Returning Artefacts to the Traditional Custodians
In late July, the Hurley family met with Derek Oram Sandy to return artifacts to the Traditional Custodians of the Brisbane region.
Derek Oram Sandy, the eldest son of Marissa Sandy and Derek Oram, was born in his mother’s country of the Yerongpan Clan. He descends from the Yerongpan and Miguntyun Clans from Brisbane and the Mununjali Clan from Beaudesert. On his father’s side, he carries the bloodlines of Gangulu, Burrigubba, Wakka Wakka, Butchulla, and Durumbul. Derek is a member of Northey Street City Farm’s First Nations Advisory Group and has been very generous with sharing his cultural knowledge with the Northey Street City Farm community for a number of years now.
The artifacts—a digging stick, boomerangs (Burragun), and another stick possibly used ceremonially —had been held by the Hurley family since circa. 1911. As the Hurley family ancestors have since past, some of the information and history has unfortunately been lost with them. What we know is that the brothers, Thomas Francis and John (Jack) Hurley, lived with their family on a dairy farm in the Newmarket area. In the early 1900’s, the brothers would regularly play in Enoggera Creek with the aboriginal children, and it is understood that the artefacts were given as gifts to Thomas and Jack, becoming cherished items displayed in the family’s Newmarket home for over a century. When the home was sold in 2019, Wendy and Tom Hurley (grandson of Thomas Francis), safeguarded these artifacts with the hope of returning them to their rightful owners.
The perfect opportunity arose when Wendy saw Derek’s incredible Welcome to Country at the NSCF Winter Solstice Festival. His deep connection to Country and stories of the Jagera and Turrbull connection to Enoggera Creek and surrounding areas really resonated with Wendy, who realised Derek was the missing link she had been seeking.
The return of these artifacts has been a profound and moving process for both families. The artifacts represent a missing link to the past, and their return is a crucial step in restoring lost parts of the Yerongpan Clan history. The Hurley family feels deeply privileged to have connected with Derek and to have played a part in this important act of reconciliation.
Thank you to Derek and the Hurleys for sharing this moving story.
We strongly urge anyone who may have information or artifacts to return to get in touch with Derek or contact Northey Street City Farm to assist in this process. Every returned artifact helps in piecing together First Nations Peoples history and heritage.
We strongly urge anyone who may have information or artifacts to return to get in touch with Derek or contact Northey Street City Farm to assist in this process. Every returned artifact helps in piecing together First Nations Peoples history and heritage.
Contact
Derek Oram Sandy via Yerongpan Dancers or Northey Street City Farm on info@nscf.org.au.
