Nynutu Ngali nailed, deadly doco decisions & au revoir Alex!

Wai! Palya?

Hey all, it’s been a long time between news bulletins, but as usual that doesn’t mean that nothing’s been happening. The last few months have seen the Ngapartji Ngapartji team begin to prepare for the finish of the project in March 2010. This has included moving and downsizing the office from IAD to the IRCA building at 10b Wilkinson St, locking in content and design for the Memory Basket, and the departure of our much loved and inspirational team leader and creative producer Alex Kelly to take up a position in Canberra. Other project activity has seen Nyuntu Ngali complete a successful season in Adelaide, the almost-locked-off doco be officially commissioned by ABCTV, the achievements of project’s young people be showcased at a youth learning Symposium in Darwin, more funding and development work by Sophia Marinos on the proposed Namatjira project and Mariaa take the Mimili student dancers to victory in the Ernabella Dance comp.

Au revoir Alex…
2009 is the final year of the Ngapartji Ngapartji project and over the next few months the project wind up continues to gather pace.  We have moved out of our office space of 3 years at IAD, archived a lot of filing, thrown out many broken printers and chairs, and are now based at IRCA on the other side of town. The memory basket is in full swing with many of the elements in production and on track to be launched next March. And some of us are heading off on new adventures…

After working on Ngapartji Ngapartji since conceiving the project with Scott and Trevor in early 2004, almost five and a half years later, Alex is relocating to Canberra to take up work with The Australian Greens as Community Liaison Adviser to Bob Brown until the election next year. For the next few months Alex will continue working 1 day a week on the documentary as it moves towards completion, and on wrapping up the final stages of her work on the project.

Alex says “I am so inspired by the creativity, drive and generosity of the Ngapartji Ngapartji walytja and when I cast my mind back over the last five years I am so impressed by what we have all done together. Thanks to everyone who has supported the project, come and seen the show and been part of theis remarkable journey.”

It is an emotional time for the team, but also an exciting one as new projects such as the doco, Nyuntu Ngali and Namatjira are launched and continue the legacy of the Ngapartji Ngapartji project.

Nyuntu Ngali nailed…
The Nyuntu Ngali team are all back home now after a very long and hardworking tour. The season was successful with a mostly full theatre every night, dynamic development over the season, and exciting performances from both emerging and established cast members.

Trevor Jamieson (at rear), Anne Golding, & Derek Lynch in Nyuntu Ngali

Some quotes from reviews:
"Combining media, creative use of projected images, live music and dance, it is a sight to behold." Fringe Benefits
"For teens and adults alike, with an ageless tale that simply bursts to be told... a rare gem." Fringe Benefits
"A mesmerising and totally involving experience" Radio Adelaide
"A journey of marvellous invention." Adelaide Theatre Guide
"Trevor Jamieson is riveting... storyteller, magician, dancer and comic." Adelaide Theatre Guide
"A captivating piece of theatre." Adelaide Theatre Guide

Trevor Jamieson in Nyuntu Ngali

Of the experience Beth says:
‘It was a really full-on trip! We all worked incredibly hard. We rehearsed 6 days a week for 4.5 weeks then performed 10 shows and extra rehearsals, notes, events and question sessions. Jennifer Wells (from Pukatja) was absolutely amazing and dedicated, worked really well as part of a team of professional performers, contributed many creative ideas to the process, responded really proactively to feedback, criticism, encouragement, and was a delightful addition to the team for her sense of humour and energy. She excelled in her performative role, receiving heaps of positive feedback for her work as shadow-maker (using sand on two overhead projectors and constantly shifting the images throughout the show), singing and playing the car-part instruments with me and a bit of dancing. Jennifer and I also spent a day spreading the word and making sure about 20 of the Pitjantjatjara community in Adelaide made it along to see the show.’

Beth Sometimes and Jennifer Wells performing music for Nyuntu Ngali

The show will now continue to develop from what was achieved in Adelaide with a confirmed season with the Sydney Theatre Company in May 2010. As a new Nyuntu Ngali planning phase begins, the surrounding community project and show also hopes to continue to engage with audiences external to the performance itself.

Deadly doco decisions..
Work on editing the doco has continued in a relentless and intensive way with Vanessa and Batesy continuing a cycle of seeking feedback and making cuts to reflect both the doco objectives and restrictions on time. Feedback sessions included a quick trip down to Ernabella to seek community response, as well as various showings in the Alice office. The result of this process has been countless hours, days and weeks in the editing suite, and many agonising decisions about what to keep in and out. Thankfully the team are only weeks away from locking off the footage ready for the next stage of post production. Sadly finishing this stage means the departure of our dedicated editor Vanessa, who will hopefully take more than her new drivers licence away from her time in Central Australia. The good news is that ABCTV has officially commissioned the doco, ensuring it will be screened nationally in late 2010. Despite all these developments the doco still needs a title and the project is offering a $150 prize to anyone who can come up with something that fits. Send your ideas to This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it to be in the runningfor the cash.

