Deadly Community

As told by

Madison Howarth

and illustrated by

Charlotte Craven-Miller

Acknowledgements

We acknowledge the Wonnarua people of the Hunter Valley, New South Wales.

We pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging.

Deadly Community
Story by Madison Howarth
Illustrated by Charlotte Craven-Miller

This digital book was commissioned by

Wonnarua Nation Aboriginal Corporation (WNAC)

and

Australian Catholic University

Australian Catholic University acknowledges that

this digital storybook embodies cultural knowledge of

the Wonnarua community.

Charlotte Craven-Miller

Charlotte Craven-Miller is a proud Wonnarua full-time artist. The Wonnarua Nation belongs to the Hunter River Valley region of New South Wales. Her artistic skills and works encompass realism, portraiture, images, and abstract art. Her artistic works are inspired by her rich Wonnarua cultural heritage drawing upon The Dreamings and the Wonnarua peoples’ connection and belonging to Country. She is the artist of the seminal Wonnarua portraiture entitled: Wonnarua Elders commissioned by the Wonnarua Nation Aboriginal Corporation. She is the illustrator of the e-book The Frog that Grew commissioned by the University of Technology and Science, New South Wales. She was commissioned by the Australian Catholic University Limited and the Wonnarua Nation Aboriginal Corporation Australia to write and illustrate the children’s e-book Burning Mountain and illustrate Creation of the Hunter Valley, Deadly Firestick Farming, Deadly Community, Deadly Voice, Jimmy and the Water Cart and Baiame Cave and St Clair Mission. She is the recipient of two Mil-Pra Aboriginal Education Consultative Group Indigenous Art Prizes, the Riverwood Youth Art Prize, and her works have been purchased and commissioned by governments, universities, organisations and individuals.

Email: [email protected]

Photo of Charlotte Craven-Miller

Madison Howarth

Madison Howarth is a Wonnarua and Yuin
writer. Madison completed a Bachelor of Media
(Communications and Journalism) with Distinction in
2021 and was formerly the Online Learning Manager at Future Women. Madison has a passion for storytelling
through a First Nations lens and has written for NME,
Future Women, The National Indigenous Times, The
Sydney Morning Herald, Women’s Agenda and 9Honey.

Email: [email protected]

Photo of Madison Howarth

Photo courtesy of Tracey Schramm

It was a crisp early spring ngurukan (morning) and Ava was still sleeping soundly.

The sun streamed through the curtains and its warm rays danced on her cheek.

Mum called from the kitchen, “Time to get up!
We gotta leave soon!”.

The day was finally here for the family
reunion.

Ava threw the covers and leapt from the bed.
Every year Ava’s kunarr (family) has a reunion.

Ava’s kunarr were part of the Stolen Generation
so it was extra special and important to
reconnect with family.

Ava ran to the kitchen table where her
breakfast was waiting for her.

“I’m so excited we are going on Wonnarua
Country, Mum” said Ava.

Mum smiled as she finished packing up the last of everyone’s things.

Ava quickly finished her breakfast, grabbed the bag mum had packed for her, and a pillow, and ran out to the car.

The air was cool and the marawan (grass)
was dewy, they’d get there by lunch time.

As they drove down the street and out of
town, headed back to Country: Ava beamed at the thought of the weekend ahead and dozed off again with her head against the window.

As the car came to a stop, Ava woke up.

As she slowly opened her eyes and looked
around, Ava wondered where everyone was.
No cousins, no Aunties, no Nan or Pop.

They were parked on a dirt road. Out the
window on the right Ava could see the most
beautiful view of the pilapay (valley) and
palkirs (mountains). Out of the left window,
above her, was Baiame Cave.

Then, in the distance, she saw Uncle Jimmy’s car coming up the dirt road. He was followed by three other cars.

“They’re all here!” Ava called out as she leapt out of the car.

Ava and her cousins all gathered around and Uncle Jimmy told them stories.

