The boy who steals a handbag, gets thrown in the car boot and ends up dancing

A boy steals a handbag. An eagle watches from above. A lizard crosses his path. The old people already know how this story ends.

Drawing on the storytelling of Gomeroi artist Matthew Priestley, this episode explores belonging, responsibility, and the long shadow left by people being separated from the places—and each other—they call home.

To join us at Coequal's Patreon Page: Click here

To listen to the podcast Wirilla: click here

To check out the website for Big hArt: Click here

Detailed Music Credits "Chrysalis" by Simon McCorry, "Soundscape" by Mirko Sossai, "Omen" by Richard Johnson, "Hurt Guitar Track 8" by Damian Mason, "Charmaine" by Philip Okerstrom, "Rockhoppy Loop" by Philip Okerstrom, "Dof Dof" by Philip Okerstrom, "Didgeridoo Long Loop" by Tera Mangala, "Guitar bits and bobs" by Philip Okerstrom, "Porch Blues" by Kevin McLeod, "Sneaky" by Philip Okerstrom, "Guts and Bourbon" by Kevin McLeod, "Deranged-terrifying-modern-hor" by Matthew Creid, "Tranquility Base" by Chill Factor, "Wonder and Intrigue" by Erick McNerney, "Spirit Land" by Tristan Barton, "Didgeridoo Ambient 2" by Pascal Tatipata, "What Dreams May Come" by Tristan Barton.

Detailed Episode Description

Act 1. Dreaming

The episode opens with Gomeroi storyteller Matthew Priestley sharing a story about Dreaming, creation, animals, Country and the responsibilities that connect people to the natural world. Through conversation and storytelling, Matthew describes how different animals came to hold different dreams, and reflects on the relationship between people, Country, language and knowledge. The act also introduces listeners to Gomeroi Country and explores how knowledge was traditionally passed between generations. Act 2. Dinawan (The Emu)

Dante and Khalani introduce Dinawan, the emu in the sky. They explain how Gomeroi people read the dark spaces in the Milky Way to see the shape of the emu and how its changing position throughout the year connected to seasonal knowledge, emu eggs, ceremony and gatherings. The act then traces the disruption caused by colonisation, including the loss of land, the interruption of pathways and songlines, restrictions on language and culture, and the impacts of missions, reserves and child removal policies.

Act 3. Shook

The story moves forward to Moree during Matthew's childhood and teenage years. Drawing on research, historical records and Matthew's own memories, the episode explores the experiences of Aboriginal young people in the criminal justice system during the 1970s and 1980s. Matthew reflects on school, wagging classes, getting into trouble and learning to navigate a world shaped by policing, surveillance and expectations. The discussion considers how contact with the justice system became a common experience for many Aboriginal young people.

Act 4. The Boy Who Steals a Handbag, Gets Thrown in the Car Boot and Ends Up Dancing

Khalani, Dante and Phil tell Matthew's Real Made Up Story originally written for the film HURT. Thirteen-year-old Alfie steals a handbag with his friend Cammo and uses the money to buy alcohol. The next morning he wakes to find himself bundled into the boot of a car by his uncles and driven deep into the bush. Left alone on Country, Alfie spends two days trying to find his way home.Along the way he encounters possums, lizards, kangaroos, birds and eagles, follows signs in the landscape, spends a night alone under the stars and slowly learns to pay attention to the world around him. Eventually he is reunited with his uncles, who paint him with ochre, share food with him and teach him through song and dance before returning him home.After the story, Matthew reflects on the real-life experience that inspired it and discusses how the story became part of the film HURT.

Conclusion

The episode closes with Matthew discussing storytelling, memory and the process of carrying older stories into contemporary forms. Listeners are invited to continue the journey through the Wirilla podcast seri