Because of her, we can | NAIDOC Week feature

Now this region’s Indigenous community can literally walk down Tamworth’s main street and look up to the women that have paved the way.

Two banners hanging along Peel Street have been produced by the local community and feature dozens of photos of the region’s prominent matriarchs.

The banner is a joint project between Yinarr Maramali and the Gomeroi Dance Company, driven by Marc Sutherland and Amy Hammond.

They said almost anyone in the local Aboriginal community can look up at the banner and see someone they have a personal connection with.

Ms Hammond was filled with emotion as she spoke with The Leader beneath the banner, which features her nan, Evon Hammond.

“It’s a really personal theme,” she said.

“I lost my nan last year, and it’s because of her I’m here. She was so encouraging and loving, she’s cared for so many in our family.

“It’s really special to have grandkids come up the street and see their nan on the banner.”

Time and space are the only reasons more women aren’t watching over Peel Street.

“Many, many aren’t on the banner, but this was project to acknowledge some of the matriarchs of the families living in Tamworth at the moment,” Ms Hammond said.

“It’s a celebration of the good things, while also acknowledging a lot of the struggles women have faced in the old times, not that long ago and even now.”

Marc Sutherland said much of the progress that had been made on behalf of Aboriginal people had been driven by women, and the Gomeroi man is constantly in awe of their strength and resolve.

“Some of these women had 13 or 14 kids that they were looking after by themselves while their husbands were out working – I have one kid and I’m pulling my hair out,” Mr Sutherland said, laughing.

“I look at these large families and I think how on earth were they able to manage in a tin hut, with no access to water, 10 kids, on the outskirts of town and still make it work?”

Mr Sutherland said one of the most important roles local matriarchs played was keeping their families together. The various government policies that forcibly removed Aboriginal children from their families – know as the Stolen Generation – only ended in 1970.

“They’ve been through a really rough period, where there was a focus on trying to split families up,” Mr Sutherland said.

“The authorities were really set against them.

“They had to look after the family, the house, and they still had welfare checking on them, visits to catch them slipping or any reason to break up a family.

“They lived through a time where there were policies in place that kept them out of the main street, and kept them segregated. When they were allowed in town, they still faced discrimination.

“We can’t ignore that moment in time, because in doing so, we are ignoring the strength of our women.

“Most of the women going through that time would have never imagined a world where a banner like that could be hanging in the middle of town.”

Both Lisa Shipley’s mother, Dorthy Shipley, and grandmother, Brenda Benge, are among those featured on the banner.

“You can see the happiness,” Ms Shipley said, looking around at the laughing faces gathered beneath the banner.

“The other day I was walking down Peel Street, and it gave me a good feeling to know they were watching over me.”

Ms Shipley said the banner was symbolic of how Aboriginal women had “risen above” the challenges they’ve faced individually and as a whole.

“We’re being led by our matriarchs, who are telling us to look up and to look forward,” she said. 

“For a long time, it’s felt like we’ve been looked down upon. But this is the first time we are looking up.” 

Paris Knox said the “strong and independent women and elders of our mob” had set a strong foundation for the local Indigenous community.

“They went through everything for us,” the 18-year-old said, as she pointed out her relatives – Aunty Vivian Knox, nanna Brenda Benge and Aunty Pearl Trindall.

“They’ve created pathways for us, and they lead us in to tomorrow everyday. For them to be up there, it reminds us of all the struggles they went through.”

Her mother Kim Knox said even the women who had passed still had an influence on the next generation.

“They’ve all left their footprints,” she said. 

Lorrelle Munroe said it felt amazing to look up and see her nan, Rosemary Combo, watching over her.

“I get a big sense of pride,” she said.

“She raised six of her own children, and has a lot of grandkids and great-grandkids, and she’s been involved with all of our lives growing up.

“I’ve got so much respect for her and the other women up there. It’s really special that we can recognised the role they played, can all recognise that in such a big way.”

Ms Munroe said the theme ‘Because of Her, We Can’ was multi-layered. It also refers to Mother Earth.

“That’s another reason why this theme is so special,” she said.

“Mother Earth, along with our women, plays such an important role in our culture.”