Latest news with #Mirning
Time Out
5 days ago
- Time Out
Australia is home to one of the largest deserts on Earth – and it's bigger than the entire United Kingdom
What if we told you there's a desert in Australia bigger than Victoria and Tasmania combined? You're probably racking your brains right now, wondering where we're hiding our own version of the Sahara or the Gobi. Well, point your binoculars inland and you're bound to come across the Great Victoria Desert. Despite its name, this vast expanse of arid land is nowhere near the state of Victoria. It was named by British explorer Ernest Giles in 1875 in honour of Queen Victoria. Covering almost 350,000 square kilometres, the Great Victoria Desert is the largest in Australia – plus the seventh-biggest desert on Earth. Despite its massive size, this natural wonder remains largely untouched – thanks to its incredibly remote location. Here's everything you need to know about the Great Victoria Desert. Where is the Great Victoria Desert? Straddling both Western Australia and South Australia, the Great Victoria Desert stretches from east of Kalgoorlie-Boulder to west of Coober Pedy and north of the Nullarbor Plain. It lies within the traditional lands of several Indigenous groups, including the Pitjantjatjara, Ngaanyatjarra and Mirning peoples, who have lived in the region for tens of thousands of years. How to get to the Great Victoria Desert? You'll need a 4WD, some serious outback experience and a sense of adventure to reach the Great Victoria. Much of the desert is on remote Aboriginal land or defence land, so you'll likely need permits to travel through or camp on. From Western Australia, your best bet is to depart from Kalgoorlie or Laverton, travelling east via the Great Central Road or Anne Beadell Highway. Expect long stretches of unsealed roads, with the journey taking around three to five hours from Kalgoorlie, or one to two from Laverton. If you're coming from South Australia, start in Coober Pedy or Ceduna and head north or northwest via Maralinga or the Anne Beadell Highway. Depending on road conditions, you're looking at a five- to seven-hour drive. How big is the Great Victoria Desert? Stretching 700 kilometres east to west and covering a mega 348,750 square kilometres in total, Great Victoria is the largest desert in Australia. It's also the seventh-largest subtropical desert on the planet – bigger than the entire United Kingdom (243,000 square kilometres). How was the Great Victoria Desert formed? Millions of years ago, this now-arid expanse was submerged beneath the sea. As the waters receded, they left behind vast plains of sand and sediment. Over time, wind and erosion sculpted the landscape, forming the red sand dunes and spinifex grasslands we see today. The scorching heat and scarce rainfall have kept it firmly in desert mode ever since. What animals live in the Great Victoria Desert? Despite its harsh and remote nature, the Great Victoria Desert is home to a surprising variety of wildlife, including thorny devils, bearded dragons, spinifex hopping mice, mulgaras, dunnarts, budgerigars and other rare desert birds. What to do in the Great Victoria Desert? Due to its remote location, few Aussies have actually set foot in the Great Victoria Desert. Those adventurous enough to make the journey can wander among striking red sand dunes, explore spinifex grasslands, discover ancient rock formations and salt lakes, spot desert animals and camp under some of the darkest, clearest night skies in Australia.
