Western awards an honorary fellowship to Biduginbul Elder and storyteller, Uncle Wes Marne
On Tuesday, 13 December, Western Sydney University conferred the title of Honorary Fellow on Uncle Wes Marne AM, in recognition of his significant contribution as a cultural leader, an advocate, educator and mentor to the communities of Western Sydney.
Uncle Wes Marne is a Biduginbul Elder; an educator; a purveyor and champion of Aboriginal culture; an advocate for vulnerable young people; a storyteller, a poet, and artist; and a pillar of the community in Greater Western Sydney.
Remarkably, he celebrated his 100th birthday earlier this year, an extraordinary feat, considering the great adversity he has experienced in his life, including living through the Stolen Generations and World War II, serving in the Korean War, being unwelcome in the education system, and recently also surviving a bout of COVID-19.
Born in 1922, Uncle Wes grew up in southern Queensland until he was nine years of age, when his family were forced to move from tribal lands and live on the Deadbird Mission on the New South Wales Northern Tablelands. Uncle Wes moved to Sydney in the early 1960s and has lived in Mount Druitt for the past 45 years, where he has become a well-regarded, senior leader in the local community.
Among his many accomplishments, in 2011, Uncle Wes was a proud recipient of the first NSW Department of Education ‘Nanga Mai Love of Learning award’, which celebrates and recognises innovation, excellence and achievement in Aboriginal education in NSW public schools, school communities and the Department of Education and Training offices. In 2016 Uncle Wes’ show Fire Bucket premiered to sell-out audiences at the Sydney Festival and he has also shared his stories verbally as part of the Urban Theatre’s 'Blak Box’ project during the Sydney Festival in 2019. Earlier this year, Uncle Wes released a book of 50 poems ‘Through Old Eyes’ in celebration of his 100th birthday.
In addition to his work in education, arts and culture, Uncle Wes has been a pillar of strength for the Mount Druitt community. He has served as a long-term and founding member of the Mount Druitt and Districts Reconciliation Group, which has organised an annual Reconciliation Walk and Concert in Mount Druitt for more than 20 years. He regularly performs smoking ceremonies, Welcome to Country ceremonies and speaks at a range of community events. Uncle Wes is also a mentor to young people, often taking at-risk youth under his wing and treating them as his own family and is a regular visitor to young Aboriginal men in prison helping them to regain confidence to advocate on their own behalf.
In recognition of his significant contributions to the community, Uncle Wes was presented with the Australia Medal at Government House in early October by the Governor General her Excellency the Honourable Margaret Beasley. Blacktown City Mayor Tony Bleasdale OAM also bestowed a ‘Key to the City’ on Uncle Wes in April of this year, to mark his 100th birthday. Uncle Wes also received a ‘UWS Community Award’ during the University’s Autumn graduation ceremonies in 2012.
Uncle Wes, Honorary Fellow and Aboriginal Elder, said that he feels incredibly privileged and honoured to have received such recognition for his commitment to community and culture.
“I am proud to be recognised as an Honorary Fellow by Western Sydney University. This fellowship celebrates my knowledge and the knowledge my Old People shared,” said Uncle Wes.
Professor Michelle Trudgett, Deputy Vice-Chancellor Indigenous Leadership, thanks Uncle Wes for his distinguished service to Western Sydney’s Indigenous communities and acknowledges that being awarded an Honorary Fellowship is a significant achievement.
“Western Sydney University is proud to have the continued support, guidance and leadership of Uncle Wes Marne who is an incredibly worthy recipient of an Honorary Fellowship in recognition of his knowledge and contributions towards cultural education and communities. He has made significant and sustained contributions to Western Sydney’s Indigenous communities, and for this we offer him our appreciation and thanks,” said Professor Trudgett.
Western Sydney University would once again like to congratulate Uncle Wes and thank him for his leadership and sharing of cultural knowledge.
ENDS
19 December 2022
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