2019 Wurundjeri Welcome to Country for Aunty Alison Hunt

A rare and special invitation to meet Senior Western Arrernte and Pitjantjatjara Elder, Aunty Alison Hunt

If you feel the call to build a strong connection across the land through respectful sharing and loving kindness, we welcome you to join us in welcoming Aunty Alison Hunt along with Aunty Di Kerr. 

Aunty Alison will arrive on Saturday 09 November and on Sunday 10 November 2019, from 10.30am, a free public gathering will be held with Aunty Di Kerr, to Welcome Aunty Alison to Country.

About Aunty Alison Hunt:

Aunty Alison Hunt is an Western Arrernte and Pitjantjatjara Senior Woman. Aunty Alison has worked actively over the last 45 years as an important advocate and a strong voice for her people and until recently, was the Senior Cultural Advisor at Voyagers Resort in Yulara. She was  an active cultural consultant and board member for various Central Australian Aboriginal organizations and councils. She was also a consultant to various State and Federal Government Ministers, Prime Ministers, Indigenous Human Rights Advocates, members of the Royal family, and His Holiness The 14th Dalai Lama.

As a speaker, mediator, facilitator, and also as a bush medicine healing practitioner in her own right, she brings to her own work a wealth of personal experience in indigenous women’s law and culture and carries the full support of her tribal elders across both the APY Lands (Anangu Pitjantjatjara-Yankunytjatjara lands) and throughout Central Australia. Her work also carries enormous cultural responsibility in both representing and reporting back to her tribal elders. She has also worked in the field of family violence for several years.

In her personal healing sessions, Auntie Alison works closely with the assistance of her senior elders and also her ancestral guides, and combines traditional massage, a potent bush remedy known as ‘aratja’, and traditional smoke treatments. Her potent healing hands have supported the well being of hundreds of clients from all over Australia and abroad in alleviating body pains and aches, and supporting the release and healing of emotional trauma, depression, and personal blockages.
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Aunty Alison Hunt has been given permission and support by her Elders to reach out to the Melbourne Community and share the spirit of Tjungungku Palyantja with her bush medicines, healing sessions, cultural workshops and traditional paintings as well as painting collaborations in late 2015 and 2016.

Aunty Alison Hunt has been taking time off work to volunteer her time and personal funds to make the above possible. She and we are very grateful to everyone who has supported her in these missions.

2015 was the first tentative visit by Aunty Alison who was welcomed by Wurundjeri elder Aunty Di Kerr. Aunty only shared her bush medicine and healings as well as her children's traditional paintings. The House of Three in Elwood hosted Aunty Alison for a private gathering.

In 2016 Aunty Di Kerr welcomed Aunty Alison Hunt back to Melbourne and was hosted by Naturalis Community Health Inc (housed by Naturalis Clinic) to run her cultural workshops and family gatherings to paint together. She also conducted her healing sessions and shared her bush medicine at the holistic community health centre.

In 2017, Aunty Di Kerr and a group of volunteers travelled to Yulara for the Tjungu Festival and were welcomed by Aunty. Details of the event can be accessed here: https://www.sbs.com.au/language/english/tjungu-festival-2017-anangu-senior-women-share-law-and-understanding-of-coming-together

In 2018, Aunty Alison Hunt returned to Melbourne (hosted by Community Health Initiative) and, also visited Sydney.

This year, in 2019, Aunty Alison will spend 3-4 weeks in Melbourne, staying with Paul Byrne-Moroney.

On Sunday, 17 November 2019, Aunty Alison and Aunty Di will host an Aboriginal women’s only gathering, from 11am. Duration is TBC.

Aunty Alison has asked Paul to greet visitors with her, before leaving the women to meet alone.

Location is in St Helena (near Greensborough) and accessible via bus 518 as well as 517, 385, 901 (plus approximately 12 mins walk).

For the final weekend, Aunty Alison, who loves to sing Country and Western music, has requested that Paul organise a concert – so if you’re a musician, or a performer of any type, please let Paul know. This event will be held on Saturday 30 November, from mid-afternoon.

If you’re attending any of the public events, please let Paul and Miles know... And if possible, bring a plate to share (and a cushion to sit on!). Uncle Mick Coombes will be making damper for the Welcome to Country this Sunday, for example, but if we get a big turnout, other contributions will definitely be appreciated.

Maximum capacity of the gathering is 120 pax. So please RSVP early to book your spot! If you are too late to get a ticket, please SMS Paul or Miles to be put on the waitlist.

Details re healing sessions for adults and children (and babies) will be available at the events and by contacting Paul from Thursday 7 November. Jars of Aunty Alison’s bush medicine will be available for sale at the events.

Paul: 0419 334 805 (via SMS only, please)

Miles: 0452 215 259 (via SMS only, please)

Private Healings with Aunty Alison

These are one-on-one and will be available most days, Monday-Saturday, during her stay.

Private healing sessions are $100
Please note that Aunty works in “blackfella” time… so the application of the bush remedy can range from 15-30 mins… depending on the person… any left over time is your sacred opportunity to speak to her in person. Total time with Aunty is between 45-55 mins per person. Please allow 30-60 mins in between your session times as time can be a little fluid!

Bush Medicine: $50 per 50g jar

This remedy is her own special blend of healing herbs and oils and is basically an indigenous panacea for everything from acne to asthma (great for cuts, healing burns and sun protection as well). Traditional Chinese Medicine doctors in Alice Springs liken Aratja to achieving the results of moxibustion and more.

All profits from the sale of the bush medicine, healing sessions, paintings (and any other workshops/events to be announced) go to support her elders and community.

Please note: no-one supporting Aunty Alison’s visit is paid, all support is in kind and there is no funding for her visit. Therefore, contributions in support of Aunty Alison’s visit (i.e. petrol) are welcome. Aunty Alison is unable to fly and will be travelling all the way from Alice Springs by car. Any money raised during this time goes towards her community and the elders.

Donations (over $2 will entitle you to a Deductible Gift Receipt) via www.friendsofchi.org and click on the Donate Tab on the top right corner.
Please type “AUNTY ALISON” and Your Mobile No. in the Bill/Invoice Reference section so that we can allocate this accurately.

Aunty Alison Hunt and her elders will be sending each donor their love and blessings from afar. :)

ADDITIONAL INFO
In alignment with indigenous protocol, in the event of any unforeseen circumstances, 'sorry business' or other unexpected indigenous complications, the events may be cancelled with or without last minute notice. We appreciate your understanding with this.