death of elder who supported birdwatchers in western Arnhem Land

On 12 August I attended the funeral of Mr. Burrunali of Mamadewerrie Outstation, western Arnhem Land. It was held at Gunbalanya (Oenpelli).

Mr. Burrunalli was one of thirty elders who supported birdwatchers coming to the area, even setting aside their best hunting billabong so that visitors would be safe. He and other elders took other, cultural, measures to ensure the safety of visitors as well.

For those interested in such matters I called Mr. Burrunali ’son’. I was invited to the funeral as the only relative remaining who stood in the relationship to him as ‘mother’ (his biological mother and her sister are deceased). One invitation, from my Mawah (step-grandson), read: “Kamak mawah come because you the last mum standing beside your two sister, the one always walk with you”.

I’m presently writing this up for the NT Field Naturalists’ newsletter if anyone is interested in further details.

Denise Lawungkurr Goodfellow
PO Box 71
Darwin River, NT, Australia 0841
043 8650 835