Narrogin – 1930s
During the Great Depression, Noongar people struggled but we continued to survive. Camps of up to two hundred permanent Noongar residents were recorded in the south-west towns of Narrogin, Gnowangerup, Williams, Wagin, Pingelly, Badjaling, Brookton and Beverley.[xi] Corroborees were still held at the Narrogin Reserve.
Emmet Abraham described one arranged by the ‘Nor’ West blokes’:
‘They painted themselves, bit o’ flour, chalk somethin’ white. On the forehead, nose, bit o’ black on the top here. They got something that was blacker than them someplace. They put flower things in their hair.‘[xii]