THE

RONATRANBY

TRUST

Supporting the Recording and Preservation of Indigenous Australian Oral History

The Rona Tranby Trust was established in 1991 and to date has given grants to 25 diverse projects from across Australia,

helping to preserve stories important to all Australians.

The Rona Tranby Trust - strengthening identity and community.

RONA TRANBY AWARD& COLLECTION

The Rona Tranby Trust acknowledges and pays respect to the Traditional Custodians and Elders of Australia,

past present and future, and to the continuation of their cultural, spiritual and educational practices.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are advised that this document contains

the names and images of people who are deceased.

The Rona Tranby TrustAustralian Light Horse Project

The current Rona Tranby Trust project is supporting 13 descendants of Indigenous World War I Light Horse soldiers to research their ancestors’ stories

through the oral history recording of family and community members.

The Rona Tranby Trust also funded the descendants travel to Israel in 2017 to take part in the Australian ‘National Service to commemorate the Centenary

of the Battle of Beersheba and the Sinai-Palestine Campaign’ on 31st October at Beersheba.

For the first time in 100 years, in the presence of the Prime Ministers of Australiaand Israel, many other dignitaries, international visitors and the local community

a wreath was laid by an Indigenous representative at the formal ceremony in honour of Indigenous servicemen who fought in the Campaign.

The Rona Tranby Trust hopes that that the Australian Light Horse Project will have positive and ongoing benefits for all those involved, either as participants,

organisers or supporters and that it will make a contribution to the historical and cultural record of World War I and to Reconciliation in Australia.

Australian Light Horse ProjectParticipants

Judith Ahmat(Allan McDonald)

Peta Flynn(Charles Stafford)

Ray Minniecon(James Lingwoodock)

Elise Amamoo(Frank Fisher)

Adrian Hepi(Harry Doyle)

Mischa Fisher(Frank Fisher)

Terry Hutchinson(Francis & Ernest Firth)

Ricky Morris(Frederick Lovett)

Doris Paton(David Mullett)

John Patten(Peter Ross - no photo)

Emily Roberts(Jack Stacey)

Lance Waters(Jack Stacey)

Angela Stanley(Alexander Stanley)

The Ancestors of the Participants

Francis Firth2nd LHR

Ernest Firth1st LHR

Charles Stafford12th LHR

Harry Doyle11th LHR

Allan McDonald8th LHR

Frank Fisher11th LHR

James Lingwoodock11th LHR

Frederick Lovett4th LHR

David Mullett1st RU, ALH

Jack Stacey12th LHR

Alexander Stanley11th LHR

The Western Heritage Group

The inaugural Award supported recordings taken while camping out on Keewong Country in far western NSW. The memories of Liza Kennedy (1902 -1996) and reflections of succeeding generations inspired the special book ‘Yamakarra! Liza Kennedy and the Keewong Mob.’

Kevin Cookwith Heather Goodall

The Award funded recording Kevin Cook’s conversations with 45 black and white activists. The recordings and research formed the basis of the book, ‘Making Change Happen’ which is a unique window into a dynamic time in the politics and history of Australia.

Kath Mills with Barbara Mills& Barbara Malarndirri McCarthy

Kath, working with the Stolen Generation Litigation Unit of the North Australian Aboriginal Legal Aid Service, received the Award to complete an oral history and video with Lily Kruger, one of the oldest survivors of the Emerald River, Groote Eylandt home for children.

Sylvia Scottwith Di Ritch

The Award enabled Sylvia to tell the story of the Mac Silva Centre, a refuge for homeless Indigenous men. Sylvia envisaged that the stories and achievements of the centre would encourage similar places to be set up in her community.

Older Women’s Network (NSW) Aboriginal Support Network

This Network interviewed and recorded 15 Indigenous women for the inspiring book: ‘Steppin’ Out and Speakin’ Up’. The Award provided most of the funding and sale proceeds established the Lynn Pollock Scholarship supporting an Indigenous student at Tranby.

Isabel Flick AMwith Heather Goodall

Isabel was a Gamilaraay woman and activist from north western NSW and her story spans 20th century Australian race relations. The research funded by the Award resulted in a milestone book, ‘Isabel Flick: the many lives of an extraordinary Aboriginal woman’.

Previous Recipients of the Rona Tranby Award

Northern Territory Archives Service (NTAS)with Francis Good

The Award funded travel for Francis, manager of the oral history unit of the NTAS to go to Ti Tree, north of Alice Springs, and interview and record three senior Anmatjere Elders: Big Billy Woods, Ted Carter and Eric Pananka. Copies are held by the community and the NTAS.

Albert Williamswith Julie Cracknell,Hetti Perkins and Nigel Parbury

Albert has been an outback shearer, fettler, pub worker and a Director of Tranby. The Award enabled his stories to be recorded into an informative book along with his life story, poems and paintings – ‘Once Upon a Long Ago: my life in the bush and the city’.

Beryl Carmichaelwith Jennie Kerr

Beryl is an Elder of the Ngiyeempaa (also Ngypampa) people and Wongibauwn language, and its last fluent speaker. The Award supported the oral history recordings of Beryl’s life story, which will be the basis of a book ‘The Footsteps of a Ngiyeempaa Elder’.

Elverina Johnson,from the Kunganji people,Nth Queensland

Elverina curated with the QPAC Museum a fascinating exhibition about Indigenous bands formed in the early 1900s - ‘Blow ‘im: The Story of the Yarrabah Brass Band’. The Award assisted with travel to Cairns for interviews with the remaining members of the Band.

Yidumduma Bill Harney, Paul Taylor and Yubulyawan Dreaming Project (YDP)

Yidumduma, Elder of the Wardaman People, has worked with Paul since 2004, documenting rock art, sacred sites, creation stories, songs, language, law, medicine and indigenous wisdom. The Award funded fieldwork and processing this for the excellent YDP website.

Max Dulumunmun Harrison with Peter McConchie

Max is an Elder of the Yuin Nation (south coast NSW). The Award funded recording on Country of Max’s story. A photographic book ‘My People’s Dreaming’, was based on these recordings, with stories of Creation Dreaming, bush lore, healing, law and spirituality.

Previous Recipients of the Rona Tranby Award

Administered by Music & Opera Singers Trust Limited | ABN 39 099 699 309Level 4 Culwulla Chambers 67 Castlereagh Street SYDNEY NSW 2000 Australia

t +61 (0)2 9231 4293 f +61 (0)2 9221 8201 e info@ronatranby.org.au w www.ronatranby.org.au

The Rona Tranby Trust was set up over twenty years ago and its continued existence, indeed its very survival is due to the strong support of a network of volunteers and sponsors.

Volunteers lend their wide range of experience and skills to the Trust. Examples of the expertise offered are project management, marketing, book layout and design

and oral history techniques. The practical skill sets required are long and varied and each volunteer is essential to the success of the Trust and the oral history it supports.

We also really appreciate those who support us with sponsorship, bequests or donations, which are equally essential to continuing the work of the Rona Tranby Trust. Without these funding sources, much of our important work is impossible.

We thank our supporters and sponsors and we welcome all offers of assistance.

Thank Youto our Generous Sponsors

Australian Department of Social ServicesAustralian Department of Veteran Affairs

Australian War MemorialCentenary of Anzac Jewish ProgramExecutive Council of Australian Jewry

Jewish National Fund AustraliaNSW Jewish War Memorial

NSW Jewish Board of DeputiesPratt FoundationSchoulal Family

Tranby National Indigenous Adult Education and Training

Deidre BearJudith KayeJohn Roth

Roland GridigerSylvia LeeserJillian Segal