CHRISTMAS COMES TO KAPULULANGU “Ho, ho, ho!” Mother Christmas has come to Kapululangu Well, one can’t expect a “Father” Christmas to visit Australia’s only Aboriginal Women’s Law and Culture Centre, can one? Afterall, Kapululangu is located on an Aboriginal Women’s Law (Ceremonial) Ground in one of Australia’s most remote desert communities… out here on the Edge of the Great Sandy Desert. “Mother Christmas” (aka Jenny Kelly from the Kimberley Aged and Community Services) came to visit – accompanied by her “Most Excellent Elf” (Joanna Scales, from ditto). They brought lots of fun, laughter, presents and yummy food to surprise our Elders, the Kapululangu Bosses. Excitement above excitement. It was the first time EVER that “Mother Christmas” has come to Kapululangu – and indeed the first time that she’d ever come to Balgo … can you believe that?!?!? The first “Mother Christmas” in Balgo. I heard that “Mother Christmas” was later seen driving around Balgo giving out presents to all the kids. What joy! Her Nyupa (/husband) keeps coming every year though – and the kids are getting really excited about tomorrow night’s Midnight-Mass service. Once “Jesus” appears in the Manger, the next visitor is sure to be “Father Xmas” himself. The Elders each received a trophy of a Kartak (/Cup – enamel) with their names “engraved” (drawn) on the side. And lots of yummy cookies. But the best present of all was for everyone … a beautiful tree to plant in our front yard… to provide shade for the Bosses on a hot day. Oh, and most magnificent of all… is that it’s a … wait for it… wait…. It’s a mulberry tree. Let me repeat that just in case you miss the importance… “It’s a Mulberry Tree!!!!” With it it brings the promise of many years of delicious mulberry pies. Who would have thought such a tree could suddenly appear in Balgo? I mean, in the middle of the Great Sandy? Such is the magic and miracle-ness of the Great “Mother Christmas”. I’d only just a few days ago told a local guy who’s been busy forging a garden and orchard out of the desert that the tree I really wanted in the orchard was a … dare I say it? … was a … mulberry tree. “Mother Christmas” must have been listening – or her “Most Excellent Elf” may have been hiding around the other side of my friends Troopie (car) at the time. Not sure which. When the pilot flew in with the Mail Plane, bringing the community’s post, and Jenny Kelly and Jo Scales, I was delighted to see a mulberry tree, all dressed in tinsel, arrive on the tarmac. Without a skerrick of suspicion about how or why such an apparition should materialise I announced to all and sundry how much I would simply love to have a Mulberry Tree at the Women’s Centre. So you can imagine my surprise when “Mother Christmas” turned up at the Women’s Centre with a not-very-well-disguised Mulberry Tree only an hour later. Not exactly something one can slip unnoticed into a sack of presents, hey? But the surprises didn’t stop there. Also arriving off the weekly Mail Plane were two rather hefty parcels. One later identified itself as being from the glorious Rene Gardner who sent all the Women Elders and all of the Directors and some of the Kids … and, yes, even Me, magnificently wrapped presents. This year she’s done it again. She’s totally excelled herself. This box is full of carefully wrapped presents, each with an Elder or Directors name written on it, with a beautiful bonbon attached to each. I’m so delighted and somewhat relieved… not just for the fun the Elders and Directors will have in opening their presents, but because this year… alas… I haven’t managed to get away from Balgo to do any shopping for everyone. Last year I’d found myself in Sydney only weeks beforehand. The other parcel is from the copiously-providing Steph Glover… past-Marlpa Extraordinaire who keeps sending parcels of beautiful clothing for the Bosses and Directors. Her latest box didn’t arrive here just in time for Christmas by accident, you know. It was planned. It has beautiful thongs in it too – which the women are just going to be so excited about. It’s really hard getting shoes out here – not many appear in the Store and then only occasionally… and the ground here is so damn hot in the middle of summer. Aren’t we blessed to have so many wonderful women sending us lots of loving and caring – all parcelled up in bright Christmas wrapping and heart-felt hugs? And as for “Mother Christmas” and her beard… whoever said that women don’t have beards? Bit of a podgy stomach there though – peeping out above her white-fur decorated red trousers. Meanwhile we’ve currently got three wonderful Marlpa (Companion/Friend/Carer) volunteers who have come to share Christmas with us – and then stay on to support the Elders in participating in the annual Law Time Ceremonies that extend over January and into February. These remarkable women are… The gently astute Kel Raison who has returned to us after spending two months here a year ago. Cinzia Shincariol, an Italian dancer with a big smile and good heart. And Raquel Woods who is full of so much good loving cheer that it bubbles out of her. The Elders love them, of course. And they love the Elders. This is as it should be. So all of us here at the Women’s Centre are busy getting Christmas happening. And after Christmas, there’s “The Law” ceremonies which will see us living in our neighbouring community of Kururrungku (aka Billiluna) for a week or more. But more about that later… In the meanwhile we send all of our Donors and Supporters the best of best wishes for a fun-filled Christmas. May “Christmas” come visit you to – whatever form she/he/it takes. This is the season … to be jolly… and to rest and revitalise for the coming New Year. Here’s a photo of “Mother Christmas” giving Linda Charmawina her present – you can see Maudi, Mayan and Payi Payi waiting for their presents too. And another photo of her with very delighted Manaya Sarah Daniels. If you’d like to gift the Kapululangu Elders a present for this Christmas… please consider becoming a donor? We rely on donations to make it possible for our Elders to continue to live on their ceremonial grounds where they are in constant relationship with each other, their families, their Country, their Tjukurrpa (Dreaming). You can make a one-off donation, or arrange a monthly donation. Do it online through your bank now. For our Bank Details just go to our website at kapululangu.org./Sponsors.php Please email us or PM us to tell us youve made a donation, how much and what time. With our deepest thanks.
Posted on: Tue, 23 Dec 2014 16:38:27 +0000
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