Warangesda Aboriginal Mission
Art and Historical Exhibition
WARNING: This booklet contains images of Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people who are now deceased.
This is a celebration of a special event and is provided as a record of the history of a prominent place in Aboriginal contemporary history.
Acknowledgements
Rev. John Brown Gribble – responsible for establishing the former Warangesda Aboriginal Mission in 1880.
The Aboriginal people who helped establish, moved on, were born on, were raised on, died on and were forcibly removed from the former Warangesda Aboriginal Mission.
Jeff and Rohan King and families – who own and have maintained a strong family connection to the property since 1926, and who continue to allow access to the former Aboriginal mission site particularly for descendants of Warangesda.
Dr Peter Kabaila – preparation of content for the exhibition and historical storyboards.
The Articulate Pear – exhibition and historical storyboard design, booklet design, and production assistance.
Graham Inglis, Precision Signs in Wagga Wagga – exhibition and historical storyboard print production.
Brett Naseby, Photographer – photography of exhibited artwork and launch event.
Cover and Inside Front Cover: Detail of corrugated iron from the Warangesda Girls Dormitory. Photo by Brett
Naseby.
© Warangesda Project Working Group, 2018. All rights reserved. Except as permitted under the Australian Copyright Act 1968 (for example, a fair dealing for the purposes of study, research, criticism or review), no part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, communicated or transmitted in any form or by any means without prior written permission.
Background to the Project
Warangesda has always held strong significance to many Aboriginal people throughout New South Wales, Australia and in fact across the world.
This project started through a conversation with Aunty Heather Edwards of Darlington Point in 2016. Aunty Heather’s mother, Isabel Edwards, was born and raised on the former Warangesda Aboriginal Mission at Darlington Point, and Aunty Heather has strong connections to Warangesda. That conversation came up with an idea of doing an exhibition that showcased the history and heritage of the old Aboriginal Mission.
The project idea was presented to Raina Savage and Raymond Wholohan at the Griffith Regional Art Gallery who expressed dedicated support and interest in assisting with the project. A working group was then formed to guide the development of the project.
The project expanded to include an Aboriginal art component with support from the Western Riverina Arts. Dr. Peter Kabaila, archaeologist, architect, historian and heritage advisor, was engaged to prepare the historical and informative story boards.
The exhibition was launch in 2 parts. The ‘Art Exhibition’ component titled Warangesda: Deep Waters was launched on 16 June 2017 and the ‘Historical Exhibition’ was launched on 6 July 2017. The exhibition was presented at three separate locations – the Griffith Regional Art Gallery, Regional Library and Regional Theatre. The exhibition was also taken to the Narrandera Regional Art Centre. Overall the exhibition was visited by over 3,000 people.
Gary Currey
Aboriginal Joint Management Coordinator, West Branch
NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (on behalf of the Warangesda Project Working Group)
Funding Partners
This project was jointly funded by the Commonwealth and NSW State/Local Governments.
The major funding partner was the Commonwealth Department of Prime Minister & Cabinet (PM&C) – Indigenous Affairs Group who contributed a significant amount of resources under the Indigenous Advancement Strategy (IAS) ‘Culture and Capability’ theme. The funding has supported the exhibition, development of a Warangesda website, Warangesda Oral History Recording and Warangesda Tours.
Other funding partners included:
• Griffith City Council – Regional Art Gallery and Regional Theatre
• NSW Western Riverina Arts
• NSW Office of Environment and Heritage – National Parks and Wildlife Service
Proudly developed with funding from the Australian Government
Project Working Group
Karen Davy, CEO Leeton and District Local Aboriginal Land Council
Robert Carroll, CEO Griffith Local Aboriginal Land Council
Tamileigh Chirgwin, Coordinator, Waddi Housing and Advancement Corporation
Stephen Collins, Bringing Them Home Worker, Griffith Aboriginal Medical Service
Anthony Edwards, Aboriginal Police Liaison Officer, NSW Police
Graham Kilby, Aboriginal Community Member
Raina Savage, Manager, Griffith Regional Art Gallery and Theatre
Raymond Wholohan, Coordinator, Griffith Regional Art Gallery
Jo-anne Southorn, Public Programs Officer, Griffith Regional Art Gallery
Derek Motion, Regional Arts Development Officer, Western Riverina Arts Inc.
