Hawthorn Library,
584 Glenferrie Road,
Hawthorn
Contact: 9278 4666
Borrow a human book on Sorry Day!
Come and enjoy a one-on-one conversation with an indigenous Australian to celebrate National Sorry Day, 26 May 2011.
All sessions are free, however bookings are essential. Bookings can be made in person at any library branch, by phone on 9278 466 or by emailing the library.
Meet our human books
Maree Clarke
Maree Clarke, a Yorta Yorta, Wamba Wamba woman from northeast Victoria, began working as an Aboriginal Educator in 1978 in her home-town of Mildura. This work experience, althoughnot directly related to her life as an artist, provided a solid base from which to begin her career in supporting and promoting southeast Australian Aboriginal histories, culture and knowledge. More recently Maree’s continuing desire to affirm and reconnect with her cultural heritage has also seen her exhibiting contemporary designs of kangaroo teeth necklaces, along with string headbands, adorned with kangaroo teeth. The latest exhibition of Maree’s work to achieve acclaim has been her creation and installation of kopi mourning caps. The caps were exhibited at the 2010 Melbourne International Arts Festival at the Nyah Bunyah (Temple) exhibition.
Today, in herrole as the Senior Curator and Exhibition Manager at the Koorie Heritage Trust (KHT) inMelbourne (an Aboriginal run organisation and cultural centre that protects, preserves and promotes the living culture of Aboriginal people of south-eastern Australia), Maree continues to curate exhibitions showcasing the development of contemporary southeast Australian Aboriginal art and culture.
Today, in herrole as the Senior Curator and Exhibition Manager at the Koorie Heritage Trust (KHT) inMelbourne (an Aboriginal run organisation and cultural centre that protects, preserves and promotes the living culture of Aboriginal people of south-eastern Australia), Maree continues to curate exhibitions showcasing the development of contemporary southeast Australian Aboriginal art and culture.
Aunty Dot Peters
Maree Aunty Dot is a respected Aboriginal Elder and a descendant of the Yorta Yorta and
Yarra Yarra people of Victoria.
She has worked tirelessly for many years in the eastern region, raising awareness of Aboriginal issues and strengthening the community. In 2006 Aunty Dot, whose father was a prisoner of war and died on the Thai Burma Railway in 1943, approached her local Returned Services League to recognise the service given by Aboriginal people to Australia. That same year, the Honouring Victorian Indigenous Returned Service Men and Women Shrine of Remembrance was established, and the Aboriginal flag was raised at the Shrine of Remembrance for the first time. In 2007, every Australian state held an event to honour Aboriginal service men and women, based on the Victorian model.
Aunty Dotlearnt the art of basket and eel trap weaving from her grandmother and is passionate about passing on her traditional skills to future generations. For over 20 years she has been teaching Aboriginal culture through her basket weaving workshops at TAFE colleges, Museum Victoria, festivals and community organisations.
In 2002, Aunty Dot won the Australia Council for the Arts Red Ochre Award, which is awarded annually toIndigenous Australian Artists who have made an outstanding contribution to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander arts and culture. She was also awarded the Victorian Aboriginal Women’s Award in 2002 and the National Aborigines and Islanders Day Observance Committee(NAIDOC) Elders Award in 2010.
Yarra Yarra people of Victoria.
She has worked tirelessly for many years in the eastern region, raising awareness of Aboriginal issues and strengthening the community. In 2006 Aunty Dot, whose father was a prisoner of war and died on the Thai Burma Railway in 1943, approached her local Returned Services League to recognise the service given by Aboriginal people to Australia. That same year, the Honouring Victorian Indigenous Returned Service Men and Women Shrine of Remembrance was established, and the Aboriginal flag was raised at the Shrine of Remembrance for the first time. In 2007, every Australian state held an event to honour Aboriginal service men and women, based on the Victorian model.
Aunty Dotlearnt the art of basket and eel trap weaving from her grandmother and is passionate about passing on her traditional skills to future generations. For over 20 years she has been teaching Aboriginal culture through her basket weaving workshops at TAFE colleges, Museum Victoria, festivals and community organisations.
In 2002, Aunty Dot won the Australia Council for the Arts Red Ochre Award, which is awarded annually toIndigenous Australian Artists who have made an outstanding contribution to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander arts and culture. She was also awarded the Victorian Aboriginal Women’s Award in 2002 and the National Aborigines and Islanders Day Observance Committee(NAIDOC) Elders Award in 2010.
Len Tregonning
Len is a Gunai/Kurnai man from Gippsland, currently employed by the Koorie Heritage Trust as the Cross Cultural Coordinator, working with a diverse range of groups. Len brings a unique perspective to the training program as he has held a range of roles with an educational perspective withboth government and Aboriginal organisations.
These roles have included outreach health work, 12 years within the employment and industrial relations area and a number of project, consultancy and research roles with organisations including the Aboriginal Advancement League, Aboriginal Community Elders Services and the Victorian Records Taskforce. Len was also one of the first Aboriginal tertiary students in Victoria, attending Swinburne Institute in the mid 1970s, undertaking the Community Organisation Skills course.
Eva-Jo Edwards
Eva-Jo is a Mutti Mutti / Yorta Yorta woman - also a member of the Stolen Generation, who has spent much of her adult life re-discovering and re-engaging in the heritage and culture she lost. Eva-Jo is actively involved in the reconciliation process and has been employed in many vital areas of work. She has been part of Koorie Night Market team from day one, in an evolving role as Community Engagement Officer.