He told them about Tiddilick the Frog, Lizard
Rock, Kawul the protector and of course, the
creator, Baiame.

Uncle Jimmy also taught them words for
the animals on Country. An emu is murrin,
kangaroo is kanwang, koala is kuluwayn and
Ava’s favourite, turtle which is yunung.

Ava loved learning but now she was hungry.
It was time to head back and join everyone
else. Lunch time!

The barbecue had already started as they
pulled up.

Ava could see more cousins, some she hadn’t
even met yet, and then she saw Nan and Pop.
She ran straight up to them for lots of big
hugs.

Ava did all her favourite things to do at
the family reunion every year. She got her
face painted, danced and sang, decorated a boomerang and learned about wilay (possum) skin cloaks.

As the sun set, Ava grew tired and it was
time for dinner and a sleepover with all the cousins.

The next day, it was time to leave, Ava
hugged everyone goodbye.

As they left town they crossed the Myan
(Hunter River). Ava turned around, peered
out the back window and took in the view  of Wonnarua Country as they drove over the
kuwaran (hill) heading back to the city.

Ava smiled and thought about how she
couldn’t wait to come back again. She was
kintay (happy) and she loved her kunarr and Country.

It was a crisp early spring ngurukan (morning) and Ava was still sleeping soundly.
The sun streamed through the curtains and its warm rays danced on her cheek.
Mum called from the kitchen, “Time to get up! We gotta leave soon!”.
The day was finally here for the family reunion.
Ava threw the covers and leapt from the bed.
Every year Ava’s kunarr (family) has a reunion.
Ava’s kunarr were part of the Stolen Generation so it was extra special and important
to reconnect with family.
Ava ran to the kitchen table where her breakfast was waiting for her.
“I’m so excited we are going on Wonnarua Country, Mum” said Ava.
Mum smiled as she finished packing up the last of everyone’s things.
Ava quickly finished her breakfast, grabbed the bag mum had packed for her, and a
pillow, and ran out to the car.
The air was cool and the marawan (grass) was dewy, they’d get there by lunch time.
As they drove down the street and out of town, headed back to Country: Ava beamed
at the thought of the weekend ahead and dozed off again with her head against the
window.
As the car came to a stop, Ava woke up.
As she slowly opened her eyes and looked around, Ava wondered where everyone
was. No cousins, no Aunties, no Nan or Pop.
They were parked on a dirt road. Out the window on the right Ava could see the most
beautiful view of the pilapay (valley) and palkirs (mountains). Out of the left window,
above her, was Baiame Cave.

Deadly Community Full Text

Then, in the distance, she saw Uncle Jimmy’s car coming up the dirt road. He was
followed by three other cars.
“They’re all here!” Ava called out as she leapt out of the car.
Ava and her cousins all gathered around and Uncle Jimmy told them stories.
He told them about Tiddilick the Frog, Lizard Rock, Kawul the protector and of course,
the creator, Baiame.
Uncle Jimmy also taught them words for the animals on Country. An emu is murrin,
kangaroo is kanwang, koala is kuluwayn and Ava’s favourite, turtle which is yunung.
Ava loved learning but now she was hungry.

It was time to head back and join everyone else. Lunch time!
The barbecue had already started as they pulled up.
Ava could see more cousins, some she hadn’t even met yet, and then she saw Nan and
Pop. She ran straight up to them for lots of big hugs.
Ava did all her favourite things to do at the family reunion every year. She got her face
painted, danced and sang, decorated a boomerang and learned about wilay (possum)
skin cloaks.
As the sun set, Ava grew tired and it was time for dinner and a sleepover with all the
cousins.
The next day, it was time to leave, Ava hugged everyone goodbye.
As they left town they crossed the Myan (Hunter River). Ava turned around, peered out
the back window and took in the view of Wonnarua Country as they drove over the
kuwaran (hill) heading back to the city.

Credits