Oral history interview and photograph of Maureen Taylor concerning the repatriation of Mungo Man to Mungo National Park by Louise Darmody, 19 September 2018

fonds

19 September 2018

Nonmusical Sound Recordings, Oral Histories

9616447

1 audio file (82 min.) - digital, WAV, stereo (48 kHz, 24 bit)
1 photograph - digital, JPEG, colour

This interview is a follow-up to those commissioned by the Library during 2017-2018 to mark the historic return of Indigenous skeletal remains to Mungo National Park. The remains were removed from their burial sites by Archaeologists and kept at the Australian National University in Canberra – Mungo Lady in 1969 and Mungo Man in 1974.

Mungo Lady and Mungo Man are the oldest and most significant human remains found in Australia being dated at 40,000-42,000 years old. Given its cultural and anthropological significance Mungo National Park has been included on UNESCO’s World Heritage list.
Reference: Library correspondence file.


Maureen Taylor is a Ngiyampaa woman from a large family associated with far western communities at Murrin Bridge, Menindee and Wilcannia. She is one of a group of Aboriginal custodians who initiated and helped guide the repatriation process. She was present at the formal and cultural ceremonies held at Lake Mungo and Mildura in November 2017, in celebration of the return of Mungo Man and Mungo Lady.

Maureen is the older sister of Dawn Smith who has also been interviewed for this series, on 16 November 2017 and 21 April 2018.

Louise Darmody is an established journalist, producer, oral historian and founder of Sound Memories an oral history and documentary-making firm established in 2003. She has conducted a wide range of interviews particularly relating to cultural and social history and contemporary life, for the State Library of New South Wales.

Reference: Library correspondence file

ITEM 1
Maureen Taylor interview by Louise Darmody, 19 September 2018

ITEM 2
Photograph of Maureen Taylor, 19 September / by Louise Darmody

Copyright status:: In copyright
Copyright holder:: State Library of New South Wales
Please acknowledge:: Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales

Acquired in digital format. Access copy available online