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25.01.2022 Nemarluk - Murrinhpatha Man Nemarluk was a fighting man of the Daly River people who would not be tamed. Born in 1911, by the 1930s he and a small band of young men were waging an effective guerrilla war against interlopers on his territory. Nemarluk (also known in literature as Nemaluk) was the son of Yembunhi-Wallaganh of Wernteknganay / Kirnmu and Wurdungkulli of Nardirri. He is a Murrinhpatha man and his homeland is Wernteknganayi / Kirnmu 20k north-west of Wadeye on the ...Continue reading

24.01.2022 Seven Sisters Story Western Australia The story originates in Western Australia, and covers a path of land close to and along the Canning Stock Route, Most of the well sites along the path are Aboriginal Sites included in the story. For our overseas readers, a Stock Route is a reserve of land for travelling stock (mostly cattle) include camping and water reserves, pasture reserves and trucking reserves. There are at least 13 variations of this story, mostly due to the land ...the story travels through of the various language groups. The story I first learnt is this version I have used from the Cooee Art Site. If you wish to obtain similar paintings to the ones you see on this page, there are many fine art dealers in Australia, including Cooee, where you are guaranteed you are getting the real thing and important advice. Story In Aboriginal Australia stories associated with the night sky carry meanings deeply imbedded into their law, culture and social structure. The Dreaming story of the Seven Sisters is one of their most widely distributed and ancient stories. Its songline covers more than half the width of the continent, from deep in the Central Desert to the west coast. It travels through many different language groups, and as it does so different parts of the narrative are recognised and re-enacted in ceremony. There are many versions of this story throughout Aboriginal Australia but they all share common threads. The Seven Napaljarri sisters became stars in the night sky are the Pleiades, in the constellation Taurus. The artist Gabriella Possum is an Anmatjerre clanswoman from Napperby in the Tanami Desert. Amongst her countrywomen the sisters are often represented carrying a Jampijinpa man, Wardilyka, who is in love with them. However this is just a part of a much larger narrative. Jukurra-jukurra, also known as Wati Nguru, is also in love with them. In this version or part of the epic, he pursues the sisters across vast stretches of desert country until they flee into the night sky, where he follows them and becomes the Morning Star. Wati Nguru is a Jakamarra man - who, under traditional law, is of the wrong skin group and is forbidden to take a Napaljarri wife. In the re-enactment of this important women’s ceremony the seven women dance across the red sand, while Wati Nguru, the wrong-skin young warrior, is overcome by his lust for them. They flee his unwanted advances, and although he can’t fulfill his illicit desires, the sisters can never rest. The Seven Sisters, running from this site to the next in their desire to flee from the Jampijinpa man. Finally, in desperation they leap from a steep hill launching themselves into the sky in an attempt to escape. But the Jakamarra man follows the sisters travelling in the form of a star that can be seen in Orion’s B

24.01.2022 Apologies for not writing many posts of late, been busy in the background researching. Here are some images of timber carvings the AADC prior to Covid 19 was planning to display at Corroboree 2020 in Townsville.

23.01.2022 Pareidolia Seeing faces in objects. I know from past experience, posts I write that have spiritual themes are not supported well, with this mind I have decided to put this post out anyway. Elders will point out shapes and images in rock formations, all over Australia. On occasions possibly it is purely coincidental and on others very over creative minds to make it out. Generally dominant rock formations or familiar shaped rocks are dreaming sites, this post however is not f...ocusing on shapes rather images of faces in rock, trees or mountains/hills. When photographed images caused by shadows, erosion and stratum’s, can be seen by all not just those who have some condition such as pareidolia (explanation below). What has prompted this post was a picture I found recently of a rock art site at Nourlangie Rock at Kakadu NP. I have been to this site numerous times and I have never noticed this image. My eyes and photos were always focused on the paintings however. I have seen many images in stone, many will regard as coincidence but the thing that endures me is that over 90 percent of the time they are human faces and mostly aboriginal, not animals, cars, planes or other geometric shapes. Maybe I look to hard. Pareidolia (/pærdoli/ parr-i-DOH-lee-) is the tendency for incorrect perception of a stimulus as an object, pattern or meaning known to the observer, such as seeing shapes in clouds, seeing faces in inanimate objects or abstract patterns, or hearing hidden messages in music. Pareidolia can be considered a subcategory of apophenia. Pareidolia was at one time considered a symptom of human psychosis, but it is now seen as a normal human tendency Pareidolia is not confined to humans. Scientists have for years taught computers to use visual clues to "see" faces and other images. AADC What do you think?

