Over the last weekend of July, NITV drove 12 hours from our Sydney office onto the lush ochre banks of the Barwon/Darling River. Brewarrina, or "Bre" as it's locally known, is a small NSW town just shy of the Queensland border with an Indigenous population of about 70 per cent.
For a town of roughly 1,000 people, Bre has an abundance of rich history. It's widely known for it's stone fish traps or 'Ngunnhu', a structure designed for catching fish that swam upstream. These traps are estimated as being 40, 000 years old, making it one of the oldest man-made structures in the world. Bre is also home to the tragic Hospital Creek Massacre and the Brewarrina Aboriginal Mission Site.
It is now known for their vibrant community literacy program and last year, the Brewarrina community (Ngemba, Muruwari and Yualwarri people) were a part of Erica Glyn's In My Own Words documentary, a film which tells the story of adult illiteracy. As a thank you for opening up their homes and lives to our camera crew, NITV hosted a screening of the film, including a bbq event in the local community center.
Arriving on that lush red earth Source: NITV
Managing Digital Producer, Dan G behind the cam Source: NITV
Brewarrina at dusk Source: NITV
Welcome to Brewarrina Source: NITV
Brewarrina Hotel on the main street Source: NITV
The ancient fish traps in the Barwon River Source: NITV
Some of the NITV digital team, Dan and Sophie Source: NITV
Commissioning editor, Helen admires the banks of the Barwon River Source: NITV
Uncle Bradley takes the team on country Source: NITV
Uncle Bradly says the weir built into the Barwon River is having a negative effect on the river's ecology Source: NITV
Head of Commissioning, Mary-Ellen looks upon the Barwon River. Source: NITV
Managing Digital Producer, Dan films the On Country tour with Uncle Bradley Source: NITV
Project Coordinator, Lowanna Source: NITV
Barwon River at sunset Source: NITV
Plaque at the former Brewarrina Aboriginal Mission Source: NITV
River on the site of the former Brewarrina Aboriginal Mission Source: NITV
Brewarrina Local Aboriginal Lands Council Source: NITV
Brewarrina and district war memorial Olympic pool Source: NITV
Community gather to watch In My Own Words Source: NITV
Young dancers open the film screening Source: NITV
A delicious rainbow Paddle-Pop sunset Source: NITV
Future NITV-ers? Source: NITV
Front row seat, feet up Source: NITV
Young dancers perform the 'Emu Dance' Source: NITV
NITV presents Mary Waits, who features in the documentary, with the framed movie poster. Source: NITV
Mary and Clarence, two of the featured personalities in In My Own Words hold their framed movie poster Source: NITV
NITV Brewarrina Community Screening - that's a wrap! Source: NITV
Watch the compelling documentary filmed in Brewarrina, #InMyOwnWords On Demand, part of the #YouAreHere series on NITV.
