Respecting Elders

During past NAIDOC Week celebrations, Shannon Faulkhead remembers Elders being driven in cars alongside those marching on foot into Melbourne CBD. Elders play a vital role in Aboriginal communities as knowledge holders. Elders hold information about Country, culture and language, which is transferred to other members of the community. 

Tony Lovett, Len Tregonning, Shannon Faulkhead, Michelle Smith

"I used to drive the Aunties down for their Koorie women's health meetings and the Tripartite health meetings and drop them off, go do a class at Ballarat and then go back and join them."

"...so I drove down different Aunties at different times. One time it was Aunty Alice [Maree Clarke's mother]..."

Shannon Faulkhead (9 December 2020)

Aunty Eleanor Harding, Aunty Alice Clarke (Maree Clarke's mother), Aunty Merle Jackomos (nee Morgan), Aunty Liz

"See... these... four Aunties. [They] would have been in a car or a bus driving along and then they'd stop at certain points and get out."

Shannon Faulkhead (9 December 2020)

Elders in car on tramline along Nicholson Street

"Also the car down the side... they used to take the Elders in buses and vehicles... Alongside the... group."

Shannon Faulkhead (9 December 2020)