ABC News
29-06-2025
- General
- ABC News
Burial of WA Mirning ancestors after more than 100 years shines light on violent history
Shilloh Peel can "feel in her bones" when she is home. WARNING: This article contains references to Indigenous people who have died and describes violence of a graphic nature. Even as a child, driving south-east from Kalgoorlie with her aunties, the first breath of sea breeze rising off the Nullarbor Plain always seemed like a greeting. "You could hear it, feel it, and see it," she says. The Mirning woman, who represents the Apical Dick Stott family line from Western Australia's Nullarbor, hopes the feeling still registers in the bones of her long-dead ancestors. On March 14, the remains of eight Mirning ancestors were returned to their country and buried. It is understood that the ancestors lived between the late 1800s and 1979, and their remains had most recently been stored at the WA Museum. While little is known about how they died, it is understood some may have been alive during a tragic period in the Nullarbor's history. Oral histories and a 140-year-old police report indicate murders and poisonings may have taken place on Mirning country during some of their lifetimes. Ms Peel, who chairs the WA Mirning People Aboriginal Corporation (WAMPAC), says she hopes her relatives are now at peace. "I get teary-eyed just thinking about it," she says. John Graham says the burial marked the best day of his 83-year-old life. The Mirning elder, who was recovering from a recent operation at the time, has spent decades lobbying to bring his eight ancestors back to their country. There was no way he was going to miss it. "It was up near 45 degrees," he remembers. The remains of the seven repatriated Mirning people were taken from the Nullarbor region between 1900 and 1991, with the eighth removed at an unknown date. They then fell into the hands of the WA Museum. Mr Graham and the WA Museum's head of anthropology and archaeology, Ross Chadwick, have been working to return them to country for decades. "They shouldn't have been taken away from there in the first place," Mr Graham says. "But back in them days, when they found remains, they just took them and put them in the museum." Mr Chadwick says the practice caused great pain across Indigenous communities. "[Repatriation] is a way of trying to heal that hurt," he says. "To address the trauma that comes from that and to empower communities to make decisions around the care of their ancestors in a way that provides them with strength and some sort of comfort." A WAMPAC spokesperson says two of the ancestors had been found in a Nullarbor cave in 1991 by cave explorers. It is understood the pair died in the late 1800s after possibly getting lost in the cave and running out of food and water. The spokesperson says five others were found close to Eucla — three in the early 1900s, one in 1979, and another at an unknown date — and taken by police, anthropologists, doctors and professors. Another man was taken, by an unknown person, from the Nullarbor Plain at some point before 1907. Mr Graham says he is relieved his ancestors are finally back where they belong. "Finally achieving something like that was a good feeling," he says. While it is not known how these ancestors died, Mr Graham says some may have lived during a horrific time in the region's history. "There was a lot of violence," he says. Mirning oral histories describe murders and poisonings on the Nullarbor Plain following colonisation. Mr Graham says knowledge of these struggles, passed down through his family, had made him even more motivated to bring the eight Mirning people home. In 1881, WA police constable George Truslove investigated claims that pastoralists William McGill and his partners Thomas and William Kennedy were mistreating Mirning people in the region. The hand-written police report, which has been seen by the ABC, included claims that McGill killed two people by feeding them poisoned pudding. Historian Peter Gifford, who analysed the police report in 1994, says McGill was also accused of shooting and cutting the throats of other Mirning people. "Truslove's report effectively accused McGill and the Kennedys of multiple murder," Mr Gifford's paper states. "Its contents were mostly hearsay, which then, as now, was not admissible in a court of law. "Yet, as an experienced police officer, he must have been aware of the gravity of such allegations, which would be seen at high governmental levels, and he cannot therefore have made them lightly." The allegations have not been widely reported. But Mr Gifford's paper goes on to note that similar allegations were made by overland telegraph stationmasters at Eyre and Eucla eight years later, which were again ignored by authorities. A Government Gazette extract shows McGill went on to be appointed a "protector of Aborigines" in 1894, despite the allegations. "The Mirning people of the southern Nullarbor were still denied anything resembling natural justice," the paper states. It also references the graves of 16 Aboriginal people "who had all come to violent ends" at the pastoralist's hands. A WAMPAC spokesperson says the impact of past brutality continues to be felt. "Oral histories speak of widespread violence, with many different individuals and institutions involved in acts of genocide," the spokesperson says. "This was part of a broader, systemic pattern seen across Australia. "Today, we're encouraged by the positive working relationships we have with pastoralists on Mirning country, who have been supportive of the Mirning people returning home." Traditional owners say they do not want to disclose the location of the recent burial site, out of fear it will be vandalised. But it is marked with a boulder and plaque. After the burial, around 60 people attended a barbecue with the Mirning community, where traditional foods were served and a speech was made. Ms Peel, whose parents are original WA Mirning native title claim applicants, says even though she never met her ancestors, it was a heartwarming experience. "They are home. They are at rest," she says.