Showcasing Ngapartji young people
Also in September, Jane attended the Youth Learning Symposium and workshops in Darwin. This event was run by Inge Kral and Jerry Schwab from the Centre for Aboriginal Economic Policy Research at the Australian National University in Canberra. Over the last three years Ngapartji Ngapartji has been one of several research sites used in a study ('Lifespan Learning and Literacy in Remote Indigenous Communities 2007-10') that highlights inspirational and effective non-formal learning by remote indigenous youth in out of school and community contexts. The achievements of the young people  from Ngapartji Ngapartji, such as Sadie Richards, Belinda Abbott, Julie Miller and Elton Wirri, through their performance with the touring show, as well as their arts and multimedia work with the project, was showcased as part of the Symposium. 

Young Ngapartj Ngapartji performers featured in films at the Youth Learning Symposium, Darwin, 2009.

Jane also set up an information booth and the Mobile Gallery at the event. Ngapartji Ngapartji would like to thank Inge Kral for her involvement with the project and the mentorship she has provided, particularly to our literacy and learning thread.
For more information on this research project and the Youth Learning Symposium see : http://www.anu.edu/caepr/learning/

Young women from Djilpin Arts in Beswick learn about Ngapartji Ngapartji from the mobile gallery and booth

Aside from participating in the above study, it is also worth noting that in recent years there have been eight requests from Masters and Doctoral students who want to discuss various aspects of the work that Ngapartji Ngapartji does in their thesis work. This includes one in German and one in French.Not only is this testimony to the complexity and worth of the work done by the project, but it is also a way that the word about indigenous language and cultural issues can travel further afield.

In other news..

The last news update in August detailed the work done by Ngapartji dance and choregoraphy workshops in Mimili. At the request of the Mimili Anganu School, Natalie and Mariaa travelled back to Mimili to help the young dancers prepare for and travel to the actual dance competition at Ernabella. Congratulations to all involved as the Mimili School took out the prize.

Congratulations also to project arts worker Beth on the recent launch tour of her book ‘from sometimes love Beth’, celebrating the 140th birthday of the postcard. With all she has done recently for the project it is an amazing achievement to have had the time and energy to undertake such a thing.
With the lauch tour over, Beth is back taking up much of Alex’s old duties as well as putting her energy into finalising legacy pack and producing the sequel CD to Ngurakutu ara, which will be called "Wanti watjilpa".
For more info on Beth’s book see: http://www.affirmpress.com.au/books.aspx?id=9With

The Ngapartji Ngapartji and Nyuntu Ngali teams have recently enjoyed the charming company of ‘Uncle’ Dave Palmer, the external evaluator of Ngapartji Ngapartji and other BighART projects. Many of us know him from his multiple roles at last years Ernabella tour. He and his family were in Adelaide to see Nyuntu Ngali and interview participants about past and present work. He also attended the community doco screening at Ernabella, and recently spent time with project staff in Alice Springs. Thanks for all the support and encouragement Dave has offered all on the team during his time with us, (not to mention taking up the slack on tasks like protecting stage lights from marauding kids.) 

On a sadder note, condolences to family of Ms Kunmanara Anderson, resident of Abbott’s camp, and much loved project advisor and participant, who passed away in late September. Ms Anderson’s contribution to the project, including her unstoppable sense of humour, was much loved and appreciated by all. This is evident in a story she wrote about her life and involvement with Ngapartji Ngapartji at the office in 2008.
“That's why I love to come down to Ngapartji Ngapartji a lot - because I have made lots of mates there. We sometimes go out bush, sometimes to collect bush food to teach the young kids when we take them out. We sometimes tell the kids if this food is good to eat or not. Sometimes we ask Dani if she will take us all out. She is a very nice lady, well, to me she is a very nice young lady. Also Alex and Batesy and Tom. Trevor is a good mate and person to speak to, but I think the girls are better than the boys.”

We particularly offer our thoughts to our friends at Abbott’s Camp who are so saddened by this loss – Sadie, Elton, Doris, Louise, Nora, Janet, Christine, Julie, Belinda, and their families. As Sadie once wrote in a funeral fax: “Bless you Mob”.
I think it is fitting to end with some words of wisdom and resilience from Kunmumara Anderson. She was quoted at her funeral as saying “It isn’t hard to make friends – all you got to do is open your mouth.”

On behalf of the Ngapartji Ngapartji team
Jane.