Madonna - May/June 2007

I will pour out my Spirit on all humanity.
Your sons and daughters shall prophesy,
Your old ones shall dream dreams,
And your young shall see visions.
On all men and women Will I pour out my Spirit in those days.
Joel 2:28,29.

In Old Testament times the ancient Hebrew people eventually had to come to terms with other cultures. Some fell by the wayside altogether, others assimilated, becoming Caananites, but a remnant carried the essence of their tradition into a new environment, becoming in many new ways a strong people, but always retaining their identity.

I see this happening today within our Aboriginal culture. Education is turning learners into leaders, not only among our youth but many older Aboriginal people who had gone through a very difficult time in their own youth. Many of these have become late learners and have become excellent role models, proving that it is never too late to turn your life around. This is a very strong message to give not only to our young Aboriginal people, but to all the youth of the world who are coming to celebrate in this country during July.

In this issue we meet a young Aboriginal man from the West Coast Eagles football team, who is spreading his wings not only across the world of football, but is also moving into the tough commercial world of real estate.

In my recent visit to my own Noongah country, this young man, David Wirrpanda, was the talk of Perth. He is their hero in the true sense of the word.

However, Victorians will be pleased to know he was born in Melbourne, from a very illustrious Aboriginal family—his mother, Margaret Wirrpanda, his grandmother, Geraldine Briggs, and grandfather, pastor Sir Douglas Nicholls, one of the first Aboriginal footballers in the (then) VFL and later governor of South Australia.
David was educated at Worowa Aboriginal College at Healesville,. Here the West Coast Eagles scouts discovered his football talents. His move to West Australia, away from his family, would have been a difficult decision.

His father’s name is also David Wirrpanda, a Djapu man of East Arnhem land. Wirrpanda’s father always impressed upon him his tribal responsibilities and David has said that eventually he will return.

Young David’s great-grandfather on his father’s side is Dhakiyarr Wirrpanda. His story is a very interesting one and can be found in history books or the records of the High Court. In 1934, a police constable went to East Arnhem Land to investigate the spearing of five Japanese fishermen. Not finding the Aboriginal men suspected of the spearing, he arrested a woman – Dhakiyarr’s wife.

When Dhakiyarr saw his wife she was in chains. The constable was the first white man Dhakiyarr had ever seen, so he speared him. Dhakiyarr was found guilty by the court, but understood nothing of the proceedings and was sentenced to death. Eight months later the decision was overturned by the High Court and he was released. Dhakiyarr mysteriously disappeared. It was commonly thought he was murdered by the police, but his body was never found.

After 13 years in the AFL, with the assistance of an astute manager, David Wirrpanda owns a string of commercial properties in Perth and is well connected in the business world. He has also arranged a trust fund set aside for his family. This is certainly no ordinary young man.

David also has a club for young Nyoongah kids. Membership depends upon their school attendance. Club activities are all about being relaxed, getting to know each other and working on computers. When Wirrpanda speaks to them, his voice is gentle, almost sing-song. His work is all about change and stresses the importance of going to school.

‘The Wirra Foundation is working’, he says, ‘but change has to come about slowly.’ He is a young man going somewhere, and he knows where that is. He wants to establish the Wirra Foundation nationally and will do whatever it takes.

David has already been approached by the Labor Party to enter politics. When the Chinese President Hu Jintao visited Perth Wirrpanda was invited by the West Australian government to meet him. The Bulletin magazine nominated him number nine in a list of ten significant Aboriginal Australians.

In another eight games Wirrpanda will play his 200th and will become a life member of the AFL. How long he will stay on after that is not known. But whenever his footy career ends, he will be happy to let the next generation take over, because he knows he has a life outside football.

What an exemplary role model David is for young people today and into the future.
(See Martin Flanagan’s article ‘An Eagle aiming high’, from the Age, 5 January 2008, for a fuller account of David’s life and achievements, on which this account has drawn with gratitude.)

In the September/October 2005 issue of Madonna, Elizabeth Pike recounted the Dreaming story of the platypus.

This inspiring story has been published as a book, expanded with notes about Elizabeth’s own life, and beautifully illustrated in colour.

‘My reason for bringing these stories (the one published in her book, and those in her ongoing contribution to Madonna) to print’, says Elizabeth, ‘is to bring some hope to the thousands of people like me, who are happy to own their heritage but have to struggle to do so. We must stand tall and be firm in acknowledging our heritage and stay strong in our efforts to be recognised.’

In the year in which the Australian government has issued its apology to the stolen generations, this message, and Elizabeth’s beautiful book, is very timely.

A River Dreaming is available from Aboriginal Catholic Ministry, 434 St Georges Rd, Thornbury 3071, tel 03 9480 3849, www.acmm.org.au. The book costs $20.00 including p&p.

An eagle flying high - Elizabeth Pike