22.01.2022 Riji Shell - Kimberley Coast W.A. The Riji shell is what the young men wear after they have gone through a number of different stages of initiation. It is the third last stage of the initiation of a young man. A young man who has been through the law ceremony has a hair belt and pearl shell put on him. He then waits about two or three years for the next stage when he is painted with red. After the red paint stage the boy is now a man and is allowed to be with his promised wif...e. The whole initiation process from boyhood to manhood takes about 8 to 10 years. AADC - Courtesy of Short Street Gallery Initiation Practices vary from clan to clan. Riji also have other ceremonial uses.

22.01.2022 Areyonga Law - No Worries Areyonga Worries - No Law.... Kids at Areyonga (pic)

21.01.2022 For our friends up North that may be unaware, TC Kimi is expected to cross the NQ coast tomorrow morning. The rain associated with this system could pose the greatest threat, Make sure you are stocked with necessities, eg long life milk, bottled water, canned food, first aid, generator and fuel, small gas burners etc. Power outages and road closures should be expected. If in your family or not please look out for the elderly and those unable to fend for themselves. TROPICAL... CYCLONE FORECAST TRACK MAP Tropical Cyclone Kimi Issued at 2:01 pm AEST Sunday 17 January 2021. Refer to Tropical Cyclone Advice Number 2.

21.01.2022 NW NSW Wilcannia - this tree of special significance to the Barkandji people with the Wilcannia community

21.01.2022 Gulmari Central Queensland The word Gulmari comes from the Guwinmal language of Central Queensland, meaning shield. Today it is a name given to a style of shield that was found from the central Queensland coast down to North West NSW across to North East South Australia especially in the Cooper’s creek region. They are primarily a bean shaped shield carved from soft wood, typically corkwood ( Duboisia myoporoides )They are simply carved, and often decorated with ocred tot...emic paint schemes, however some are plain, some have incisions carved to the front and rear. It was said that from a distance they seem to appear like turtle shell paterns but up close the impression changes. The are not to be confused with the desert bean shields the are characterized by fluting on the front and wings on the outside edge that slightly curl around,.but can be flat. See more

20.01.2022 Kelp Basket Tasmania Making baskets from kelp was a unique Tasmanian Cultural practice. These containers were made from the broad leaf of the Bull Kelp to collect and carry items including water. Sticks were threaded through the sides and string binding and handles were made from grass and bark. The kelp would dry extremely hard and contained relatively no odour. The example pictured is in the AADC collection, and is 32cm long overall, with the kelp section being 20cm long.

18.01.2022 Just had to share this amazing pic. Tried to find a bit more about the Dean Sisters but no success. Very brave girls to ride one these. Love to learn more if anyone knows more.

18.01.2022 A statue or monument, or even a place name, that praises an individual, who in history has committed a serious act against the Law of the Land, is spiritually wrong. The spirit world does not acknowledge them and their names should not be seen. Upon their death, their spirits have been erased and are not returned to the earth. Monuments need to display and teach the history of all pertaining to that area or site, stated in a respectful text for all, so history is remembered and never forgotten. AADC Tell my story.

