‘Auntie’ Ethel Munn (L) and Camilla Cowley (R) in March 1999 at the Women’s Reconciliation initiative in Brisbane Queensland
When Camilla Cowley’s south-western Queensland property came under native title claim she was fearful and angry. Against legal advice she sought out the claimants and upon hearing their case joined their cause. She learnt that the traditional owners, the Gunggari, ‘didn’t want to turf them off the land. They wanted, finally after all those years, recognition of who they were, where they came from and where they belonged’.
Mrs Ethel Munn is an Aboriginal Elder of the Gunggari people in South West Queensland. Camilla Cowley lived on a grazing property, North Yancho, at Bolton, between Cunnamulla and St George. Munn and Cowley worked together to set up a nature refuge on the property which the Gunggari people have named Illmargani, precious waterhole, because of the water birds, ibis, ducks and brolgas, which flock there during the wet season. Illmargani means that the Gunggari people know that there will always be a place for them within their traditional country.
With Illmargani Munn and Cowley became part of an Australian history of Indigenous and non-Indigenous women working together.
Source:
1.Women Reconcile
A collection of stories highlighting the person steps made in Australia ’s march toward reconciliation. State of Queensland (Office of Women’s Policy, Department of Fair Trading) 2000
Australian Women's History Forum 