Stars & Songlines: a celebration of Yaegl Sky Stories

astronomy, stargazing, music, language, film, stories, awe & connection

4 EVENTS, 2 DAYS, 1 NIGHT _ MAY 11 & 12

Yaegl Elders invite you to an introduction to understandIng Aboriginal Science and Astronomy, and their connection to Aboriginal Culture and Practice

All events are free and donations are very welcome

EVENT ONE

Saturday afternoon 11 May_1.00-6.30pm_Maclean Show Ground, Rocky Mouth & Jim Thompson Pavilions

Presentations, Cultural Practice and Afternoon Tea (bring a share plate)

Dr Bob Fuller returns to Maclean and our Yaegl Elders who shared their cultural knowledge with him as he researched his PHD: stars and songlines of the saltwater Aboriginal peoples of the NSW coast.

Joining Bob in presenting and yarning are esteemed astronomy, astrophysics and cultural knowledge friends:

Prof Ghillar Michael Anderson: is the senior Lawman and knowledge-holder for the Euahlayi Nation, and co-author of ‘The First Astronomers', who generously shared his ancient knowledge of the universe in feature documentary ‘Star Stories of The Dreaming’

Dr Duane Hamacher: is Associate Professor of Cultural Astronomy at the University of Melbourne. He researches the astronomy of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and published the book ‘The First Astronomers', 2022.

Prof Ray Norris: studies radio galaxies at the edge of the observable Universe, and researches the intellectual achievements of ancient Aboriginal astronomers. He has published the books ‘Graven Images’ and ‘Emu Dreaming’.

Dr Jodi Edwards: is a Yuin woman with Dharawal kinship connection. Her current major project is reawakening whale songlines using her gift as a story sharer to research the relationships connecting dolphins, orcas, humpback and southern right whales with Land, Sea and Sky Stories: Unbroken Whispers – The ripples connecting sea kin.

Dr Chels Marshall: is a Gumbaynggirr saltwater woman and a leading Indigenous Ecologist who has worked on large-scale environmental projects, and applied marine research and studies in Australia, the Pacific and the United States. Her current project is: Unbroken Whispers – The ripples connecting sea kin.

They join our Yaegl, Bundjalung and Gumbaynggirr Elders to share this knowledge with our Clarence Valley community.

EVENT TWO

Saturday evening 11 May_7.00-9.30pm_Maclean Lookout Stargazing

5 large telescopes with general and cultural astronomy and astrophysics guides

Port Macquarie Astronomical Association: Robert, Dennis, Mike and Dusty share their knowledge of the night sky as Maclean Lookout becomes a remote site for the Port Macquarie Observatory, which has been running for over 60 years and later in 2024 their new $5million observatory will be opening (portastronomy.com.au)

Dr Dimitri Douchin: with an Astronomy & Astrophysics PHD he is currently focused on Cultural Astronomy as an Adjunct Fellow at Western Sydney University, and this passion is experienced through his company bluemountainsstargazing.com.au

Dr Bob Fuller: with laser will point out Cultural knowledge, including the Emu

Transport to the Maclean Lookout

A shuttle bus will run from Maclean Bowling Club to the Lookout, return, and ticket holders will be emailed a time and instructions prior to the event. If booked in groups we will endeavour to schedule you at the same time. We envisage a return trip to be maximum half an hour. Only special needs ticket holders will be cleared to drive to the lookout, which will be closed to the public during this event.

EVENT THREE

Saturday evening 11 May_7.00-11.00pm_Maclean Bowling Club

Yaegl, Gumbaynggirr and Bundjalung musicians

The McLeays:
Kerri McLeay & Kushali McLeay take the stage together, treating us to their individual performances and Yaegl blood harmonies.

Manduway & The Black Figs: Gumbaynggirr and Barkindji singer/songwriter he transports his audience with multi lingual lyrics, warm vocals and silky piano skills, and has found empowerment in performing his own music influenced by his indigenous heritage.

Mitch King: Yaegl and Bundjalung artist whose work traverses hip-hop, dance, music and creative writing, including: the celebrated hip-hop trio Teddy Lewis King, NORPA Associate Producer and Associate Artist, and he is on the cusp of a month residency in New York

Mr Rhodes: Bundjalung man, founding member of the celebrated hip-hop trio Teddy Lewis King, and musical alchemist, Mr Rhodes makes soulful drenched future hip-hop with unparalleled energy and tenacity

The Recognisers: led by Yaegl man Michael Birk, they were hailed by Turbo Entertainment Group: "with their Potpourri of poetic, bilingual lyrics backed by Jazzy chords and a sparse groove laid down by a solid rhythm section, they were pure bliss at the gig."

EVENT FOUR

Sunday 12 May_10.00am -12.30pm_Yamba Cinema

90 min feature documentary: Star Stories of The Dreaming

When the ancient wisdoms of the universe held by the oldest culture on earth meet modern astrophysics a new concept is born – cultural astronomy.

Increasingly Aboriginal people in Australia are being recognised as the first astronomers.

In the meeting of minds between Prof Ray Norris, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) astrophysicist project leader of the Evolutionary Mapping of the Universe (EMU), and Prof Ghillar Michael Anderson, leader of the Euahlayi people of north-west New South Wales, extraordinary parallels emerge in the two cultures – such as 'wormholes' and the pathway to Bullima, the Euahlayi Sky Camp, via the hollow Coolabah tree.

In Star Stories of The Dreaming, Ghillar shares teachings passed to him as the knowledge holder for his people, the Euahlayi (pronounced you-wally-yay)

Source: Star Stories of The Dreaming (Film) - Creative Spirits, retrieved from https://www.creativespirits.info/resources/movies/star-stories-of-the-dreaming

Pre film yarn: Prof Uncle Ghillar Michael Anderson, Prof Ray Norris and Dr Duane Hamacher

Post film Q&A: Prof Uncle Ghillar Michael Anderson and filmmaker Ellie Gilbert

Yamba Cinema snack bar will be open, so please arrive early if you would like to purchase snacks, water, coffee etc as outside food or drinks are not permitted at the Cinema. Thank you for your cooperation.