17.01.2022 Birthing Trees When new road projects are planned it remains common practice to offset vegetation lost by planting new vegetation. Some plants and habitat cannot be replaced, let’s consider the Birthing Tree in the Victorian State of the Environment Report 2018 context. It is an old-growth river red gum that is up to 800 years old. It has a girth of more than 7 metres and stands more than 30 metres tall. It has been culturally modified, with fire, creating a small room in t...he base of the trunk. Thousands of Djab Wurrung babies have been born, over multiple generations, within it. The placentas of those babies have been buried under the Directions Trees around it. How do you offset that? Indeed, you can’t meaningfully offset any habitat tree. The older the tree, the more nooks and crannies are weathered into it. Such a tree provides habitat and nutrients for dozens of mammals and birds, and thousands of insect species. It is important to situate myself when I write about these trees, Nayuka Gorrie wrote in Guardian Australia in April. My existence would perhaps not be possible without them. I am a Djap Wurrung person through my grandmother Sandra Onus These trees are Djap Wurrung people’s inheritance. Gorrie continues: [Settlers] can’t understand what it means to be able to connect the blood coursing through your body to ancestors’ blood soaked in ancient soil and ancient trees. To sit in a tree that saw your people birthed, your people massacred, and now your people’s resistance is a feeling that the English language will never be able to capture This connection may be poetic but this connection is a threat. It is a feeling that reinforces our rights to this land. This connection must therefore, by the logic of the settler state, be destroyed. AADC My feeling is that every square meter of land, every plant and rock is sacred. Withstanding that remark I am aware of the importance of roads and other infrastructure. More careful planning and respect of country needs to be adopted, too many times the easy way is adopted for the sake of the dollar or time restraints. Many people including myself have been effected by the ignorance of bureaucrats. We can adapt but when you destroy heritage and spiritual places they are lost forever. Exerts taken from the article The Djab Wurrung Birthing Tree by Sophie Cunningham, on the Monthly site. The image attached to this post is from the book Best of the Australian Geographic Photography. I think it encompasses the feeling and sentiment of this post. The caption attached to image; Flinders Ranges, South Australia. I stood before this giant in admiration and wonder wrote photographer Harold Gazneaux, describing how he came to immortalize the river gum tree with this 1937 photograph The Spirit of Endurance. Gazneaux’s grandson Dick Smith founded Australian Geographic with a similar love of the ancient continent that the journal celebrates. Harold Gazneaux.

14.01.2022 Vale - David Stewart David Stewart passed away last night 31/12/2020 at Mereeba. David Stewart worked with me as porter at the Normanton Railway for several years. David you were a good friend to me and we had many good times over the years. Rest easy ol mate, I will not let your secrets out. What happened on the Gulflander stays on the Gulflander,

13.01.2022 Aboriginal Women’s Art Although women have always been prolific artists in Aboriginal societies, the importance of their work was not widely recognized until recently. Collectors who acquired women’s paintings, fibre arts and carvings during the nineteenth century, failed to understand that female artists worked separately from men and their works had distinctive uses and meanings. At that time, European explorers and researchers were predominantly male and Aboriginal women d...id not display sacred images or reveal aspects of their religion to men. The division between men’s and women’s ceremonies and art forms is explained by elderly men in Arnhem Land who admit that in ancient times women owned all sacred rituals and exerted spiritual authority over men. But they were careless with that knowledge so men took it and have excluded women from important ceremonies ever since. In fact, women have their own ceremonies, ritual knowledge and repertoire of symbols and meanings. In regions such as Melville and Bathurst Islands, they take an active role with men in carving, painting, dancing and composing songs although older men confirm the correctness and quality of their work. AADC Emily Kame Kngwarreye as at 2019 was the No.1 ranked of the The Top 200 Aboriginal Artists. Followed by Rover Thomas, Albert Namatjira, Lin Onus, and Clifford Possum Tjapaltjarri respectively. Image APY Lands senior female artists Paniny Mick, left, and Wawiriya Burton in front of the APY women’s painting of the seven sisters story. Photograph: Tjala Arts

12.01.2022 Why the Crocodile Rolls On the north coast of Western Australia, there was a very unhappy young woman named Min-na-wee, who would always start trouble among her tribe. One day in a massive fight, a man grabbed Min-na-wee and rolled her around in the dirt to restrain her. Intent on revenge, she transformed into a crocodile and waited in the water to give that bloke a taste of his own medicine, and that’s why crocs continue to roll their prey today.

11.01.2022 Lofty Wuggur Smith 1930 1992. Well known from Darwin Delissaville Daly River Woolianna. Renowned hunter, football player & fisherman. Tradition Malak Malak man. Father John O’Leary always declared Lofty to be one of the finest Darwin footballers (Buffaloes or St Marys? Ted Egan will know?) of his generation. Grandfather Chinese gold/copper miner Daly/Pine Ck. & his grandmother Malak Malak from the Daly. In his youth Lofty earned his living as a croc & buffalo shooter, fishe...rman & peanut farm hand on the Daly. In the early ’60, when outboard motors were still a novelty, Lofty was fishing in a dingy down near the Daly mouth when the new prop hit a submerged rock. The prop smashed so Lofty carved a new one from cotton wood with his pocket knife, burnt the shear pin hole with a hot wire & motored back to Woolianna. The wooden substitute was used for weeks until a factory metal replacement arrived. Lofty’s carved wood prop is now in the NT Museum Collection courtesy Daly Mission staff. As a young Field Officer in the ‘70’s he was my boss when working in the northern Daly area & one of my great NT teachers & Mates. Photo Kilfoyle Plains NT 1978. Arthur Beau Palmer With permission copied and pasted from Arthur Beau Palmer.

