venessapossum.com

I pay my respects to Aboriginal Peoples - past, present and future and to all Peoples who promote a continuity of culture in relation to First Nations Peoples, Indigenous species and the environment.

I am a descendant of Dharug Dharawal Muringong-Baragal Yura. I am a custodian of the muru of Johnny Budbury who was born as Ngurra at the belgeny, a waterhole with a kirboowallie, shallow region used to cross Durrubbin (Nepean River) near Camden NSW.  Budbury's daughter Mandagerry (Mary) was my grandmother - Bonita's grandmother.

The Cowpastures region: Joseph Lycett c1817, Image courtesy of National Library of Australia.

Venessa Possum Continuity 2016, Photographic documentation of a site-specific artefact. Burramattagal, Parramatta River flows beside the Orphans Home where my matrilineal ancestor Mandagerry was institutionalised c 1827. The building on this site is now known as 'Whitlam House' on the Parramatta Campus of the University of Western Sydney. 

Female Orphan School by Augustus Earle c1825. In the collection of the National Library of Australia, object/281833