Time Out
06-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time Out
a stunning and powerful production... can't be missed
It's a chilly but beautiful winter's night on Cadigal land as I walk towards the Sydney Opera House. The lights of Vivid Sydney paint the harbour with mesmerising displays, creating the perfect atmosphere in the lead up to seeing Bangarra Dance Theatre 's brand new production, Illume. While Vivid lights up the exterior of the iconic Opera House, Illume sets the stage alight from the inside. An otherworldly spectacle, Illume is a collaboration between Mirning choreographer (and Bangarra's visionary artistic director) Frances Rings and Goolarrgon Bard visual artist Darrell Sibosado. Sibosado, known for his innovative contemporary light installations, lends his talents to the set and stage design in a theatrical experience that pays tribute to the creation stories of the Bard and Jawi people and the cultural hero, Galaloong. As the performance begins, audiences are immediately awestruck by a stunning display of the night sky – the dancers are enveloped by twinkling stars projected onto a sheer screen at the front of the stage and also on the back wall, with yet more lights darting around the stage providing an atmospheric glimmer. Elizabeth Gadsby 's costume design complements this, sparkly black dresses shimmer under the lights, alluding to the pristine beauty of land and sky untouched by environmental pollution. As the story progresses, and with each change in season, the costumes reflect the surroundings; shades of brown, red and beige are worn in the warmer and dry seasons. This attention to detail demonstrates a strong commitment to holistic storytelling. The symbolism woven throughout, by way of the choreography, props and stage design, transports the audience through a journey of Country and spiritualism. Vertical light blocks move up and down while the dancers navigate their bodies around them in a beautiful symbolic display of the spiritual significance of trees in Indigenous cultures. As the dancers travel across the stage, they move through a combination of dance styles, from traditional cultural dance, to contemporary dance and lyrical steps. Rings' stylistic choices expertly utilise the dancers' bodies to create beautiful patterns and shapes, and to mimic natural elements. Throughout the production we see the women dancing together as a united group, followed by the men dancing together; and while these groups remain separate in some scenes, in others they are combined. Rings' use of perspective and height is also successful in creating atmosphere and continuity of the story. As the dancers fall and roll across the stage in sync with one another, it mimics rolling water or wind. As the dancers lift each other up, creating differences in height, we can follow the story of the trees as they grow, sway and react to the elements. The music, composed by Brendon Boney, is also spectacular and, in some scenes, unexpected. While we are treated to percussive beats involving traditional instruments such as clapping sticks, there are also nods to science-fiction. As the show progresses, we start to experience more futuristic music and visuals, including some elements of hip-hop style movements accompanied by more techno-forward scores. The production's prop work also builds off the stunning light display. For example, one memorable scene involves dancers holding large illuminated ropes, twisting them and creating patterns. As a dancer myself, I want to note just how difficult that is to do – the precision required to ensure every dancer arrives at the specific spot on stage at the right moment to produce the shape is something that takes many hours of intricate planning and rehearsals. Yet, the dancers move with such ease and grace that it appears effortless. This ensemble's seamless and impressive transitions are to be highly commended. For me, the most beautiful moment of the whole show would have to be the yarning circle that occurs towards the end. A calm, quiet and seemingly 'simple' moment, this scene is able to convey deep connection with little movement. As a fire steadily burns to the right side of the stage, a group of dancers to the left are huddled together in a yarning circle, a cultural practice undertaken for close connection between mob. As the dancers sit there, under a spotlight, ash gently falls from the sky onto them. The effect is calm and serene. Overall, Illume is a stunning and powerful production. It is evident that an enormous amount of work has gone into this, and the result is a striking show that can't be missed. I highly recommend that you get out to see it.
