The Dharriwaa Elders Group has conducted six Dharriwaa walaay youth and elders camps since 1999. The main aims of this project are to establish links between elders and youth, pass on cultural knowledge and improve participants' education, employment, health and life prospects. The five day program includes cultural site excursions, Yuwaalaraay/ Gamilaraay language learning, bush foods and medecine trips, fireside yarns about the past and living in the present, about community participation and leadership, the stars and ghost stories. Opportunities for counselling and public speaking are provided, and visits to the Lightning Ridge Aboriginal Goondi museum, and to visit other community elders and hear from community role models are organised. There is usually many opportunities for good food, good sleep and exercise, fishing and joking.
Co-ordination and documentation of the first camp was conducted in October 1999 at Warrengulla Station which was kindly provided by Barriekneal Housing and Community Ltd. The second camp was held at Milrea Station June 2000 kindly provided by the Murray family. The third camp in May 2001 was held at Angeldool Station courtesy of the Treweeke family, and a fourth Dharriwaa Walaay was achieved October 2001 at Warrengulla Station. The fifth camp was held at Angledool Station in August 2002 and the last camp was held at Warrengulla Station in May 2003.
Catering/ housekeeping casual staff employed for the walaay were always new to the task in each case and so they were learning on the job as were the trainee co-ordinators - a new person in each case trained by Wendy Spencer. A full month beforehand is involved in organising the camps. The process involves liaising with Walgett Community College, ASSPA committees, suppliers, insurance providers, property owners, guest speakers and WAMS administration. All plans are developed by, and finally approved by the DEG. Trips are also made to Dubbo to purchase supplies and equipment that are not available locally, for each walaay.
We purchased camping equipment funded by ATSIC in 2002. In August 2002 the first draft of the Dharriwaa walaay video was completed and a committee viewing was conducted. Editing of camp video is suspended until further funding is found for completion.
After each camp, debriefing sessions are held to analyse what worked and what didn’t so that the walaays can improve. After the sixth walaay in May it was decided to develop a regular elders program with the Primary School so that outcomes of the walaay can be achieved more widely and regularly.