Aboriginal Healing,
Sharing Culture |
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I met one very special lady who just resonated with spirituality, Margaret Katherine. I have to confess I was somewhat in awe!
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Saturday morning, I travelled to the Barunga Festival, the last stage of my NT adventure. A festival of Aboriginal music, culture, arts and sport. My first time camping in many years. (Thank you Pip and Jonathan for the tent)
I had a wonderful time, wandering around the festival soaking up the atmosphere. Listening to good music, enthralled by the footie skills, watching the cultural activities organised by the Banatjarl Women's Council, and checking out the didgeridoo making. Participating in the spear throwing competition - without much luck, I mean skill and ate some good tucker. I renewed acquaintances with some old friends from our Tour and from Nauiyu (Dylan and Troy) and it was so good to see them again. I was pleased to see Bilawara Lee again and meet some of her family. I had a fascinating discussion with Julian - and just loved listening to his crystal didgeridoo - and Jax. And the coincidence of meeting Noel Macdonald, a filmmaker recommended to me for future ventures by my colleague Michael Liu. Noel just happened to be there, in charge of NITV filming! I met one very special lady who just resonated with spirituality, Margaret Katherine. I have to confess I was somewhat in awe! Miliwanga and Margaret went on stage with three ‘admirers’ to introduce their bush medicine range and I shot around the back so I could take some photographs. Before I knew it, Miliwanga had introduced me to Peter Garrett (formerly Midnight Oil) and asked me to tell him (along with Paul Kelly and Warren Snowden) about Sharing Culture. I just enjoyed wandering around, taking it all in. I felt at peace. I loved seeing so many happy people, particularly the youngsters. I loved hearing Paul Kelly singing From Little Things, Big Things Grow, a classic Indigenous Rights song. I cherished some beautiful dances with Miliwanga’s little granddaughter Asha. Did we have some fun! And then there were the beautiful stars at night… and my ‘opening up’ about my inner pain to Jonathan. Thank you for listening, my friend. And before I knew it, the time had come to head back to Darwin. A four-hour trip talking with Judy Atkinson. What a fantastic treat that was, so much to discuss and reflect upon as we drove through some beautiful countryside. Thank you, Judy. A night in Darwin, slow start to the day, a good lunch and the bus to the airport. If I thought that it was all over, then I was in for a surprise... |
Troy, Miliwanga and Dylan
Introducing a new range of bush medicine
Paul Kelly, Margaret Katherine, Peter Garrett, Miliwanga Wurrben and Warren Snowdon
Nelly 'conducting' the ceremonial dancing
Paul Kelly's sound check
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