Barbara McGrady at Aperture Australia Photo Conference

Some images of Gomeroi photojournalist, Barbara McGrady, at the Aperture Photography Conference at the International Convention Centre in Darling Harbour. Also pictured with photographer and keynote speaker, Stephen Dupont.

Shot on a Nikon F2AS, Kodak Tri-X 35mm black and white film.

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Six Quick Chicks

Comedy Cabaret troupe, Six Quick Chicks, performed at the East Sydney Community and Arts Centre on Saturday night to a full house.

Performances from Vashti and Christa Hughes, Celia Curtis, Kira Hu La , Leonie Cohen, Lucy Suze Taylor, Jude Bowler and Claire Anastopoulos.

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15 Years Too Long - TJ Hickey Petition Presented For Parliament

On Thursday, Gail Hickey, mother of T.J. Hickey, and her family and supporters, presented a petition with over 12,000 signatures to Greens MP, David Shoebridge, triggering a formal mention in the NSW Parliament. The petition seeks to reinstate the inquiry into T.J.’s death.

In 2004, T.J. Hickey, then 17, was killed during a police pursuit in Redfern. His family has always maintained a police cover up in the matter.

The signatures were collected over the past months and was supported by the Indigenous Social Justice Association (ISJA), Sydney.

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Another Roll of 35mm Film

An assortment of shots from a roll of Kodak Tri-X black and white film.

Shot on a Contax IIIa, 50mm f1.5

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Demolition of The Block Continues

The historic Aboriginal Flag mural at The Block has come down as the demolition of the area continues to make way for student housing.

The Block in the inner-Sydney suburb of Redfern, has served as an important site for Aboriginal communities since pre-Colonial times.

During the 1970s, it was the centre of an Aboriginal political and social renaissance that had influence across Australia and which still reverberates today.

In 2015, after much of the Aboriginal community was moved out and as the site was earmarked for redevelopment, an activist campaign led by Aunty Jenny Munro, set up the Redfern Aboriginal Tent Embassy, occupying the site in a 16-month protest. As a result, 62 apartments within the development were promised as low-cost housing for Aboriginal families. Nevertheless, plans for the redevelopment proceeded.

Today, the last remnants of what was The Block were knocked down as excavation of the site forged ahead.

With the foundations soon to be sunk, construction of the massive 24-story student apartment complex will now begin in earnest.

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Climate Strikes and Beyond

In the wake of the recent Federal election, a panel convened at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) to discuss and reconsider the future of social change and impact in Australia, with particular focus on Aboriginal issues, the climate and mining.

The student-led climate strikes were identified as a contemporary model to realise social change and ‘climate jobs’ as a key driver of economic and political change. It was argued that Aboriginal issues, perspectives and voices should lead such discussions and developments.

The Panel included:

  • Chair: Jason De Santolo, Garrwa, Associate Prof. Indigenous Research, school of Design

  • Gadrian Hoosan

  • Nancy Yukuwal McDinny - Borroloola Elder

  • Scott McDinny - Garrwa and Yanyuwa, SEED Indigenous Youth Climate Network

  • Padraic Gibson - Activist at UTS, Jumbunna Researcher

  • India Pardoel - School Strike 4 Climate

Further info from the organisers:

Call for a global climate strike September 20: https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/may/23/greta-thunberg-young-people-climate-strikes-20-september

Scott and Nancy have been in Sydney with other family from Borroloola to premiere the film "Warburdar Bununu: Water Shield", documenting their struggle against destruction of waterways by mining and the impending threat of fracking:
http://www.watershield.com

An article about the Gamilaraay delegation to the last climate strike on March 15, supported by UTS staff
https://jumbunna.institute/2019/03/27/walgett-delegation-addresses-student-climate-strike-on-the-nsw-river-crisis/

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A Photo Shoot with Model and My Mum, Star

Playing around with some strobe lighting and my mother happened to be on hand as my model for the day.

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Shhhhh! 5 - The Final Performance

Photos from the 5th and final in a series of silent street theatre performances produced by Vashti Hughes, critiquing Sydney’s draconian lockout laws and policing regimes which have impacted on cultural expression, night life and quality of life.

Performed outside the Piccolo Bar in Kings Cross, Sydney.

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Message Stick Walker Arrives in Canberra, Ngunnawal

Alwyn Doolan, The Message Stick Walker, arrived in Canberra, Ngunnawal country, on the weekend, after a trek of over 8,500 kms from Bamaga in far north Queensland. His historic 12-month walk travelled through over 50 first nations, gathering and imparting knowledge along the way.

Alwyn is a Gooreng Gooreng Wakka Wakka man and Yunyiddee (Aboriginal Messenger), inspiring cultural connection and connection to land amongst his people, as well as healing for broader Australia. He carries with him three message sticks, “that represent the three stages of Australia’s story - creation, colonisation and healing”. A statement by Alwyn Doolan can be found here.

