In 2023 Aunty Cheryl accepted an OAM that recognised her services to Indigenous Australians and community. Cheryl is a connector, an influencer and mentor, and a coach, a mother and a grandmother. She calls Brungle her home Country, but lives in, and loves, Wagga Wagga. She is a cultural Wiradyuri woman, a poet and storyteller and creative. She has been involved with ‘giilanggalang’ and the ‘join the dots’ programmes through Eastern Riverina Arts, and sits on their Indigenous advisory board, which has allowed her to connect with and meet many wonderful people whose creativity and vibrancy enhances our community.
Cheryl works in cultural leadership, cultural practice revival, language, cloak-making, women’s business, weaving, connecting and reconnecting are her passions. Her life experience as a First Nations Wiradyuri woman gives her a unique perspective, skills and networks.
In what ways would you like to see the Australian Landcare movement March Forward?
In Wiradyuri culture there is an expression ‘Yindyamarra’. This is a Wiradyuri value of respect, care, and to go slow and be considerate of each other and our surroundings. ‘Yindyamarra’ is also central to the inherent connection Wiradyuri culture has to Country. Similar expressions and values are evident throughout Australia’s Aboriginal nations.
My hope for Landcare, and society in general, is that all-encompassing values, like ‘Yindyamarra’, guide us in all that we do. Fostering such values, along with Indigenous and non-Indigenous collaboration and knowledge exchange, has the capacity to realise ecological and culturally sustainable continuums that will be of benefit to us all.