Film depicts lawman’s spirit person journey
Melbourne-based filmmaker Tim Mummery has returned to the Kimberly after nine years to finish a documentary on the physical and spiritual journey of Mowanjum lawman Donny Woolagoodja and fellow community members back to country to re-paint a sacred Wandjina, or spirit being.
The film, with a working title of Donny and Namarali, follows Donny and 15 others from Mowanjum, as they honoured the obligation and responsibility to country which Woolagoodja inherited from his father Sam, of repainting the Wandjina Namarali.
It captured the special ceremony involved, cultural heritage and documented the claim of Woolagoodja and the Mowanjum people as true custodians of Wandjina.
Mummery first met Woolagoodja during his trip to Mowanjum in 2000, as part of a team producing a health video.
Their association as collaborators developed when Mummery learned Mowanjum was presenting the sacred Wandjina Namarali at the opening of the Sydney Olympics, and they decided to document the trip.
This led to the birth of the documentary, which was filmed in 2002, partially funded by the former Australian Film Corporation, and coincided with an eight-day community “return to country” trip.
Eight adults and seven children travelled to Langgi (Fresh Water Cove), where they hunted traditional food such turtles and stingrays, with some visiting their traditional lands for the first time.
“The walk to the spectacular Namarali Cave was a number of kilometres in from the coast,” Mummery said.
“The cave is remarkable and features rock-carved columns, like a Greek building supported by colonnades.”
“I do not understand why there is not a greater understanding of the Wandjina and the custodial position of the Mowanjum people in the greater Australian community.”
A recent public outcry over removal of a Wandjina sculpture from the gallery of a New South Wales art gallery owner, could be seen to highlight ignorance within Australia of the custodial position of the Wandjina and its significance to the Mowanjum and Kimberley community.
It is hoped the film would clarify the Mowanjum people’s position and relationship with the Wandjina, for the broader Australian community.
Mummery is self-funded but seeks funds to ensure post-production is of high quality and finished in a short timeframe.
