Honouring Auntie Marilyne Nicholls

Dja Dja Wurrung/Yorta Yorta/Baraba Baraba/Wadi Wadi/Jupagulk

So honoured that Auntie Marilyne Nicholls came to the Story House and Garden. Her love and knowledge of country is so instinctive and intuitive and she generously shared her wisdom with us.

​Some photos from the day

Auntie Marilyne Nicholls

Waa the Crow, watching her nest and us

Auntie Marilyne with her clapsticks and treasures

Auntie Marilyne and Laurel Freeland, "Because of her we can"

Lovely to have Kavisha drop by to lead us in song

Aunties woven rug for us to sit on

My orchid, in all its glory to welcome us all

Honouring the trees and spirit of country

Our altar

Honouring the land and all its spirits

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More about Aunty Marilyn

Aboriginal Water Grants program sees funding for Bendigo Creek continue
​Aunty Marilyne Nicholls has been involved as a water projects officer, and as a Dja Dja Wurrung person working with Dja Dja Wurrung Enterprises and engaging members.
Water is life, and holds huge significance for the Dja Dja Wurrung people as a place to live, and part of traditional ceremonies, Aunty Marilyne said.
Now, they want to reclaim agency in the system of water ownership, for the good of the land and for future generations.
“Everybody needs to play their part for the future of better water for country as well as people, and the impact it plays on that bigger biodiversity of life,” she said.
“Because it’s not just about us as peoples, it’s about the future, it’s about what we leave for our kids for the future.”
When the work began, the site was a disaster zone.
The project has changed her mind about how Aboriginal people can work to heal waterways.
“When I first was asked if I’d like to be involved in a Bendigo Creek project, I said, no,” Aunty Marilyne said.
“I teach traditional weaving with sedge grasses, and I thought no, I’m not going to take any of my people down to that waterway to get sick while they’re harvesting grasses, we’re not going anywhere near it.
“To see something like this, and to be engaged and work on this process of how it’s been developed has changed my mind about how we can work to start healing that water.” To read the entire article, go here
https://www.bendigoadvertiser.com.au/story/5486874/dja-dja-wurrung-receive-funds-to-continue-healing-waterway-work/