Ethan Williams, Senior Heritage Operations Officer, OEH Heritage Division
Gary Currey, Aboriginal Joint Management Coordinator, OEH National Parks and Wildlife Service
Heather Edwards, Aboriginal Community Elder
Craig McIver, Senior Engagement Officer, Indigenous Affairs Group (Western Region NSW), Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet
Roger Penrith, Aboriginal Liaison Officer, Griffith City Council
Warangesda: Deep Waters
In 2016 Western Riverina Arts partnered with the Griffith Regional Art Gallery in applying for an Aboriginal Regional Arts Fund grant through Create NSW. Success with the funding allowed for a number of workshops to be conducted with local Aboriginal artists, working towards the outcome of an exhibition, which would tour to the Griffith Regional Art Gallery and the Narrandera Arts Centre.
This exhibition was to become the creative arts component of Warangesda: Deep Waters. The exhibition examined the history and legacy of the Warangesda Mission at Darlington Point, a significant cultural site for the Wiradjuri People. The project ended up including partnerships between Western Riverina Arts, the Griffith Regional Art Gallery and National Parks and Wildlife Service, in collaboration with the Aboriginal Medical Centre, Murrumbidgee Shire Council, Waddi Housing and Leeton and District Local Aboriginal Land Council and Youth Off The Streets.
Over the course of 2016/17 Aboriginal artists participated in a number of skills development workshops, and also visited the Warangesda site, reacting to the remains of the original Mission and pondering their personal connections to the surrounding landscape while creating new works. Well-known Aboriginal artists who came in to lead individual workshops included Dr. Treahna Hamm (working with young people from Griffith), Melanie Evans (who led creative workshops with a group of women from Darlington Point), the Wagga Hands On Weavers, and Kerry Johnson (who choreographed a site-specific dance routine that featured as a video work in the final exhibition). Individual works from local Aboriginal artists with connections to Warangesda were also accepted for display in the exhibition, such as prints by Roy Kennedy.
As local Wiradjuri elder Aunty Heather Edwards noted:
The arts component of Warangesda: Deep Waters endeavoured to showcase the history, significance and ongoing legacy of the Warangesda site. The exhibition indeed became a point of reflection for anyone related to former residence of the Mission or anyone interested in contemporary Aboriginal art or the history of the Western Riverina Region.
It’s such an important site for local Aboriginal people and beyond. I’m very glad there has been a recent interest in Warangesda Mission and its legacy.
Exhibiting Artists
AMS Women’s Group
Will Carter
Veronica Collins
Treahna Hamm
Joyce Hampton
Shaleen Harris
Roy Kennedy
Allan McKenzie
Cory McKenzie
Dianne McKenzie
M.A.K.E. Darlington Point Womens Group
Tynieka Powell
Veronica Reid
Ezra and Elaina Simpson
Kyeesha Simpson
Lakeesha Simpson
Rodney Simpson
Tamia Simpson
Robert Sloane
Strong Girls Group
Lorraine Tye
Bill Wallace / Faye Clayton Moseley
The Exhibition
01. AMS Women’s Group
Murrumbidgee Yellow Belly
Weaving
02. Will Carter
Invaded Dreaming: Incarcerated on Sacred Land (2017)
Acrylic on linen
Will Carter Not Forgotten Acrylic on canvas
Will Carter Sacred Ashes Acrylic on canvas
Veronica Collins
Warangesda: Now & Then
Mixed media on canvas
06. Treahna Hamm
