Dharriwaa Elders Group - Aboriginal Australia, Walgett

47 Fox St Walgett NSW Australia

Latest news: The Dharriwaa Elders Group ("DEG") is still suffering the loss of its founding Speaker, George Rose OAM.
We carry on with the projects he designed, under the leadership of new DEG Speaker Richard Lake. In November 2009 DEG completed an archaeology training survey on privately-owned western lands. We would like to thank the leaseholder for his invitation, and will use information collected to prepare reports for the NSW and Commonwealth governments about the extensive and previously unsurveyed extent of places of high Aboriginal cultural value in the area known as "OPA 4".
The Dharriwaa Elders Group launched its second cultural exhibition "Wugan Gaay" in August 2009. It depicts wooden weapons from Walgett held by the Australian Museum. On 8 December 2009 we added a glass cabinet of a full set of warriors' weapons donated to the Dharriwaa Elders Group by Roy Barker, the local elder who is a master weapon maker. Uncle Roy donated the weapons to the Dharriwaa Elders Group so that they can be kept safe and displayed so that future generations can learn from them and continue his skills.

Check out information about the projects and activities of the Dharriwaa Elders Group

Make a donation to the Dharriwaa Elders Group premises purchase fundraising appeal, direct by credit card, or by other methods described here.

Other news: Previous headlines from our www site include NSW Greens leader Lee Rhiannon speech re the DEG and her recent Walgett visit, the launching of the DEG's cultural exhibition space with the photographic exhibition "In Living Memory", and the completion of the DEG's review of the scientific work undertaken by the government regarding the environment and threatened species, allowing opal mining to proceed near Narran Lakes. Other recent DEG reports can be found here

About the Dharriwaa Elders Group. The Dharriwaa Elders Group (DEG) was born 20 November 2000 after working together on projects since 1998. The Group took its name from one of its sacred sites - Narran Lakes - Dharriwaa (common meeting place) and its full members are Aboriginal people over 60 who live in Walgett. The DEG was auspiced by the Walgett Aboriginal Medical Service until 1 July 2005, when it became autonomous. Projects of the Group aim to:

Support Aboriginal elders to resume leadership roles in the community, keeping active and healthy
promote local Aboriginal cultural knowledge and identity
develop the Walgett Aboriginal community

Gladys kennedy and Virginia Robinson Roy barker weapons cabinet

Left: DEG's Gladys Kennedy welcomes visitors to the launch of DEG's exhibition of Roy Barker's weapons in December 2009. Right: The DEG cabinet display of Roy Barker's full set of warrior's weapons now displayed at the Dharriwaa Elders Group exhibition space.

DEG's wugan gaay exhibition
Above: Dharriwaa Elders Group launched its latest cultural exhibition "wugan gaay" of wooden weapons from Walgett stored in the Australian Museum, 14 August 2009.

DEG's Aboriginal arts and crafts shop DEG's community market
Left: Dharriwaa Elders Group's Aboriginal arts and crafts shop. Right: DEG's stall at the Walgett monthly markets

If you wish to meet the Dharriwaa Elders Group write to
PO Box 174 Walgett NSW 2832, phone: 02 6828 2619
or email info@dharriwaaeldersgroup.org.au
All donations will be very gratefully received

Site Last Updated: 15 December 2009

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