Against all good advice...

By 10.30 am I'd managed to get my 38 degree temperature under control, and doped to the eyeballs, dressed doubly warm and against all good advice from my doctor, I headed off to attend the the Indigenous Place-making Symposium and Exhibition at the University of Melbourne. I was fascinated to hear elders from Baraparapa, Wurundjeri, Gunnai, Yorta Yorta, Dhudhroa, Dja Dja Wurrung, Wamba Wamba, Wetigkia, Nyeri Nyeri and Dhudhuroa speak of their desire for an indigenous cultural centre in the Melbourne CBD. Amongst the panel was an interesting mix of concern with indigenous spiritual connection to land and a desire to have a place they could call their own, governed and run by indigenous peoples, that provides employment opportunities and a place for artists to exhibit and sell their work. Concurrent with the symposium was an amazing exhibition in the Wunderlich Gallery in the Department of Architecture of possum skins sewn together and marked with indigenous country, rivers and sacred sites, along with jewellery, photos of indigenous relatives, branches from eucalyptus trees and other artifacts made by indigenous people connected to the Wurundjeri Tribe. I really enjoyed talking to the indigenous folk who were sitting there making necklaces and bracelets. By 1.30pm I was feeling a little over-whelmed with my sickness, so came home. Will try and sleep again soon.