Australian Museum loans cultural objects to the Museum of the Riverina’s new Wiradyuri Gallery
Seven culturally significant objects from the Australian Museum First Nations collection will be on display to the public when the new Wiradyuri Gallery opens at the redeveloped Museum of the Riverina Botanic Gardens site.
The seven objects, a parrying shield, a shovel and five clubs, have a deep connection to the area as they were all collected around the 1860s on Ganmain Station on Wiradjuri/Wiradyuri Country.
The selection of the long-term loan objects was undertaken in consultation with the Wagga Wagga-based Indigenous Reference Group Mawang Gaway, chaired by Aunty Isabel Reid. A ceremony was held at the Australian Museum on Tuesday 17 January to hand over the loan objects, with members of the Mawang Gaway Wiradyuri Gallery Reference Group, Museum of the Riverina staff representatives, and members of the Australian Museum’s First Nations Collection and Engagement team present.
It was followed by a closed ceremony on Wednesday 18 January to welcome the objects back onto Country, so local Wiradjuri/Wiradyuri community members could reconnect with the returned objects before the redeveloped Museum of the Riverina opens to the public at the end of February 2023.
Laura McBride, Director, First Nations, Australian Museum, a Wailwan and Kooma woman, said these objects
travelling back to Country is part of the Australian Museum’s commitment to facilitating long term loans to communities and regional museums to increase accessibility for Aboriginal peoples to their cultural objects.
"Undertaking long term loans is a way in which we can return objects back on Country, so they are more easily accessible to their communities,” McBride said.
“When museums loan objects, they also support the conservation, display and research of the objects. Through the loan of objects, museums also help regional museums that might not have the resources of the major cultural institutions.
“It’s so special these objects are going home; I look forward to seeing them displayed on their own Country and interpreted by their own peoples when the new gallery opens.”
The inclusion of these culturally significant objects in the new exhibition recognises the importance of collections returning to Country.
Wiradjuri/Wiradyuri Elder Aunty Cheryl Penrith said, “I am honoured to be a part of the return of these significant cultural objects from the Ganmain collection held at the Australian Museum back to the Museum of the Riverina on Wiradjuri/ Wiradyuri Country.
“I acknowledge and pay respect Yindyamarra to our ancestors. The Elders involved in the process are extremely
celebrate together: Australia Day 2023
Wagga Wagga’s Civic Centre cultural precinct will host the city’s Australia Day 2023 community events, bringing together a new First Nations opening event, awards ceremony, free community breakfast, and Citizenship Ceremony.
‘Mawang ngiyanhi bala Yarruwala –Together we are Strong and Mighty’, a free community event at the Wollundry Lagoon Amphitheatre, will be presented on Tuesday 24 January from 5pm.
This community event has been organised by Wollundry Dreaming, in partnership with the Australia Day 2023 Community Committee, supported by Council.
The event will open with a smoking ceremony followed by family-friendly activities including a cultural walk and a free community concert from 7pm.
Community members are encouraged to come along, bring their own chair and picnic, and enjoy a line-up of First Nations artists and performers.
The city’s Australia Day 2023 Awards Ceremony will be held at the Civic Theatre on the evening of Wednesday 25 January and will be emceed by Miss Wagga Wagga 2022, Jessikah McCarthy.
The Australia Day 2023 Community Committee supported by Council, has unveiled its plans for this year’s Australia Day event, and is committed to hosting a family friendly day for everyone.
On Thursday 26 January, residents will have the chance to share in the Australia Day activities at the Victory Memorial Gardens from 7am, with a free breakfast for the community, the Australia Day 2023 Citizenship Ceremony, and a program of activities for the whole family to enjoy.
Councillor Tout encourages people to bring along a picnic rug and chairs, and to mark the day in a way that’s meaningful to them.
The Wagga Wagga Multicultural Council will be providing both halal and vegetarian breakfast food options and members of the Kooringal Rotary will be cooking a barbecue breakfast from 7am to 9am.
There will be a live sandcastle sculpture demonstration where attendees can participate in creating their own sandcastle sculpture, a thong throwing competition, along with face painting and Australian themed biscuit decorating workshops for everyone to enjoy.
The Australia Day 2023 Citizenship Ceremony will commence at 9am, where the National Anthem will be performed by the four finalists in the National Anthem Competition: Chloe Swaffield, Gretel McDonnell, Caitlan Hall and Milly Golland.
The finalists will be accompanied by the Australian Army Band Kapooka. For more details go to wagga.nsw. gov.au/australiaday
Wagga Wagga City Council thanks road users for their patience as it forges ahead with its program of road rehabilitation works on key distributor roads across our local government area (LGA) over the next few months.
Work commenced earlier this week on two major thoroughfares in the northern and eastern parts of the city: Old Narrandera Road (between Pine Gully Road and the Olympic Highway), and Inglewood Road respectively.
Director Infrastructure Services Warren Faulkner said these works followed the repair of Mundowy Lane, which had been closed since the flooding events of October and November last year.
“We are pleased we could reopen Mundowy Lane to through traffic on Wednesday,” Mr Faulkner said.
“We know it provides an important link across the river between the Sturt Highway (west of Collingullie) and Old Narrandera Road particularly for farmers and residents in the villages on both sides of the Murrumbidgee.”
Council crews have also completed works on the section of Old Narrandera Road between Pine Gully Road and the Olympic Highway including a 100m section of Pine Gully Road linking with the Old Narrandera Road intersection. While the road opened to traffic on Friday evening, line marking is still to take place.
Mr Faulkner stressed these works are only an interim fix to remove the patchwork quilt of pothole repairs that were necessary following last year’s rain events.
“Contractors are also well underway with their rehabilitation works on the 2.4-kilometre stretch of Inglewood Road, east of Mitchell Road.”
The road works are being carried out between 6am and 6pm and are under the direction of traffic control.
There’s a new reason to celebrate the start of the school and university year: Wagga Wagga’s first ever Back to School Party.
This free event is open to all ages and will be held on Saturday 28 January at Chambers Park in Tolland, Wiradjuri Country, kicking off from 5pm. Come along for a chill afternoon with live music, free barbeque and drinks, giant lawn games, a quiet creative zone, popup library, and free school supplies.
Wheelchair accessible bathrooms will be available at the party and disability permit parking will be in the Chambers Park carpark. Council is also providing a free bus loop especially for the event.
The Back to School Party is an alcohol and drug free event proudly hosted and funded by Wagga Wagga City Council, sponsored by Mission Australia with the support of the Rapid Relief Team, Wellways Wagga Wagga and St Vincent de Paul – Riverina.
For more information visit wagga.nsw. gov.au/back-to-school-party
The
For information about road closures, visit wagga.nsw.gov.au/roadclosures
OLYMPICS
THU 26 JAN, 4PM TO 10PM
Romanos Hotel 81 Fitzmaurice St Ph: 02 6921 2013
CELEBRATE AUSTRALIA DAY
THU 26 JAN, 12PM
Wagga RSL Club, Cnr Kincaid & Dobbs Sts Ph: 02 6921 3624
MEGA RUN – SCHOOL HOLIDAYS AT THE OASIS
THU 26 JAN, 11AM TO 3PM
Morgan St Ph: 02 6926 9390