Mavis Brooks , but the man ’ s heart was broken again just two years later when Mavis and their two young children - two-year-old Helen , and two months old Wayne , died in a motor vehicle accident .
Wes Marne came to our neck of the woods in 1959 with a new partner and two daughters , Melanie and Louise , and settled in Mount Druitt .
At 100 years old , he is still committed to sharing the traditional knowledge of
With These Hands by Eddie Fisher
These hands aren ’ t the hands of a gentleman , these hands are calloused and old These hands raised a family , these hands built a home Now these hands raised to praise the Lord
These hands won the heart of my loved one , and with hers they were never alone If these hands filled their task then what more could you ask For these fingers have worked to the bone
Now don ’ t try to judge me by what you ’ d like me be For my life hasn ’ t been a success Some people have power but still they grieve While these hands brought me happiness
Now I ’ m tired and I ’ m old and I haven ’ t much gold Maybe things ain ’ t been all that I planned Lord above hear my plea when it ’ s time to judge me Take a look at these hard-working hands , take a look at these hard-working hands . his full-blood Grandfather Mukkawee ’ s creation and dreaming stories , and his personal experiences of life as an Aboriginal man over the last century .
Mukkawee and his son , Les , were experts in conducting smoking ceremonies and inspirational storytellers and Uncle Wes is a chip of the old blocks .
Uncle Wes is renowned throughout our community and further afield for the Aboriginal culture and story-telling education he brings when he visits schools , events and organisations .
In 2011 , Uncle Wes was the proud recipient of the first Nanga Mai Love of Learning Award which celebrates and recognises innovation , excellence and achievement in Aboriginal education .
He is a founding member of the Mount Druitt and Districts Reconciliation Group which , for the past 22 years , has organised the annual Reconciliation Walk and Concert in Mount Druitt .
Uncle Wes has dedicated many years to helping incarcerated children and adults to get their lives back on track by aiding them to regain confidence and to advocate on their own behalf .
He helped establish a community storytelling garden in Bidwill – Kwinnies Garden , in the grounds of Graceades Cottage , it is where Uncle Wes can relate his entertaining and inspirational stories to the community .
Inspired and “ goaded ” by Alicia Talbot , the Manager Arts and Cultural Development at the fabulous Blacktown Arts Centre , Uncle Wes produced a oneman show called Fire Bucket in which he sat on stage beside a four-gallon drum with a fire inside and told his amazing life story .
Fire Bucket premiered at the 2016 Sydney Festival , playing to spellbound , sell-out audiences and he then took it on the road to Melbourne and regional NSW where it was acclaimed by enraptured show goers .
Later this month this multi-talented man will be launch a book of poems – Through Old Eyes – and on the subject of old eyes – those 100-year-old peepers ( without glasses ) are still good enough for Uncle Wes to thread small beads in making necklaces and earrings !
Uncle Wes gave cigarettes the flick 50 years ago , but he still gets a buzz out of smoking !
He was taught smoking ceremonies by Grandfather Mukkawee when he was just a toddler and such are his skills and knowledge , for yonks he has been the “ go-to ” man to perform ritual cleansing ceremonies .
Wes lives with his daughter Melanie and is the much-loved and admired grandfather of six grandchildren .
Down the years he has battled several health problems – the ticker , a brain bleed ,
Smokin ’! Uncle Wes Marne performing a smoking ceremony on a school visit . He was taught the craft by his grandfather and father . Smoking ceremonies have been performed by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people for tens of thousands of years to cleanse people and places of bad spirits and to treat sickness .
cattle cancer ( after drinking out of cattle watering troughs for years ), COVID and of course having those teeth removed by “ Doctor ” Bennett .
“ But I ’ m still here and hopefully will still be here for a few more years yet ,” he said .
I naturally asked Uncle Wes , what was his secret to long life .
“ Just keep busy – don ’ t give your mind and body an opportunity to clock-off ,” was his reply .
BLACKTOWN CITY INDEPENDENT theindependentmagazine . com . au ISSUE 14 // MAY 2022 7