City of Wanneroo Museum Collections > Records

Wanna Digging Stick

Subcollections
Ken Colbung
Overview

Wanna, a carved wooden digging stick. The flat pointed end tapers to a round handle and there are small linear scratchings on the surface of the wood.

*If you have anymore information about this object please get in touch with us at museum@wanneroo.wa.gov.au

Historical information

This object is part of the Welcome to Country Collection donated to the museum by Aboriginal Elder Ken Colbung. The items in this collection were presented to the Gnangara Community by numerous Australian First Nations communities to celebrate Indigenous culture.

Allegedly, a women's digging stick. Given to Betty Colbung from Daisy Leurie from Lake MacKay (Desert). A spiritual connection, bringing strength from one part of the country to another. (Like the spiritual connection of carrying a bible).

Details

Details

Registration number
cwa-org-57-2008.113
Item type
Objects
Material
Wood
Width
80 mm
Depth
695 mm
Themes
First Peoples
Contextual Information

Gnangara Community

In 1976, 65 acres of land on the western side of Lake Gnangara was sold by M. D. Lachberg to the Aboriginal Lands Trust. The Federal government financially supported the Trust in order to make the purchase possible. The Trust made the land available in 1977 to a newly formed group, Nyoongah Community Incorporated, for the establishment of a centre for education, recreation and the preservation of Aboriginal culture. The gradual development of the centre was led by Ken and Betty Colbung and the Nyoongah Community Cultural Complex was officially opened by Gough Whitlam on 17 November 1979.

The school within the complex, the Aboriginal Community College, was a co-educational, non-denominational school for Aboriginal children. It accepted its first student intake in 1981 and was officially opened on 25 September 1981 by Premier Sir Charles Court. The founding Principal was Betty Colbung and the school offered the conventional curriculum in conjunction with the teaching of Aboriginal lore, arts, crafts and dance. The college was the first of its kind in southern Western Australia and was a fully operational primary and secondary educational facility funded by Federal and State governments. The college was closed due to financial and governance issues before the 2008 school year began.

Keywords
Aboriginal Cultures
Primary significance criteria
Social or spiritual significance
Comparative significance criteria
Rare or representative
City of Wanneroo Museum Collections

City of Wanneroo Museum Collections

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Wanna, a carved wooden digging stick. The flat pointed end tapers to a round handle and there are small linear scratchings on the surface of the wood.
Wanna, a carved wooden digging stick. The flat pointed end tapers to a round handle and there are small linear scratchings on the surface of the wood.
Wanna, a carved wooden digging stick. The flat pointed end tapers to a round handle and there are small linear scratchings on the surface of the wood.
Wanna, a carved wooden digging stick. The flat pointed end tapers to a round handle and there are small linear scratchings on the surface of the wood.
Wanna, a carved wooden digging stick. The flat pointed end tapers to a round handle and there are small linear scratchings on the surface of the wood.
Wanna, a carved wooden digging stick. The flat pointed end tapers to a round handle and there are small linear scratchings on the surface of the wood.

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