11.01.2022 Emily Kame Kngwarreye Utopia Artist Emily Kame Kngwarreye (or Emily Kam Ngwarray) (1910 3 September 1996) Emily Kame Kngwarreye is one of Australia’s most significant contemporary artists. Emily was born at the beginning of the 20th century and grew up in a remote desert area known as Utopia, 230 kilometres north-east of Alice Springs, distant from the art world that sought her work....Continue reading

11.01.2022 Dreamtime - Life and Law Anthropologists Balbwin Spencer and Francis Gillen coined the term Dreamtime at the turn of the century as a translation of an Aboriginal expression, altjira rama, meaning to see and dream eternal things. Nowadays, it’s loosely used by many Indigenous Australians and anthropologists to describe one of the world’s oldest and most extraordinary religions. Like many religions, the dreamtime’s tenets include gods and mortals, explains the origins of... man and earth and have moral codes that regulate behaviour. But unlike many others, the dreamtime has no written legacy like the Bible or the Koran. It has at it’s core hundreds of Creator Spirits Who set down rules for human conduct. These spirits still live within the land and influence human existence. Their rules, known collectively as the Law, have been passed down orally through generations. All creatures and humans are subject to this strict code of behaviour. During the Dreamtime the creators made men, women and animals, declared the laws of the land and how people were to behave to one another, the customs of food supply and distribution, the rituals of initiation, the ceremonies of death which are required to be performed so that the spirit of the dead travels peacefully to his or her spirit-place, and the laws of marriage. On rare occasions, death can be the traditional punishment for major breaches by humans. The dreamtime has no prayers for beseeching forgiveness from a god you follow the Law and prosper or you don’t and are punished. The Dreamtime is special in that it is based on a belief that the land is sacred and immutable, and that everything affecting life and human relationships springs from it. Our life, our history, everything relates to the earth Thompson Yulidjirri (Kunwinjku Elder).

10.01.2022 Private Harold Marcus Green Medals Normally I would write a post on an Indigenous soldier as it is a story that stands strong on it's own merits. However the rationale of this post is not only to tell his story, but more importantly his medals are on Ebay for sale. I am purely following my intuition that this post will reach someone that has to take ownership. Maybe it's spiritual guidance from Marcus Green himself. The asking price is $7,500, the vendor is Spencey who is a g...ood guy. He would have paid a bit for the medals himself, and who may be unknowingly also following spiritual intuition. The description as it appears on Ebay - A very rare WWI Medal group to Pte Harold Marcus Green service number 603 of the 24th Machine Gun Co AIF Green was an ABORIGINAL Man from Dubbo NSW AUSTRALIA. Wounded in action (gassed) at Ypres in August 1918 which ended the war for him. Green was born in Dubbo and enlisted at least twice. His first enlistment was as depot soldier (service number 56122) which was the most that people of indigenous decent were allowed. When the restrictions were eased he joined up and became a member of the 24th Machine Gun Company. He is pictured prominently in the centre of the back row of the group photo of the company held by the AWM. Green’s position in the photo clearly shows he was a proud soldier and important member of his company. There is no mention of his Aboriginality in the service record but his complexion is listed as ‘dark’ with brown eyes and dark brown hair. He is noted in research as being an indigenous Australian. I believe his brother also served and was killed in action. Green lived the rest of his life in the Parramatta area of Sydney. He died around 1952. There would only have been 500 or so of this group issued to indigenous Australians making it a rare and important group. The medals are correctly named 603 Pte H.M. Green 24 M.G. Coy A.I.F. The ribbons look to be original. AADC - If someone purchases these medals I would love to hear if there was an connection, and an ending that was meant to be - Respect.

