Visit to Baiame Cave, Milbrodale NSW
On Tuesday 16th we visited the Baiame
Cave (the creator in Wonnarua spirituality) in the Wollemi National Park. The trip down the Putty Road past the expansive coalmines of Singleton and Bulga. In contrast to the seamless plains, we arrived
at a green fertile valley via a windy dusty dirt road, heading south through
the valley into the home to the Baiame. Our guides Adam, Jake and Margaret were
waiting for us. The group was welcomed and cleansed by the ceremonial
smoke and the lore of respect. We trekked down a river flat corridor and entered
the spiritual grounds of the Wonnarua People. The clouds shadowed the landscape
and the wind whisked the trees and grasses as we walked towards the cave up on
a craggy outcrop of boulders surrounded by Eucalyptus, she-oaks and blue wrens fluttering
and singing to us from the deadwood branches that were beacons to the cave. We
greeted the Baiame Cave with the words “Yum Ger-ad” meaning “hello we have arrived;
we are here” and the Baiame spirit would welcome us into the meeting place. The
spiritual painting was rich in red and white ochre’s worn over thousands of
years looking down on the valley and world below where once it was a meeting
place for Wiradjuri, Kamilaroi Darkinjung and Wonnarua Peoples.
Adam the guide explained the story of Baiame and
the all seeing eyes of wisdom and love and the extended arms that hold all of
us together as brothers, sister, mothers, fathers, uncles and aunts. Every living
being is connected, we are all connected as part of the earth, the sky the
animals, family and friends.
The group listened to Dreamtime stories of the
Tiddlelick Frog and the story of how the Crow turned black. The group danced
to the rhythm of Clap-sticks and dance stories. The day finished with a walk
back through the valley to the reality of awaiting cars.
I would like to thank the guides, Adam, Jake and
Margaret for a joyous and meaningful experience of Aboriginal culture.
