Wednesday, April 24, 2024  
 
 
       
Murawina
     
   
    Oral history interviews  

Margo Beasley interviewed Norma Ingram, founding administrator of Murawina, in 2006.
LISTEN at the Dictionary of Sydney


Norma was interviewed in 1975 for 'Tharunka'.  Read it at Trove

     
   
       
Redfern: Aboriginal activism in the 1970s
  
by Johanna Perheentupa  -  thesis  |  book
CHAPTER 5Murawina: For the unity of Aboriginal women
     
   
       

pic - The breakfast program in Hollis Park, at the
bottom of Georgina St, Newtown [New Dawn, May 1972]

In September the breakfast program moved to 72 Shepherd St, thanks to Leon Fink who donated a building. In January 1973 the program was named Murawina, Arrernte for black woman,
and was now solely run by local women, and in June the preschool was started.

Murawina moved to its own building in Eveleigh St in 1979
then to the Redfern Public School site in 2003, and has
since closed.
     
   
    New Dawn  

1972 Aboriginal breakfast program [New Dawn May 72]
              
It began when young Sydney Aboriginal Paul Coe approached the Wayside Chapel early this year. Like many other people, he was concerned that Aboriginal children from lower income homes in the city were not receiving an adequate diet, and he asked the Wayside Chapel to help. After discussion with Aboriginal mothers in the Redfern - Newtown area, the Wayside Chapel agreed. It was decided to run a pilot project, starting early in February.


1972 The breakfast program; from small beginnings [New Dawn December 72]

At 8 a.m. each weekday morning 30-40 children assemble at 'Murawina', a renovated building in Shepherd Street, Chippendale for a voluntary scheme aimed at alleviating nutritional and educational problems. Recently more Aboriginal people, particularly mothers, have become involved in the running of the scheme, especially since Billy Craigie began working for the chapel as Aboriginal coordinator.

In September a property in Shepherd Street was donated by a Sydney businessman for use over 2 years. The grant was made with the B.P. in mind and the property, ‘Murawina’, at 72 Shepherd Street, was put under the control of a group of Aboriginal mothers.



1973 Aid for Murawina [New Dawn September 73]

The Aboriginal Women’s Group which operates the 'Murawina' centre has received two grants totaling $40,000 from the Commonwealth Government to assist in their breakfast program and for their other pre-school and cultural programs. Part of the grant will enable the group to employ a pre-school teacher and Yirrkala leader, Mr Wunjuk Marika, to combine conventional pre-school teaching with traditional cultural tuition. The recent grants have allowed Mrs Norma Williams to work fulltime.
     
   
       

Murawina 1978 - Signing the contract to start construction,
after years of campaigning. FILM uploaded by NFSA.
     
   
    photos  

NAA – A6180:22/4/80/12
Set of 8 photos
     
   
    photos  

Barbara Silva, Roslyn Silva on right and Karla Carr
Photos by Michael Riley in 1980s
     
   
    1987  
Michael Jackson @ Murawina in 1987
Who was that baby ? 

the story from Vilma Ryan
     
   
       
Search for more
     
   
Terms Of Use  |  Privacy Statement  |  Copyright (c) 2024 Redfern Oral History  | Register  |  Login |  Website Solution: Pixel Alchemy