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The Awabakal People, Their Country and Their

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The Awabakal People, Their Country and Their Collected Writings On The Awabakal People Compiled by Alex Arposio 2 © 2018 - Miromaa Aboriginal Language & Technology Centre First Printed in 2009 Reprinted in 2014 Reprinted in 2017 Reprinted in 2018 All enquiries to: P 02 4940 9100 W www.miromaa.org.au Miromaa Aboriginal Language & Technology Centre is funded by the Australian Federal Government under Indigenous Languages and Arts (ILA). Miromaa Aboriginal Language & Technology Centre is the trading name for Arwarbukarl Cultural Resource Association Inc. We would like to acknowledge the following people who have aided the production of this document which is the first of many resources to assist in enabling Awabakal to be once again spoken in its country: Aunt Phyllis Darcy – Awabakal Descendant Alex Arposio – Linguist The staff at Miromaa Aboriginal Language & Technology Centre who have worked to produce this document are: Jacqui Allen Carissa Paglino Daryn McKenny Terri-Lee Darcy Daryn McKenny General Manager – Miromaa Aboriginal Language & Technology Centre 3 1. Preface The aim of this document is to gather together in one place the collected writings of those who have recorded the narratives and lore of the Aboriginal people called the Awabakal. Every attempt has been made to follow standard protocols and to acknowledge each author’s priority in the content presented herein. It should be understood that some content has been withheld owing to restrictions based on men’s or women’s business, or other matters concerning the spiritual rites of the original inhabitants of this region. People interested in these matters should contact the Miromaa Aboriginal Language and Technology Centre. Otherwise, it has been the aim to present as complete a record as the available documentation allows. With the exceptions of Thomas Skottowe, Lancelot Edward Threlkeld1 and Eliza Dunlop, the writers who have contributed to our knowledge of the Awabakal people were not present during the time that a vibrant linguistic community inhabited the districts of Lake Macquarie, Newcastle and the lower Hunter Valley. This does not mean that the information is dubious, but questions still remain for which answers are not evident and—unless new documentation is brought to surface—is no longer retrievable. In presenting the stories describing the lore, a particular author is typically acknowledged. However, the stories have been cross-examined by other renditions, including oral traditions and anecdotal corroborations such that the result often represents a synthesis of several “tellings” of the same story. All the same, we do not insist that this document contains a final or definitive rendition of any of the content represented herein, and should any reader feel that some aspects demand comment or correction he or she should contact the Centre and discuss the issues. Our aim is to regard our work to be subject to ceaseless review and potential expansion and improvement wherever and whenever possible. Alex Arposio 15-04-2011 1 The missionary who devoted some three decades to comprehending and explaining the language of the Awabakal people. 4 Acknowledgements This document is the result of the work of very many people, over a long period of time. The first people to acknowledge, of course, are the Awabakal people themselves, especially Birabaan, who befriended and gave instruction to Lancelot Edward Threlkeld in the language and stories of his people. It must be said that Threlkeld is more to be remembered for his contribution to the preservation of the language of the Awabakal people more than to the transmission of cultural information. Nevertheless, Threlkeld did name and give brief descriptions of a number of the sacred sites and other important places, and the names and descriptions of various spirit beings to be found among these pages. In several instances, stories and other material in this book has been compiled following comparisons among the renditions presented by a number of people from a variety of sources. Some people whose work deserves to be acknowledged are K. Austen, N. Bin Buyong, Neil Gunson, Perc Haslam, John Maynard, P. Manton, W. J. Needham, D. Smith, R. Sullivan, A. Wright. It should be noted that it appears that Haslam is often drawing from, or quoting other sources, but owing to the informal condition of his notes (which were merely his own private to employ in his many talks and his radio programme), the original informants are not recorded. Many of the stories included here, are retrieved from a combination of Haslam’s archives and Maynard’s book Awabakal Word Finder. I would also care to acknowledge a debt to a number of people who work or have worked for Arwarbukarl Cultural Resource Association (ACRA): Bev Collins, who entered much of the data into our database Miromaa, between 2002-2005; Dianna Newman, Jacqui Allen, Carissa Paglino and Terri-Lee Darcy: who, over the past few years have formed a team without whose efforts such results as this would not have been achieved. Lastly, but certainly not least, I would acknowledge and thank Aunt Phyllis Darcy, an original descendent, who has supported our efforts here at ACRA to rehabilitate the language, customs and culture of the Awabakal people; and Daryn McKenny, who, as managing director of ACRA, has been the driving force behind the many projects in which ACRA is involved. 