10.01.2022 Not a believer in removal, but I think something needs to be done to preserve this amazing piece of culture.

07.01.2022 Milestone - 2,000 Likes I wish to express my gratitude to everyone who has liked and followed my page. Over 400 in the last week. I still remember when I started the AADC page, I think it took 6 months to get my first 500. This page is entirely operated by myself, I receive no funding or donations. I am very passionate about educating and preserving Culture, Traditions and Law. It is a very emotional journey that often sees me considering letting it go, however it is the like...s and feedback I get on my posts that empowers and motivates me to continue. Nothing I post is done lightly as there are many sensitivities to consider but my main driver is simply the term I use often "Tell My Story". I tend to feel what our Ancestors and the Individuals would want, and not what the minority sensitivities are. I have seen so many of our Elders pass away and I miss and remember them forever. The saddest feeling I get though is the thought that nobody listened or knew there entire story or knowledge they wanted to pass on. With every new generation we lose a degree of the story, the knowledge, and possibly the spiritualism. Thank you so much. "Tell My Story"

06.01.2022 David Gulpilil Caterpillar Dreaming At the time of the release of one of his most personal films, Charlie's Country, David told the Guardian, I’m a ballerina, a dancer, I’m an artist, I’m a writer and I studied the Earth, same as David Attenborough. Not satisfied with cinema alone, David has written two volumes of children's stories based on his people's beliefs. He has performed a one-man autobiographical show to great acclaim on the stages of the Adelaide Festival of... Arts and Sydney's Belvoir Street Theatre. And he paints, in his own distinct but traditionally evolved style, paintings which convey his reverence for the landscape, people and traditional culture of his homeland. The AADC is delighted to have one of David’s paintings in our display. The painting Caterpillar Dreaming pictured. David’s Dreaming, are the twin rocks called Mewal, are represented as the dark red areas in this painting, moving through them and gorging themselves on the caterpillars are the two tree snakes of his totem. The painting is an amazing example of David’s ability as an artist. When painting in Rarrk style, painting of cross hatch using grass stems, it takes great skill to remain tightly inside the lines. Each of the numerous caterpillars in this painting are exact. The colours of the hatch can be a sign of moiety, and men and women can only use certain colours. Wishing David all the best with his ongoing illness. AADC Some will look upon our collection as extremely lucky to be in possession of such items. We have several items given to us but most other items are hard obtained. To purchase this painting I sold my own car, I guess the reward will come by the delight in people’s faces when viewing and learning from these items. I buy the items with my own money and at the end I am only a custodian for all to enjoy.

06.01.2022 Aboriginal Megafauna Overlap? The term Australian megafauna refers to a number of large animalspecies in Australia, often defined as species with body mass estimates of greater than 45 kg or equal to or greater than 130% of the body mass of their closest living relatives, that lived during the Pleistocene Epoch. Most of these species became extinct during the latter half of the Pleistocene, and the roles of human and climatic factors in their extinction are contested. Ther...e are similarities between prehistoric Australian megafauna and some mythical creatures from the Aboriginal Dreamtime Many modern researchers, including Tim Flannery, think that with the arrival of early Aboriginal Australians (around 70,000~65,000 years ago), hunting and the use of fire to manage their environment may have contributed to the extinction of the megafauna Increased aridity during peak glaciation (about 18,000 years ago) may have also contributed, but most of the megafauna were already extinct by this time. Others, including Steve Wroe, note that records in the Australian Pleistocene are rare, and there is not enough data to definitively determine the time of extinction of many of the species, with many of the species having no confirmed record within the last 100,000 years. They suggest that many of the extinctions had been staggered over the course of the late Middle Pleistocene and early Late Pleistocene, prior to human arrival, due to climatic stress. New evidence based on accurate optically stimulated luminescence and uranium-thorium dating of megafaunal remains suggests that humans were the ultimate cause of the extinction for some of the megafauna in Australia. The dates derived show that all forms of megafauna on the Australian mainland became extinct in the same rapid timeframeapproximately 46,000 years ago[1]the period when the earliest humans first arrived in Australia (around 70,000~65,000 years ago long chronology and 50,000 years ago short chronology) However, these results were subsequently disputed, with another study showing that 50 of 88 megafaunal species have no dates postdating the penultimate glacial maxiumum around 130,000 years ago, and there was only firm evidence for overlap of 8-14 megafaunal species with people. Analysis of oxygen and carbon isotopes from teeth of megafauna indicate the regional climates at the time of extinction were similar to arid regional climates of today and that the megafauna were well adapted to arid climates AADC I am a firm believer that many of our mythical and dreamtime stories have strands of true events and creatures, disbelievers really need to open their minds and listen to the unchanged story.