Eva-Jo is a Mutti Mutti / Yorta Yorta woman - also a member of the Stolen Generation, who has spent much of her adult life re-discovering and re-engaging in the heritage and culture she lost. Eva-Jo is actively involved in the reconciliation process and has been employed in many vital areas of work. She has been part of Koorie Night Market team from day one, in an evolving role as Community Engagement Officer.
In Eva-Jo's mission to incorporate Aboriginal culture in to the lives of her family, she formed the dance troupe Birri-on Lakidjeka, meaning 'turning the children around'. Eva-Jo's tenacity has seen her become a cultural educator who employs performance, public speaking, administrative and teaching skills in her diverse working life.
Sharon Hodgson-Riley
Aboriginal artist, Sharon Hodgson-Riley lives in Ashburton and has Wurundjeri ancestry. She holds a graduate diploma in Cultural Heritage Interpretation Studies and has done a Master of Arts degree (by research). She is a multimedia artist and has worked with many types of media over the years.
Lance Briggs
A Kulin – Boonwurrung/ born in Yalukit Willam at Toorak. Well known member of the traditional owner family of the greater Melbourne area. Born on country, the lands of the Yalukit Willam – living his entire life in spiritual lands which are the metropolis of greater Melbourne.
Lance has been involved with family and country all his life. Involved with various Aboriginal/ Indigenous organisations, and Governments’ departments all over Australia (while living in Melbourne) for over 3 decades – at all levels, as a volunteer, a paid employee, a member of the Board of Directors, a consultant, and now as a consultant and entrepreneur.
An experienced government and economic analyst Lance takes a holistic view of society, government policy, and legal systems with an ability to interpret situations and apply traditional Boonwurrung/ Kulin philosophy and wisdoms and apply them to life in present day Australia.
In maintaining a strong cultural lifestyle, Lance can only live on country (which is his identity) as indigenous settlement is alien to his family and not an option.
Aboriginal artist, Sharon Hodgson-Riley lives in Ashburton and has Wurundjeri ancestry. She holds a graduate diploma in Cultural Heritage Interpretation Studies and has done a Master of Arts degree (by research). She is a multimedia artist and has worked with many types of media over the years.
Sharon writes:
"I am an Aborignal descendent a mother a grandmother an artist/designer researcher. My main interest lately is gardening as the environment is our best teacher.
My experience as a multi/media artist has been varied. I have worked with many different types of media over the years from web design, computer graphics, costume, textile and graphic design. a Moomba festival float, book illustration, community mural projects, ceramics, co-ordination of projects, theatre and 5 years in aboriginal community radio. I believe that an artist must be true to oneself to nurture creatively one must also be versatile.
I spent many years engaged in researching our cultural history, ancestry and the impact of westernisation on our sacred land, people and culture. In traditional culture art has always played a role an important role in close relationship to the land and sky. Interpreting spirituality and celebrating life in stories, dance, music and visual arts.
Westernisation in its intrinsic disrespect for mother-nature and indigenous society has been destructive. I observed that the apology on what is now known as sorry day was meaningful, a symbol of hope, to a lot of my people."
"I am an Aborignal descendent a mother a grandmother an artist/designer researcher. My main interest lately is gardening as the environment is our best teacher.
My experience as a multi/media artist has been varied. I have worked with many different types of media over the years from web design, computer graphics, costume, textile and graphic design. a Moomba festival float, book illustration, community mural projects, ceramics, co-ordination of projects, theatre and 5 years in aboriginal community radio. I believe that an artist must be true to oneself to nurture creatively one must also be versatile.
I spent many years engaged in researching our cultural history, ancestry and the impact of westernisation on our sacred land, people and culture. In traditional culture art has always played a role an important role in close relationship to the land and sky. Interpreting spirituality and celebrating life in stories, dance, music and visual arts.
Westernisation in its intrinsic disrespect for mother-nature and indigenous society has been destructive. I observed that the apology on what is now known as sorry day was meaningful, a symbol of hope, to a lot of my people."
Lance Briggs
A Kulin – Boonwurrung/ born in Yalukit Willam at Toorak. Well known member of the traditional owner family of the greater Melbourne area. Born on country, the lands of the Yalukit Willam – living his entire life in spiritual lands which are the metropolis of greater Melbourne.
Lance has been involved with family and country all his life. Involved with various Aboriginal/ Indigenous organisations, and Governments’ departments all over Australia (while living in Melbourne) for over 3 decades – at all levels, as a volunteer, a paid employee, a member of the Board of Directors, a consultant, and now as a consultant and entrepreneur.
An experienced government and economic analyst Lance takes a holistic view of society, government policy, and legal systems with an ability to interpret situations and apply traditional Boonwurrung/ Kulin philosophy and wisdoms and apply them to life in present day Australia.
In maintaining a strong cultural lifestyle, Lance can only live on country (which is his identity) as indigenous settlement is alien to his family and not an option.
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Thursday 26 May at 4:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Hawthorn Library,
584 Glenferrie Road,
Hawthorn
Contact: 9278 4666
Hawthorn Library,
584 Glenferrie Road,
Hawthorn
Contact: 9278 4666