Big Water Shield Colour etching
Treahna Hamm
Distant Memories
Linoprint on dyed silk
08. Treahna Hamm
Forever & Always
Work on paper - gouache
09. Treahna Hamm
Internal Lessons
Work on paper - gouache
10. Treahna Hamm
Journey to Warangesda (2017) Linocut
11. Treahna Hamm
Lessons of the Spirits Work on paper - gouache
12. Treahna Hamm
Murrumbidgee Yabby
Sedge grass and synthetic string
Treahna Hamm Spirit River (2017) Linocut
14. Joyce Hampton Basket Raffia, seagrass
15. Joyce Hampton Basket Raffia, seagrass
16. Joyce Hampton
Large Basket Raffia, seagrass
17. Joyce Hampton
Large Basket (2014) Weaved and dyed raffia/seagrass
18. Joyce Hampton
Large Basket with Handle (2014) Natural raffia with paper coil
19. Joyce Hampton
Large Dilly Bag (2014) Plain and bush dyed raffia and seagrass
20. Joyce Hampton
Medium B asket (2014) Weaved raffia and seagrass
21. Joyce Hampton
Medium B asket (2014) Weaved cane
22. Joyce Hampton
Untitled (2014) Weaved and dyed raffia
23. Joyce Hampton
Untitled (2014) Weaved and dyed raffia
24. Joyce Hampton
Untitled (2014) Weaved and dyed raffia
25. Joyce Hampton
Untitled (2014) Weaved raffia and seagrass
26. Joyce Hampton
Untitled (2014) Weaved raffia and seagrass
27. Joyce Hampton
Untitled (2014) Weaved raffia and seagrass
28. Shaleen Harris
Warangesda Meeting Place
Acrylic on canvas
29. Roy Kennedy
My Mission As I Liked It (2002)*
Drypoint etching
30. Roy Kennedy
My Original Mission –
Darlington Point (1999)*
Drypoint etching
31. Roy Kennedy
Our Bridge on the Murrumbidgee (2003)*
Drypoint etching
32. Allan McKenzie
Memories
Acrylic on Canvas
33. Allan McKenzie
Pepper Tree Lane
Acrylic on canvas
34. Cory McKenzie
Campsite
Acrylic on canvas
35. Cory McKenzie
Corroboree Frog
Acrylic on canvas
Cory McKenzie
Willandra Moths
Dreaming 2
Acrylic on canvas
37. Diane McKenzie
Warangesda Back Burn
Acrylic on canvas
Diane McKenzie
Yella Belly
Acrylic on canvas
39. M.A.K.E. (Darlington Point)
Not Forgotten (2017)
Mixed media on found object
M.A.K.E. (Darlington Point)
Under this Constellation (2017)
Found objects
41. Tynelka Powell
Girls Dormitory
Bath Tub (2017)
Acrylic on canvas
42. Veronica Reid
Banishment
Acrylic and plant printed paper on canvas
43. Ezra and Elaina Simpson
Bidgee Platypus
Acrylic on canvas
44. Kyeesha Simpson
Gathering (2017) Acrylic on canvas
45. Lakeesha Simpson
Safe House Acrylic on canvas
41.
43.
46. Rodney Simpson
Didgeridoo (2017)
Handcut stained wood
47. Rodney Simpson
Didgeridoo (2017)
Handcut stained wood
48. Rodney Simpson
Extinct (2017)
Handcut stained wood
49. Rodney Simpson Greed (2017)
Handcut stained wood
50. Rodney Simpson
Hope (2017)
Handcut stained wood
Tamia Simpson
Road to Warangesda Acrylic on canvas
52. Robert Sloane B andharr Hunters Acrylic on canvas
53. Robert Sloane Budalang Guuya (Pelican & Fish) (2008) Acrylic on canvas
49.
53.
50.
48.
46–47. 52.
54. Robert Sloane
Dhinawan (Emu) (2010)
Acrylic on canvas board
55. Robert Sloane Goowaa Gadhi (Death Snake) (2008)
Acrylic on canvas
56. Robert Sloane
Tracking the Devil Dog (Dingo) (2008)
Acrylic on canvas
Robert Sloane Untitled (2008)
Acrylic on canvas
Strong Girls Group Warangesda (2017)
Site specific performance
59. Lorraine Tye Platter Palm frond and raffia
Lorraine Tye
Untitled Mixed media textile
Lorraine Tye
Untitled Mixed media textile
Lorraine Tye
Untitled Mixed media textile and found object
Lorraine Tye
Untitled Weaved palm
64. Bill Wallace and Faye Clayton Moseley Memories of the Past
Acrylic on canvas
56.