05.01.2022 More depth than our earlier post, good site.

05.01.2022 David Unaipon The Australian Da Vinci 28 September 1872 7 February 1967 Born at the Point McLeay Mission on the banks of Lake Alexandrina in the Coorong region of South Australia, Unaipon was the fourth of nine children of James and Nymbulda Ngunaitponi, of the Portaulun branch of the Ngarrindjeri people. Unaipon began his education at the age of seven at the Point McLeay Mission School and soon became known for his intelligence, with the former secretary of the Aborigine...Continue reading

04.01.2022 A love Story of Dyga & Oolana Story of the Babinda Boulders Legend has it that a long time ago, when the Yidinji tribe lived in the Babinda Valley, there was a tremendous upheaval that created these unusual shaped Boulders with their foaming, rushing waters. In the tribe was Oolana, a very beautiful young woman. Also in the tribe was Waroonoo, a very old, wise and respected elder. It was decided that these two should be given in marriage to one another, and so it was done. ... Some time later, a wandering tribe came through the valley, and as was the friendly custom of the Yidinji, they make the strangers welcome, inviting them to stay. In the visiting tribe was Dyga, a very handsome young man. All eyes were upon him for his grace and beauty. At first sight, Dyga and Oolana So great was their strong attraction for each other they arranged to meet secretly. Knowing full well that their desire for each other would never be permitted, they ran away. Oolana knew she could now never return as she was rightfully married to Waroonoo. They journeyed well up into the valley; spending wonderful happy days together and they camped under Chooreechillum, near the water’s edge. The two tribes had been searching for them and it was at this spot, they came upon the two lovers. The wandering tribesmen seized Dyga, forcing him away, calling how they had been shamed and how they would travel far away and never return. The Yidinjis had taken hold of Oolana and were dragging her back, forcing her to return with them to the rest of the tribe. Suddenly, she broke away and violently flung herself forward into the gentle waters of the creek, as she called and cried for Dyga to return to her here, but the wandering tribe had gone, and with them her handsome lover. Would he ever return? Just at the very instant Oolana struck the water, a tremendous upheaval occurred. The land shook with terror and sorrow as Oolana cried for her lost lover to come to her. Her anguished cries spilled out as rushing water came cascading over the whole area. Huge boulders were thrown up and she disappeared into them. Oolana seemed to become part of the stones as if to guard the very spot where it all happened. So it is to this very day, her spirit remains. Some say that at times her anguished calls cry out calling her lover to return and that wandering travellers should take care lest Oolana calls them too close to her beautiful waters, for she is forever searching for her own lost lover and this must always be. Up to 17 lives have been lost at the Babinda Boulders, most of them young men. AADC - Copied and pasted

04.01.2022 The Beer- Tiwi Six O’clock While at Nguiu (pronounced Ngwee-you if you can nasalized the sound ng otherwise We-you goes close) I had the chance to meet up with a lot of old friends. The place is looking good, with plenty of new houses of practical design. The women and children are fine, but most of the men are suffering from the great Australian characteristic, the beer gut. It’s a big change from the days when they were the hard gutted stars of the Darwin football c...ompetition. Bill Armbrust, once wrote a poem about St. Mary’s Football Club, including the lines: They were lean and hungry natives From the Bathurst Island side The fleetest footed runners That were ever wrapped in hide. Like most Aboriginal communities, Bathurst Island, has had a few dramas since the restrictions on drinking alcohol were lifted in 1964. But since the community itself has taken on the job of sorting out these matters, rather than falling back on the old ploy of making officialdom the scapegoat, things are now sorting themselves out. At The Beer, which is what the locals call their equivalent of the old six o’clock swill, the drinking is organized on traditional totemic lines, whereby members of each Pukui pool their money to buy their beer, and then assume responsibility for the behaviour of their group. It’s still a long way a long way to go but it’s getting better. Generally speaking it’s a pretty hopeful situation at Nguiu, with traditional cultural and language programs dominating the school curriculum. Now their land claims have been recognized, and in the absence of any competition by whites for their land, the Tiwi should go on to bigger and better things. Couldn’t happen to a nicer group of people. AADC Post is an extract from the book A Drop Of Rough Ted by Ted Egan. It offers some interesting points. Rather than going to pubs and night clubs, the idea of a once a week Corroboree style celebration where everyone comes as friends and we all leave as friends. Drinking is managed by elders and everyone respects their direction of no more drinking for you. The other point I am very strong on, is the teaching of Language and Traditional Culture as major part of the school curriculum. The AADC did a number of school workshops last year, that were well received by all. Unfortunately the COVID situation has put an end to these activities, we however look forward to the end of this situation and normal life again.

