The DjaDjaWurung Story http://www.yarrahealing.melb.catholic.edu.au/kulin/djadjawrung.html

Aboriginal Corporations
Mimbank Nations Ph; (03) 9486 9155

ATSIC: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission
Level 26, 2 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne 3000 Ph: 1800 034 403 http://www.atsic.gov.au

AAV: Aboriginal Affairs Victoria: The Victorian Government's central point of advice on all aspects of Aboriginal affairs in Victoria http://www.nre.vic.gov.au/aav
75-79 Chetwynd St, Nth Melbourne, Vic 3051
Phone: (03) 9321 5300 Fax: (03) 9326 4075 Mobile: 0414 069 309
Email: nmoxham@mnac.com.au
Lex Dodd (Change Manager) 1st Floor, 412 Johnston Street
Abbotsford Vic 3067 Tel: 03 9321 5300 Fax: 03 9326 4075

For issues concerning Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander social justice; Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission Putting reconciliation back on the table. http://www.hreoc.gov.au

Indigenous Protected Areas Funding; Funding is available to establish Indigenous Protected Areas on Indigenous owned lands and for promoting Indigenous involvement in State and Territory government managed protected areas http://www.ea.gov.au/indigenous/ipa/funding

The MABO Ruling - The High Court of Australia (Supreme Court) handed down its Mabo ruling in 1992 stating that the policy of terra nullius a land belonging to no-one, uninhabited by humans was not valid and that the aborigines were the first human occupants of Australia. The common law, originally founded on custom and tradition is the British system of judge-made law, based on precedent. It is over 800 years old. Native title is not a new type of law grant but a common law right that pre-dates the European settlement of Australia.

Native Title Report 2001; Native title is the term used by Australia's High Court to describe the common law rights and interests of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in land according to their traditions, laws and customs http://www.hreoc.gov.au Native Title Act; http://www.nntt.gov.au

History of Australian Aboriginal Religion/Spiritual Beliefs http://www.members.tripod.com/siekman/religion

Estimates by anthropologists put the population of Australian Aborigines before 1770 at more than 300,000. They spoke 500 different languages grouped in thirty-one related language families. The DjaDjaWurung Aboriginal tribe are undoubtedly, Bendigo’s first occupants! When Captain Cook discovered Australia in 1770 the DjaDjaWurrung tribe had over 1,000 members Today however, the tribe has been drastically reduced to only 3 family's of which are directly descendant from the original tribe. Learn about these ancient and spiritual people whilst enjoying any of the following tour activities; Fishing - Yabbying - Rabbitting with Ferrets or choose to Go Prospecting - Bushwalking You’ll hunt, prospect or walk on traditional aboriginal hunting grounds, where you’ll see many scarred trees traditionally used for making tools, utensils, shields, spears and other implements. Visit Aboriginal cultural sites, including the Sacred Maternity Tree, which is estimated to be around 700 years old.

I AM AUSTRALIAN LYRICS (Bruce Woodley and Dobe Newton) I came from the dream time, from the dusty red soil plains, I am the ancient heart - the keeper of the flame, I stood upon the rocky shore, I watched the tall ships come, For forty thousand years I'd been the first Australian. We are one but we are many And from all the lands on earth we come, we share a dream, And sing with one voice, I am, you are, we are Australian. I came upon the prison ship bound down by iron chains I cleared the land, endured the lash and waited for the rains. I'm a settler, I'm a farmer's wife on a dry and barren run A convict then a free man, I became Australian. I'm the daughter of a digger who sought the mother lode The girl became a woman on the long and dusty road I'm a child of the depression, I saw the good times come I'm a bushy, I'm a battler, I am Australian. We are one but we are many And from all the lands on earth we come, we share a dream, And sing with one voice, I am, you are, we are Australian. I'm a teller of stories, I'm a singer of songs I am Albert Namatjira, and I paint the ghostly gums I am Clancy on his horse, I'm Ned Kelly on the run I'm the one who waltzed Matilda, I am Australian. I'm the hot wind from the desert, I'm the black soil of the plains I'm the mountains and the valleys, I'm the drought and flooding rains I am the rock, I am the sky, the rivers when they run The spirit of this great land, I am Australian. We are one but we are many And from all the lands on earth we come, we share a dream, And sing with one voice, I am, you are, we are Australian.