5 Contents 1. Introductory ........................................................................................................... 9 2. Major Personages of the Awabakal People ......................................................... 12 3. Important Places .................................................................................................. 25 4. Common Places and Features of Landscape ....................................................... 31 5. Maps and Figures ................................................................................................. 35 6. Attributes of Human Life ..................................................................................... 39 7. Other Stories ........................................................................................................ 58 8. Weapons, Tools, Craft and Sundry Objects ......................................................... 63 6 Sources Used AbAus Aboriginal Australia (1994) (D. Horton ed.) [Aboriginal Studies Press] ©AIATSIC AG Threlkeld, L. E. (1834) An Australian Grammar comprehending the Principles and Natural Rules of the Language, as spoken by the Aborigines, in the vicinity of Hunters River, Lake Macquarie, New South Wales [Stephens and Stokes] Sydney. AHR (1983) Aborigines of the Hunter Region, (compiled by D. West), [Government Printer], NSW. AL Fraser, J. (1892) An Australian Language as spoken by the Awabakal, the people of Awaba or Lake Macquarie being an account of their language, traditions, and customs [Charles Potter, Government Printer] Sydney. ARP Gunson, N., (ed.) (1974) Australian Reminiscences & Papers of L. E. Threlkeld: Missionary to the Aborigines 1824-1859, Vols 1 & 2, [Australian Institute of Aboriginal Studies] Canberra. ASD Turbet, P. (1989) The Aborigines of the Sydney District before 1788, [Kangaroo Press] Kenthurst. ATA Tindale, N. B. (1974) Aboriginal Tribes of Australia [U of Calif. Press] AWF Maynard, J. (2004) Awabakal Word Finder, (J. Maynard editor), [Keeaira Press] Southport Qld. BRGR W. J. Needham (1981) Burragurra: Where the Spirit Walked: A Study of the Aboriginal Sites in the Cessnock–Wollombi Region of the Hunter Valley, N.S.W., [Alec Dobson & McEwan Pty Ltd] Adamstown, N.S.W. DOCA Haslam, P. (2003) “Document Archives of Perc Haslam” - Single or Multiple Sheet Documents with language reference stored in the Document Archive at ACRA, Reference number refers to the file number. - Doc A1000 to ∞ FLEX Fraser, J. (1892) “An Awabakal English Lexicon” - Part 2 in AL. GBRG Rigby, G. & B., (1992) Successfully Growing Australian Native Plants and Colour Your Garden with Australian Natives: Compendium, [Reninna Press] Newcastle. GYY (2003) Gamilaraay, Yuwaalaraay, Yuwaalayaay Dictionary, (Compiled and edited by A. Ash, J. Giacon and A Lissarrague), [IAD Press] Alice Springs. LA Austen, K., N. Bin Buyong, P. Manton, D. Smith, R. Sullivan, A. Wright, (1995) Land of Awabakal, [Yarnteen Inc.] Newcastle. McK (1911) "Some notes on the Aborigines of the Lower Hunter River", Anthropos 6 (1911): 855-9., MOA Strahn, R., (editor) (1992) The Mammals of Australia, (rvsd edn), [Reed New Holland] Sydney. 7 Mss1 Threlkeld, L. E. (1983) Collected Threlkeld Papers 1815-1862 (Manuscript), [Mitchell Library Archives, A382], State Library of NSW, 1983, photocopy edition. PHPh Digital source of scanned sheets due to Perc Haslam, and held by ACRA; examining this source requires contacting ACRA. QDAC (2009) A digital archive held by ACRA: Q:\Digital Archive\Culture\Original Photo Scans - Perc Haslam A6712a(others) QOP (2009) A digital archive held by ACRA: Q:\Digital Archive\Culture\Original Photo Scans - Perc Haslem A6711. SALC (1983) “Script of Aboriginal Language from Cassette” from the Aborigines of the Hunter Region Kit, [The Dept of Education]. SD Threlkeld, L. E. (1827) Specimens of a Dialect of the Aborigines of New South Wales; Being the first attempt to form their speech into a written language, [Thomas Wilson] Sydney. TKEY Threlkeld, L. E. (1850) A Key to the Structure of the Aboriginal Language; being an analysis of the particles used as affixes, to form the various modifications of the verbs; shewing the essential powers, abstract
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