03.01.2022 Love it not only the comments and the interpretation of the painting, but how the art appears to have age. Year 8 only, Lucas Galea your future art will be spectacular.

02.01.2022 Stone Axe Heads Queensland Stone axe heads in Queensland, despite their primitive appearance are a very commonly encountered artifact. Most aboriginal men and women used them, and would leave them conveniently in a place of use. In addition to use, they were a heavily traded item. Axe blanks and more completed items from Eastern Queensland will be found across Northern Australia. Not all finished axe heads were made to be attached to handles, many were made to be hand held... chopping tools. Some of these items will feature special grooves and indents for gripping. A quality axe head specimen would be considered to be of an oval shape, with heavily knapped and ground edges, anything less would be considered a poorer example. Pictured with this post is a good example of broken or incomplete axe heads, however these items could still be utilised and used just as much as a full size stone as shown in the image of the axe head. Other image shows fire drill and hammer stones with finger grips. See more

02.01.2022 Aboriginal Stockwomen North Australia I post this article with full respect to the family and friends of the magnificent women contained in this story and images. AADC - "Tell my Story" Proud. Pushing 60, Maudie Moore was still chasing scrub bulls on horseback a testament to her reputation as one of the best 'stockmen' you could find around the 1950s in Western Australia.Ms Moore is just one of the women whose stories feature in a thesis by PhD candidate Tauri Simone C...Continue reading

02.01.2022 Fingerbone Bill David Gulpilil It was 1976 when I was a young whipper snapper, on a school excursion to see the film Storm Boy, the film adaptation of Colin Thiele's Storm Boy book. It still remains as one of the greatest Australian films ever made. There are many acclaimed aspects to this film, The Coorong’s distinctive landscape reached the whole country through Geoff Burton’s mesmeric cinematography, but the one thing that got my attention and memory to this day, was t...he mysteriously enduring character Fingerbone Bill played by the enduring actor, David Gulpilil. Fingerbone was a recluse who lived just down the beach from Hide-Away Tom, in a humpy, a makeshift shelter, and he carries a blunderbuss, a short-barreled shotgun. Hide-Away Tom and Fingerbone Bill are kindred spirits. Fingerbone is their closest neighbor for miles, so naturally they spend a lot of time together: combing the beach, wandering the dunes, and looking out for the protected animals that live there. Who would forget the Pelican Dance, however my favourite quote was during the scene of finding Mr. Percival dead, and upon finding the young pelican chicks, Fingerbone says, A bird like that never dies, and lifted one of the chicks. In the 2017 remake of the film, Gulpilil, 67, plays the father of Fingerbone Bill, the character he made his own more than four decades ago. Fingerbone Bill was played by Trevor Jamieson, in the remake. AADC David Gulpilil an Icon of the Australian Film Industry. I wish you all the best.

01.01.2022 The Bora Ground The Start of Male Initiation Ceremony North Queensland I write the following text to teach the knowledge of tradition that is being lost, this knowledge is Men’s and Women’s knowledge, and it is as important today as it was hundreds of years ago. It will give people an understanding of why things are done and also a direction for future performances, as many ceremonial dances are these days. If you are a person that may have an issue I ask that you leave thi...s post now. The knowledge begins here. At the Clan’s main camp with both men and women present, the first dance The Dance of the Native Companion (Brolga) is performed. The dance of this particular bird invariably constitutes the first of the performances of the Male Initiation Ceremony. Subsequently the women are told, not shown, the boundary of the initiation ground, this being marked by certain stakes stuck into the earth. Should any female even see these boundary-marks, she will get ague*, and should she trespass beyond it, will be certain to die. A more or less circular space is next made in the presence of the initiates, at any time during daylight, and henceforth all subsequent proceedings take place herein. This space about 15 meters in the longest diameter, and is cleared of stumps, leaves etc.and the sandy soil is levelled as carefully as possible. Near the centre the sand is scooped out and thrown up on either side in the form of a horse-shoe magnet, the arms of the magnet pointing to the north. On the eastern side is the low bush-fence wherein the fires are burnt at night, and the initiates and their keeper sleep. The circular space is known as the boral, a word that signifies anything level, the central dug horse shoe as the piri (river) and it’s banks as the woln-gur. * Ague - attack of Ague fever, but it is communicated as a form of good faith, that the direction is complied with. AADC One of our readers will benefit from this knowledge. Respect to all.