I woke up at 8am – I didn’t want to get up. I got up and got my clothes ready. Tonika did too. We packed our bags and put them in the car. And then we had breakfast.
Food update – I had sultana bran and toast
and bacon and eggs. So yummy!
Tonika and toast and bacon and eggs.
Rosie had cereal and bacon and eggs.
And that was so nice.
Rosie gave the keys back. We left and went
to Brungle to see Elva, Sonni, Margaret and Phylis again :]!!
We went to Sonni’s house – she was in her
PJs. LOL. She said, “I’ll just get ready”.
We set off for Elva’s place and she just
woke up too.
We were talking to people outside the house
and they said Margaret might be home. We called over again. She was there so I
introduced myself.
We sat outside just talking about the
family and that, and I showed photos of nanny. Margaret was so happy to see
photos of her.
We had a photo with Margaret – it was
funny. She said, “Oh, is my hair alright”. We all laughed. Then we went up to
the community centre that Sonni heads. Mad!!!
Sonni gave me a book on Tumut-Brungle and
all my cousins – Margaret, Elva, Sonnu and Phyllis – are in it.
I was so grateful!
Interviewing
my cousins at Brungle
13
November 2011
I prepared these questions to ask my
cousins when I went to Brungle – and here are their answers too.
1.
What is it like to live out here?
Sonni: Personally, I love living here. I
don’t mind going to Sydney for a holiday though.
Elva: It’s quiet here. It’s lovely out here
in the open.
Phylis: I came here in 1960 when I was 17.
I haven’t left since. I moved to Tumut in 1970 because white men were going to
take Aunty’s kids away.
But it is beautiful here.
There was still a mission manager here
until some time in the 1970s.
2.
How long have you lived out here?
Sonni: I’ve lived here all my life. I lived
for a little while in Tumut and Walgett.
Elva: Same here – I moved to Tumut for a
bit. I never lived in Walgett but my husband was from there.
Phylis: I came here in 1960 and I don’t
want to leave. I don’t want live in flat country like in Cowra.
People want to move here but there aren’t
enough houses.
3.
Do you have a lot of family around here?
Yes – heaps of family here. Brothers and
sisters.
And a lot of grandkids and family around.
We watch the kids while their parents are at work.
4. Do you have any gathering
places? (places you meet up with your friends?)
People gather here at the Community Centre
– we have movie nights, and we meet up for a yarn, and to relax together.
5.
When you were young what were some of the things to keep you busy?
They rode horses up the hill. They went
fishing.
Having babies! LOL!
We played rounders, went mulberry picking,
swimming and horse riding.
We could hitch-hike to the movies in town
(at Tumut).
We also held our own sing-songs and made up stories. We would tell ghost stories.
We also held our own sing-songs and made up stories. We would tell ghost stories.
6.
Who was your role model growing up?
7.
Are there are sacred places that you know about?
8.
Who taught you about your culture?
9.
Are there still old tracks or trade routes that people still use today?
We used to cart the water in spring to do
our washing.
We would spread the washing on the grass to let it dry.
We would spread the washing on the grass to let it dry.
10.
Do you still catch, prepare or eat traditional food?
11.
Do you know of any traditional medicines in the area? What are they used for?
12. Does
your family still practice culture?
We don’t practice culture – only dance and
do smoking ceremonies. But we would love to.
We go to schools and talk about being
Aboriginal and growing up on the mission.
13.
What language was spoken here?
14.
Does anyone still speak/ practice the language?
Today, kids speak lingo at primary school
and the elders are proud to hear them talk their language.
We only know a few words – like “gad” for
snake.
Other
things the cousins told me:
* It was hard being married to a white man back
in the
