Dharriwaa Elders Group - Aboriginal Australia, Walgett

47 Fox St Walgett NSW Australia

Latest news: The Dharriwaa Elders Group ("DEG") unveiled in August 2010 an eternal flame and sign that states "The staff and members of the Dharriwaa Elders Group will always honour its founding Speaker George Rose OAM - respected leader and tireless worker for the Walgett community." The DEG's Thelma Thorne made a speech on behalf of the DEG.
The Commonwealth Government cut the DEG's Language Program completely on 30th June, when it also reduced DEG's funding and activities under the Indigenous Heritage Program, extensively. One of the effects has been the necessity to stop publishing our monthly magazine Yundiboo which we have produced since 2000. Our capacity has been endangered, and much time is spent chasing future sustainability. We hope this is only a temporary situation as we await the results of COAG's "Closing the Gap" RSD program for Walgett optimistically. Your emails and letters of support will be much appreciated. Now is the time to write them!
The DEG was granted a permit August 2010 by the NSW Government to take into its safekeeping a collection of culturally important items from a private property that are currently threatened. The DEG has been invited to make a presentation at the September Australian Rangelands Society Conference in Bourke. We are currently producing our third cultural exhibition which shall present elders memories about life in the Walgett reserves and tin camps. We are in the process of creating our collection catalogue and renovating our multimedia site register. More details soon.

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: In November 2009 DEG completed an archaeology training survey 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.
In late 2009 the DEG received funds from the Commonwealth Government's "Community Restoration Fund" to purchase two glass display cabinets. This allowed us to display a full set of warriors' weapons donated by Roy Barker, the local elder who is a master weapon maker, from 8 December 2009. 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.
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

Roy barker weapons cabinet

Left: DEG's Virginia Robinson and Thelma Thorne launched the eternal flame in memory of George Rose OAM in August 2010. 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 Minister Lynch at Gingie
Left: Dharriwaa Elders Group's Aboriginal arts and crafts shop. Right: NSW Minister for Aboriginal Affairs Paul Lynch made a flying visit to Walgett 11 August 2010. He is seen here with Walgett Community Working Party Chair George Fernando at Gingie shed.

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: 29 August 2010

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