64.
59.
Art Exhibition Launch
Historical Exhibition Launch
Historical Elements
04(a).
04(b).
01. Framed image of Rev Gribble’s Headstone Collection of St Paul’s Church, Darlington Point
02. Baptismal Font from St. James’ Church Collection of Pioneer Park Museum
03. Warangesda Girls Dormitory chimney remains after fire Photo by Derek Motion, 2017
04. Warangesda Bible – (a) & (b) Collection of St Paul’s Church, Darlington Point
05. Diorama of Warangesda Mission Collection the Edwards Family
06. Dedication Plaque Collection of St Paul’s Church, Darlington Point
Photo by Gary Currey, 2017
07. Horse drawn sulky, Warangesda Mission Michael Walsh pictorial collection, 1980 AIATSIS
08. Objects from Warangesda site inspection by Peter Kabaila in 1993 Collection of Pioneer Park Museum
09. Replica of Chief’s Breastplate Collection of Peter Kabaila
10. Objects from Warangesda site inspection by Peter Kabaila in 1993 Collection of Pioneer Park Museum
11. Lock from Warangesda Mission Collection of Murrumbidgee Council
12. Ruler and Gear Stick from Warangesda Collection of Murrumbidgee Council
Storyboards Introduction
Dr. Peter Kabaila prepared and guided the development of the storyboards. A total of 19 boards were prepared for the main exhibition at the Griffith Regional Art Gallery.
The Exhibition storyboards consisted of the following themes:
Survival in pre-colonial Australia – Aboriginal people lived in partnership with the environment and only used what was needed
Violence on the settlement frontier – conflict occurred in many places as non-Aboriginal people spread and took over Aboriginal people’s county
Survival in 19th century Australia – Aboriginal people had to work with what was left, finding work, looking after family
John Gribble – self appointed saviour of Aboriginal people who established Warangesda
Jim Turner – came with Gribble from Maloga on the Murray River, helped establish Warangesda and last Aboriginal person to leave
The Mission as a Village – setup of self sufficiency
Order at the Mission – rules applied to everyone on the site
The Mission Church – Religion had a strong presence
Warangesda Girls Dormitory: The Model for Cootamunda Girls Home – young mothers and females in different areas to others
The First Generation – early days, Aboriginal people free to come and go
The Second Generation – harder rules through management by the Aboriginal Protection Board
Closure of Warangesda Aboriginal Station – numbers reduced and closed in 1924
King Family – won property through ballot, presence since 1927
Darlington Point Reserve – where Aboriginal people moved to the northern side of the Murrumbidgee River
Resettlement at “The Point” – Aboriginal people moved into Darlington Point to access services
Warangesda Aboriginal Servicemen – Aboriginal men who went to war alongside their non-Aboriginal brothers
Heather Edwards – maintains a strong connection and involvement in Warangesda
Five Historical storyboards were prepared for the Griffith Regional Library. These consisted of:
Sources for Warangesda Aboriginal Mission – historical records and interpretations of Warangesda by many people
History is told by a wide range of documents – records of photos, oral histories and movable heritage items
Finding original sources – many records are available through libraries, institutions, in hard copy and electronic form
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Contributors of supplementary content
• Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies
• National Library of Australia
• High Ground Consulting
• Philippa Scarlett – Indigenous Histories
• Heritage Darlington Point
• Beverley (Gulumbali) and the late Don Elphick
Pictured: Aerial view of the former Warangesda Aboriginal Mission site in 1993. Photo by Peter Kabaila.
Griffith Aboriginal Medical Service
Griffith Local Aboriginal Land Council
Leeton & District Local Aboriginal Land Council
WADDI HOUSING and Advancement Corporation Ltd.