Last day of Garma

Michelle, Trevor and Emma headed in early today as they wanted to participate in the early morning Thai Chi with Jack Thompson. We headed in a little later and met them for breakfast. After breakfast we went over to have a coffee, oh no they were closed and there was a sign on the hatch saying they had run out. Michelle and I were devastated and Emma pretty unhappy she had to spend the rest of the day with us with no coffee lol. Michelle and I headed down to the women’s only healing area. Trevor went to the Yidaki healer Djalu and had some time chatting to him and a healing. And Jock and Emma wandered about what stalls were left.

There were no phones or photos allowed at the healing, here secret women’s business is very secret. Mind you a man was found trying to come in, he was deaf and did not understand why it was a closed area. He went very red when he found out but he gave us a laugh. The area was enclosed with hessian, as you walked in there was a huge mat to sit on, there were two old baths sunk in to the ground with hot water from the fire being poured in. Also there were leaves, about 4 different kinds boiling in the water and then added to the baths. Who ever wanted to could take a turn getting into the baths and local ladies massaged the leaves all over their bodies, concentrating on pacific areas if told there was a problem there. Michelle got in and enjoyed her session, I could not get in as there was no way I would have been able to get out with my knees and hips. The ladies were great, they got me to sit over my walker, bum hanging out and massaged the leaves into the base of my spine then turned to my broken finger and my knees. It was relaxing and most definitely helped for a while obviously helping the inflammation. I got to talk to one of the local young ladies for a while she was very informative and talked about having more facilities for the disabled next Garma, she herself was in a wheel chair. We also got to witness a couple of younger ladies having fertility healing, it is said that by 6 months after this they would be pregnant. They sat with legs apart with certain leave smoking in a pot and a towel over their lap to keep the smoke in. It was a lovely morning, the ladies were all very friendly and could not help enough. Yet another privilege of the Garma.

We wandered about after lunch, chatted to people and waited for Bunngal time. This was the closing ceremony, Jack Thompson was up on the stage and the dancers danced and danced and danced it was fantastic. Apparently when they have a celebration or especially a death in the village they can do these dances all night long. We did not see all our little friends this evening, just one and a couple of new faces. The kids are so damn cute you could just swoop them up and take them home. The elder in charge of the ceremony kept saying over the microphone, just one more dance, just one more dance, I think he was as sad as we were to see this festival come to an end.

We were all laughing at the end of each dance waiting for him to say, once more! But alas it did come to an end and the flags were all removed ceremoniously, so sad but on a high for all that we had experienced

I cannot leave Garma until I have introduced you to the lovely lady Sue Ellen who made this dream come true for us all. I will be forever indebted to her for inviting us and introducing us to her beautiful Yulongu family. We learnt so much and I know that one day we will return. Thank you Sue Ellen.