VIVIAN MASON

From Aunty Viv

I was born in Sydney on 6.5.1947 to parents Gordon Ella and Mabel Stewart. Gordon was a Bidgigal Man and May a Walbunja Dirringanj Woman. I am the eldest of 13 children. I grew up knowing my Great Grandmother Jane Cooley nee Brown and all my old folk. I went to La Perouse School and attended High school at Maroubra Domestic Girls High School.

I left school at 14 after completing my intermediate certificate, to help look after my 12 siblings. I married Ron Mason in 1965 and had 7 children, 2 of the children Ron had prior to our marriage. After marrying Ron, we lived in Mt Druitt for 10 years where my Nan helped us set up Wanderers Aboriginal Sport Club. I learnt a lot from Nan Stewart, she was the 1st Aboriginal Woman in NSW to be appointed a Justice of the Peace.

Nanny was also awarded an OAM (Medal of the Order of Australia) for her Service to Aboriginal Welfare in NSW. We moved back to Narooma in 1979 and have been in the area since.

I learnt more of my culture from Aunty Heather Pickalla, Aunty Shirley Foster and my many aunties. I co-founded Katungul with a couple of other people, I was on the ATSIC Board, and many other boards, joined the Land Rights Movement in 1983 and have been involved ever since.

In 2013 I helped set up Djaadjawan Dancers and am still involved with the group and the success it has today. The highlight was the recent Baranguba Production, dancing with 4 generations of my family.

I still encourage our women to take their rightful place of our strong matriarchal society. I also helped recover the Dhurga language and have spent over 30 years researching and revitalising our sacred language.

My hobbies are shellwork, dancing, fishing, camping and being with my family – including my 31 grandchildren and 34 great-grandchildren.

At Giiyong this year Aunty Vivian will be part of the Language Revival panel on the Aunty Elaine Thomas Stage. Aunty Vivian often also makes an appearance with the Djaadjawan Dancers. Keep a look out.