Sydney Morning Herald
31-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Sydney Morning Herald
June will not be beach weather for Sydney. Here's what you should do instead
With wet weather constantly popping up on the daily forecast, there's no need to let it be a dampener on your social schedule. Sydney's arts and culture scene has plenty of hot-ticket indoor events that don't require gumboots, an umbrella or an impossible-to-refold rain poncho. Check out our guide to the best indoor music gigs, theatre shows, exhibitions, performances and festivals happening in June, all of which will keep spirits soaring even as the rain falls. Titanic. The Human Story Walsh Bay Arts Precinct Pier 2/3, until July 6 History buffs (or fans of James Cameron's 1997 romantic blockbuster) can get up close and personal with the tragedy of the Titanic at a month-long exhibition that has already toured the United States and Britain featuring 200 objects and personal artefacts from passengers and crew members. There is a detailed recreation of the ship's interior from first class to third class that visitors can walk through, while an audio guide lets listeners be completely encompassed by the stories of those who were onboard. Japanese Breakfast Sydney Opera House, June 3 There are still a few seats left to catch Japanese Breakfast, the musical project of songwriter Michelle Zauner, as the Grammy-nominated indie pop outfit hit town for a Vivid gig. The multi-talented Zauner also found massive success with her bestselling 2021 memoir, Crying In H Mart, but is now back focusing on music with the band's most recent album, For Melancholy Brunettes (& Sad Women), receiving rave reviews for a more mature sound when it dropped earlier this year. Sydney Film Festival Various locations, June 4-15 Cinephiles will be out in full force guzzling popcorn and bathing in the big-screen glow as the film festival takes over Sydney's movie theatres. The buzziest titles on this year's program include the Australian premieres for Ari Aster's straight-from-Cannes flick Eddington, with Joaquin Phoenix starring opposite Pedro Pascal, and Kelly Reichardt's art heist drama The Mastermind. But with more than 200 films from 70 countries on the timetable, there is plenty to choose from whatever one's taste. Illume Sydney Opera House, June 4-14 Bangarra Dance Theatre reveals the world premiere of its first visual arts collaboration as Mirning choreographer and Bangarra artistic director Frances Rings and Goolarrgon Bard visual artist Darrell Sibosado merge their creative forces for what should prove an enlightening alliance. The new work Illume explores how the life-sustaining phenomena of light has been woven into Indigenous cultural existence and how light pollution has disrupted that connection.
The Age
31-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Age
June will not be beach weather for Sydney. Here's what you should do instead
With wet weather constantly popping up on the daily forecast, there's no need to let it be a dampener on your social schedule. Sydney's arts and culture scene has plenty of hot-ticket indoor events that don't require gumboots, an umbrella or an impossible-to-refold rain poncho. Check out our guide to the best indoor music gigs, theatre shows, exhibitions, performances and festivals happening in June, all of which will keep spirits soaring even as the rain falls. Titanic. The Human Story Walsh Bay Arts Precinct Pier 2/3, until July 6 History buffs (or fans of James Cameron's 1997 romantic blockbuster) can get up close and personal with the tragedy of the Titanic at a month-long exhibition that has already toured the United States and Britain featuring 200 objects and personal artefacts from passengers and crew members. There is a detailed recreation of the ship's interior from first class to third class that visitors can walk through, while an audio guide lets listeners be completely encompassed by the stories of those who were onboard. Japanese Breakfast Sydney Opera House, June 3 There are still a few seats left to catch Japanese Breakfast, the musical project of songwriter Michelle Zauner, as the Grammy-nominated indie pop outfit hit town for a Vivid gig. The multi-talented Zauner also found massive success with her bestselling 2021 memoir, Crying In H Mart, but is now back focusing on music with the band's most recent album, For Melancholy Brunettes (& Sad Women), receiving rave reviews for a more mature sound when it dropped earlier this year. Sydney Film Festival Various locations, June 4-15 Cinephiles will be out in full force guzzling popcorn and bathing in the big-screen glow as the film festival takes over Sydney's movie theatres. The buzziest titles on this year's program include the Australian premieres for Ari Aster's straight-from-Cannes flick Eddington, with Joaquin Phoenix starring opposite Pedro Pascal, and Kelly Reichardt's art heist drama The Mastermind. But with more than 200 films from 70 countries on the timetable, there is plenty to choose from whatever one's taste. Illume Sydney Opera House, June 4-14 Bangarra Dance Theatre reveals the world premiere of its first visual arts collaboration as Mirning choreographer and Bangarra artistic director Frances Rings and Goolarrgon Bard visual artist Darrell Sibosado merge their creative forces for what should prove an enlightening alliance. The new work Illume explores how the life-sustaining phenomena of light has been woven into Indigenous cultural existence and how light pollution has disrupted that connection.
