Noongars

The Noongar people featured all have a sense of cultural identity. Contributing to the Noongar community in many ways, they have preserved our Noongar culture and practices. The Noongars featured have also been leaders and advocates of our people's rights.

Please note: There may be reference to names, voices or photos of deceased persons that may cause distress. People should contact SWALSC to notify us of any necessary changes.

Family

Noongar families are the bedrock which underpin Noongar society and are in large part responsible for the enduring survival and strength of our culture since European colonisation in 1829. Families are also the unit that makes decisions according to Noongar law and custom. Over the entire south-west, every Noongar person can trace their families back seven or eight generations. 'We're all one mob' is the constant refrain.

Bessy Flower

Bessy Flower was born sometime in 1851 or 1852 and died on 14th January, 1895. A Minang Noongar, she was born in King Georges Sound, Albany. She lived at Annesfield mission until she was 16 but spent most of her adult life in Victoria. Bessy Flower is remembered for her gifts as a pianist and singer, for her dedication to teaching, and as a strong Noongar woman who fought to keep Aboriginal families together.

Cecil Fitzgerald

Cecil Fitzgerald was born on 25 April 1906 and died on 2 January 1965. He came from the Northam area in Western Australia. Cecil Fitzgerald was a fine football player and served his country in the Second World War, for which he earned an Africa Star medal. Like so many Noongar soldiers, his contribution was not recognised on his return. In civilian life, Cecil was a farm labourer, turning his hand to all kinds of work on the land. His friend wrote of him: 'He was one hell of a nice bloke'.

Doolann Leisha Eatts

Aunty Doolann Leisha Eatts is a Ballardong woman. She grew up in the south-west, where she says, she was part of two worlds. Aunty Doolann tells stories of her life in the bush. How she made lanterns with her siblings from Sunshine Milk tins and salvaged Archie comics from the tip. She recounts the story from her grandmother of when the Europeans arrived on the Swan River. How they brought these strange and frightening looking creatures. When they came galloping, white men on their backs, down to Doolann's grandmother's camp, she knew, 'they were caught between two cultures now'.

Gus Ryder

Gus Ryder is a Yued-Noongar from New Norcia. His father had a special way with horses and passed this knowledge onto Gus and his siblings. Gus tells a magical story of the Avon River flooding, the waters rising to over two metres high. He swam across the swollen river to save his ponies and then rode to rescue his dog, caught in the house with the waters rising. Gus speaks of his traditional language and the beautiful sounds it makes. How he spent a big part of his life playing football for the Wanderers and coached other young Noongar boys, bringing a positive focus into their lives.

Joe Northover

Joe Northover is a Beeliargu Wilman Noongar. He was born in Collie and has strong connections to the river. He tells of living the Noongar way off the land, eating bush tucker. He and his siblings would hunt for goanna, turtles and gilgies. He also went to school and would read the paper to his father. Joe tells of the strong ties within his family, with his aunts and grandmothers. He speaks of the easier life he had, compared to his parents, who had to carry citizenship papers and had restrictions placed on where they could go and when.

Kayang (Hazel) Brown

Kayang Brown was born in 1925 and grew up in the area south-west of Western Australia around the Porongorups. She went to school for a while at the Gnowangerup mission until she was called a heathen for speaking in her language. Kayang learnt how to farm from her father from a young age and could turn her hand to almost anything - from fencing to driving tractors to looking after the sheep at lambing time. In 2005 she had her stories published with Kim Scott in the book titled, Kayang and Me.

Martha Borinelli (nee Taylor)

Martha Borinelli was born on April 12, 1944 and died on April 22, 2008. A Yued-Noongar woman, Martha spent the first five years of her life at Mogumber with her family. One day, whilst visiting her sister at the New Norcia Mission, she was unwittingly admitted into the Home where she remained until she was 15. Martha Borinelli still maintained her Noongar identity. She stood up against prejudice in her town and started the Noongar darts team in Moora. Martha Borinelli is fondly remembered for her fighting spirit: 'Yeah, I'm Noongar. And I'm a strong Noongar'.

Ned Mippy

Ned Mippy was born on the 1st January 1919 and died on the 5th May 1992. Although not originally from the Moora area, the late Ned Mippy played an enormously valuable role in the Yued community. He was a widely admired and respected elder, who devoted a large portion of his life to teaching Cultural Education programs in the Moora area, and promoting Noongar identity. Mr Mippy will always be remembered as an outstanding role model and an inspiration to the Noongar community.

Yagan

Yagan was born circa 1795 and died sometime in July 1833. He was a Noongar leader and resistance fighter during the early years of the Swan River Colony. In the conflict that ensued, Yagan was both feared and admired by Europeans as a patriot fighting for his land. In today's Noongar community, Yagan is an iconic figure in the fight for Noongar rights and recognition. The reburial of Yagan's head was celebrated on the 10th July 2010.