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Reconnecting with Country
Mirritya Warriku shares her photo at a Dubbo Slide Night
Q: What’s in this photo?
A black-and-white family photo from around 1930, taken near Innamincka. These are my ancestors, the Wongkumara people. My grandfather as a child, my great-grandfather—an initiated elder—my great-grandmother holding her 13th baby, and her mother in her nineties, wearing a mourning headdress.
Q: Why is it special to you?
Because I grew up not knowing I was Aboriginal. I found out near 40 and went on a year-long journey to reconnect. This photo makes me proud—they thrived in the desert, strong and resilient. But it also makes me sad because a few years later, they were forcibly moved to missions. Language and culture were broken.
Q: How does it shape your life now?
I’m learning my language and working to revive it for my son and future generations. For me, this isn’t just history—it’s a mission.
Mirritya's Mission
Mirritya's mission to learn and revive her language came closer to reality when she graduated as part of the very first alumni of the Graduate Certificate in Indigenous Language Revitalisation.
Dubbo Slide Night is more than an event—it’s a night of connection through stories.
Here's how it goes: 4–5 locals from all walks of life share a personal photo and answer three simple questions, sparking laughter, reflection, and conversation.
We intentionally bring together a mix of voices from across the community—because when we share stories, we strengthen the ties that hold us together.
No two nights are ever the same, but every one leaves you feeling more connected: to people, to place, and to the power of storytelling. That’s the Social Gain way—building social cohesion, one story at a time.
