In April 2026 members of Saltwater People, Back to Country, family and friends travelled to St Helens, Tasmania to connect with local mob and do ceremony for Gurawul/Mueritterner (humpback whale) and visit a sacred whale site.
On arrival many felt the clear connection and similar patterns of Country of east coast Tasmania with their homes on the NSW South Coast and Victoria.
Families connected with Aunty Patsy Cameron to weave river reeds and learn about local string making techniques, including weaving precious shells onto necklaces. Aunty also shared with the women and girls information about the sacred sites that would be visited later in the week.
On the Friday morning the group gathered for Grandfather Sun ceremony and were greeted with a still, clear morning. Gratitude was given for safe arrivals, new connections and the strength of our ancestors.
Some of the group met with local Elder Aunty Gloria Andrews to yarn about the group going to the whale site at Meenamatta (The Blue Tiers). Saltwater People, Back to Country and local mob shared a healing smoking ceremony with Aunty Gloria, staff and residents at the residential care home. Aunty Gloria later reflected that after being part of ceremony many residents and staff were eager to learn more about First Nations culture and the whale dreaming.
Later that day the group of 36 met at Meenamatta and were greeted at the sacred area by a platypus waddling up to the group.
Peter Hewitt reflected “We travelled and came together as a group to give respect to our stories of connection. From the moment we gathered and greeted Grandfather Sun, respect guided our movements. Listening to the shared expressions of gratitude from local community, cultural knowledge holders, family, and friends connected us with the day. We become a circle of connectedness as a group and with Country.
We arrived collectively at a significant cultural site. We moved, grounded in ceremony, with cultural sharing, and learning. Knowledge was cared for and gifted with the respect it was handed to us by our Elders.
The purpose was not to visit. We gathered to be with the ancient intelligence of Country, sing good energy into the Minga (Mother) and Gurawul, and to learn from the teachings of those Ancients who came before us.
We walked in silence, looking, listening, and seeing deeply. Country spoke in its own way through story, inviting us to recognise the stories held within Country and within ourselves. Coming together reminded us of our shared stories, moving from chaos toward following the spirit of our Ancients, as Gurawul the Elder of Gadu (ocean) teaches us to do.”
Knowledge was shared as the group walked through the sacred site. Each person connected with the site in their own way as songs and ceremonies were carried out and sacred objects produced.
Pungenna brotherboy ben hall was a generous host and when the group gathered for dinner ben cooked up a spread of traditional foods including barbecued pepper berry hiller (wallaby) and yolla (muttonbird) cooked over the fire. The sweet spice of the berries reinforced memories of earlier that day up the mountain where some of the group collected the fruit for the first time. The juicy meat of the muttonbird was in high demand with each serving drawing the young ones closer and closer to the chef.
The following morning some met with Aunty Gloria to share reflections and yarn up future plans to honour Gurawul and maintain a cultural connection formed before the seas rose. The group then parted ways and journeyed home, full with gratitude and respect for Gurawul, Country and the Ancients.
This group contains Dhurga language from South Coast NSW and Trawlwoolway/North East Nation language from North East Tasmania.