and respecting our environment.
I miss home very much, especially my guys but time seems to be flying already and I hope to see them on the weekend – fingers crossed!