His arrival to the outskirts of Canberra on Saturday was met with a Ngunnawal Welcome to Country smoking ceremony and a group of family members and supporters, some of whom have accompanied part of the trek along the route and others who have followed Alwyn’s journey on Facebook. After the smoking, the contingent walked through Canberra’s CBD to the Aboriginal Tent Embassy, located in front of Old Parliament House. The group was escorted over the last few kilometres by the Indigenous (motorcyle) Riders Club and cheered in to the Embassy by Aboriginal elders and other supporters.

The following day, after a yarning circle at the Embassy, Alwyn collapsed - a result of the physical, emotional, psychological and spiritual toll of his epic journey. He was nursed back to health that day and recovered after a night’s sleep.

The next morning, Monday, Alwyn, his family and supporters marched from the Aboriginal Tent Embassy, up to the doors of Parliament House proper, to present a Statement of Intention to the Australian Government. The statement was read on the forecourt of Parliament House.

Alwyn plans to present the message sticks and tribal law notice to the new, incoming Australian Government, once sworn in, after which, his journey will continue.

Donations to the Message Stick Walk can be made here.

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Salt, Sand and Sky

Some images playing around with different film stock at Sydney’s eastern beaches - Bondi and Coogee.

Shot on a Hasselblad 503 CXi, Ilford SFX 200 and Ilford Fp4 125, black and white, medium format 120 film.

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Claire

Photoshoot with the lovely Claire.

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Raymond and Christine's Wedding

Djab Wurrung Embassy

Images from the Djab Wurrung Embassy, just outside Ararat in Victoria’s south west.

The protest camp and embassy was set up by Djab Wurrung man, D.T. Zellanach and partner Amanda 12 months ago to protect ancient birthing and other sacred trees which Vic Roads want to bulldoze to make way for the expansion of the Great Western Highway.

Last month, a large police presence was told to stand down in lieu of an application to the Federal court to appeal the decision of the Federal Environment minister to reject a heritage order protecting the trees, some of which are estimated to be more than 800 years old. In total, around 260 trees are earmarked for destruction. The trees are culturally significant to the Djab Wurrung people.

The Embassy is seeking assistance of all kinds to support their cause, including an online petition and help on site stationing at the Embassy.

Update, July 2019: In breaking news, as the decision of the Federal Court is about to be released, founder of the Embassy, D.T. Zellanach has just been arrested and removed from the Embassy. He is currently in lock-up in Melbourne and has been refused bail. Protesters are camped outside the lock-up demanding his release.

Update, 22nd of August 2019: The Federal Court did not uphold the appeal to place a heritage order on the trees. As a result, Vic Roads placed an eviction order on the campsites. Police and workers are on the cusp of moving in to clear the camp, fell the trees and begin roadworks. In the last days, more than 200 people have travelled to the Embassy to protect the site. D.T. Zellanach has called on more supporters to gather at the Embassy. Stay tuned for more news from this frontline.

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Stop Adani Convoy - Canberra

Yesterday, 5,000 people turned up to Parliament House in Canberra as the final leg of the Stop Adani Convoy wound up. Organised through the Bob Brown Foundation, the convoy travelled to Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Clermont in Central Queensland.

The event kicked off with a smoking ceremony at the Aboriginal Tent Embassy with attendees then marching up to the lawns in front of Parliament House.

Speakers at the rally called on both major parties to halt the giant Adani mine, scheduled to be one of the largest coal mines in the world. The rally featured a range of speakers including writer Richard Flanagan, student activists Tahlia Mullins and Tess Carlton, traditional owner from the Babinburra clan of the Wangan and Jagalingou People of Central Queensland Adrian Burragubba, musician Paul Kelly and ex-Greens leader and environmental activist, Bob Brown.

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Frontiers War Commemoration

Images from today’s annual ANZAC Day Frontiers Wars March to the Australian War Memorial in Canberra, Ngunnawal, commemorating Aboriginal deaths during the Frontiers Wars.

The Frontiers Wars marks the series of resistance wars between various Aboriginal peoples and invading British forces from 1770 onwards. Estimates of Aboriginal deaths resulting from these wars range, conservatively, anywhere from 20,000 to 65,000. Some estimate a far greater toll, into the millions.

The Frontiers Wars March is not recognised by official ANZAC Day proceedings, and so the contingent is not allowed to participate in the march up to the War Memorial along side Australian troops. Instead, they march behind the offical parade and must wait behind a fenced off area until they are permitted to lay a wreath along side the general public once the ANZAC Day proceedings come to an end.

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Smoking at the Embassy for Those Passed

Leslie John Coe, (Wiradjuri-Ngunnawal), Alfred Walker (Yuin) and Daniel Boney (Gomeroi) were honoured today at the Aboriginal Tent Embassy fire.

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Shhhhh! 4

Photos from the 4th in a series of silent street theatre performances produced by Vashti Hughes, critiquing Sydney’s draconian lockout laws and policing regimes which have impacted on cultural expression, night life and quality of life.

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Ayesha

Legendary drag performer, long-time Les Girls member and Kings Cross identity, Ayesha.

Images taken in the studio and at home.

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