Passing down teachings brings together two cultural leaders

Culture proves no barrier for firm friends as they join NAIDOC Week march and celebrations in Queens Park.

GREAT MATES: Marion Healy and Rosaline Bourne at the NAIDOC Week march from Mackay city centre to Queens Park. Picture: Stuart Quinn

THEY both share an undying passion for teaching and passing down their cultural knowledge to the next generation but Rosaline Bourne and Marion Healy said their friendship, which has spanned long over 20 years is founded on more than just their shared love of teaching.

Mrs Bourne grew up in the Torres Strait where she lived on Murray Island, known by Torres Strait Islanders as Mer after relocating to Mackay.

Mrs Healy is a descendant of South Sea Island Kanakas who were traded as slaves for the sugar industry between 1863 and 1904.

After getting to know each other through indigenous cultural events Mrs Bourne and Ms Healy became friends, although neither was quite sure exactly when they met.

"I can't remember how, can you Marion?” asked Ms Bourne as the two tried their hardest to remember when their relationship started.

"Marion and me go a long way back...I think it was through cultural activities and education.”

Both coming from a background in education, they eventually formed their lasting connection while working together to share the Torres Stait Island and South Sea Islander culture with their descendants as well as the broader Mackay community.

"When Rosaline came down here she did cultural teaching with us and that is when I came across you,” Ms Healy said.

"I was working as a regional community education councillor so it was my job to support all the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander issues and concerns, so knowing who was out there was important.”

As the pair reminisced on their friendship at Queens Park on Friday, the rest of the indigenous community joined them to celebrate NAIDOC Week with traditional food and dancing.

Children laughed as they did traditional dances to the sound of didgeridoos and the women agreed an event such as this one were why NAIDOC was so important to their community.

Mrs Healy said the week of celebrations had been beautiful.

"This is what I always talk to them young ones about,” Mrs Bourne said.

"This is the day, the family day, where you show yourself and who you really are.

"Because most of my nephews, nieces and my daughters, they were born and bred here.

"When you try to talk to them about culture, they say that it is old fashioned.”

Mrs Healy said the event, which celebrated the family unit and its importance in all three cultures, was a way to introduce children born in modern society to their culture.

At this year's NAIDOC celebrations, dancers performed traditional South Sea Island dances on Family Day, not commonly done during NAIDOC celebrations in Mackay.

Mrs Bourne said some of her fondest memories with Mrs Healy were from time spent together making craft or weaving palm leaves.

"We have worked together weaving and crafting, we share ideas and try to get ideas,” she said.

"She works with not only her people but with the other cultures as well.”

Mrs Healy added: "We teach each other and we exchange cultural ideas and cultural activities.

"What she knows in Torres Strait, I know from the South Sea Islanders.”

Originally published as Passing down teachings brings together two cultural leaders