In 2022, M&G NSW’s IMAGinE Awards gave awards for both Outstanding Lifetime Contribution to NSW Aboriginal Culture, Heritage and Arts and for Excellence by an Aboriginal Curator

The 2022 ACHAA Award for Outstanding Lifetime Contribution to NSW Aboriginal Culture, Heritage and Arts

Uncle Clem Dodd and the Dharriwaa Elders Group

The Dharriwaa Elders Group (DEG) is an Aboriginal cultural organisation in Walgett that supports Elders’ wellbeing, protects Aboriginal cultural heritage and promotes Aboriginal cultural values, knowledge and identity.

Dharriwaa Elders Group was born in November 2000 after Elders had worked together on projects since 1998. The group takes its name from one of its sacred sites, Dharriwaa (Narran Lakes) which means common meeting place in Yuwaalaraay language.

DEG’s Full Members are Aboriginal people over 60 who live in Walgett. Uncle Clem Dodd joined in 2011, was elected as an Elders Councillor (i.e. a director) in 2013 and has served as its Speaker (i.e. chair) since the 2014 AGM. He is known and loved by all for his good humour, gentle manner and deep cultural and language knowledge which he is always generously willing to share.

DEG projects support Aboriginal Elders to resume leadership roles in the community, keeping active and healthy and interacting with the other generations of the Walgett Aboriginal community.

A large part of DEG’s work is to protect and support Aboriginal cultural heritage and values that are on Country – not just the waterways and landscapes but also in the lived daily experience of the Walgett Aboriginal community.

Cultural maintenance of Country is a regular activity for members. DEG has nominated Aboriginal Places under the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Act and undertaken many protection activities for Country, participating in parliamentary inquiries and leading advocacy.

The Dharriwaa Elders Group’s cultural collection is recognised as nationally significant and contains knowledge that its members strive to share through cultural engagement activities for the Walgett Aboriginal community and more broadly through exhibitions, publications and schools and community education activities.

Dharriwaa Elders Group has also contributed to Walgett’s economy through tourism support, including the Namoi River walking tracks and interpretative signs, scarred tree protective enclosure at the Barwon Inn, and Walgett’s first Aboriginal arts and crafts shop alongside its longstanding Keeping Place exhibition in the main street of Walgett.

The ACHAA award for Excellence by an Aboriginal Curator

Dr Bronwyn Bancroft
Made with Love
Boomalli Aboriginal Artists Co-operative

Dr Bronwyn Bancroft is a proud Bundjalung Woman and artist. A Founding Member of Boomalli Aboriginal Artists Co-operative (established 1987), Bancroft has been the Co-operative’s volunteer senior strategist since 2009. Made with Love was a retrospective of the life and work of Bundjalung-Munanjali Elder, Euphemia Bostock. The exhibition featured textiles, ceramics, sculpture, silk paintings, printing, and photography. Bancroft’s vision for the exhibition was to celebrate the diversity and longevity of Bostock’s artistic practice, bringing recognition to an important and consummate NSW Aboriginal Artist.

Other 2022 Nominees

Bethany Thornber on the bank on the brink
Cherie Johnson Maitland Cultural Resurgence
Kyra Kum-Sing Dennis Golding l Power