Lynne Thomas

Lynne Thomas is a Yuin and Biripi Cultural knowledge holder whose life and work are rooted in Yuin Country on Australia’s Far South Coast. She is the daughter of the late tribal elder Guboo (Ted) Thomas, who played a pivotal role in Aboriginal land rights campaigns in NSW. Lynne carries forward that legacy, combining cultural leadership, language revival, storytelling, and land advocacy with a compelling artistic voice.

Lynne has devoted much of her life to restoring and sharing the Dhurga language. As a tour guide, she leads visitors through Biamanga and Gulaga National Parks, offering immersive experiences that bring to life the stories, language, and ancestral teachings of her people. She has presented on ABC Radio for the Awaye Word Up program sharing her Dhurga language. In her work with local schools, community groups, and cultural centres, she has helped revive songs, teach vocabulary, and embed language across everyday contexts.

Lynne’s artistic sensibility is grounded in a poetic view of nature and performance. As cultural consultant to Bangarra Dance Theatre, she believes that art and storytelling serve as instruments of ancestral knowledge she states: “Nature has a way of emanating the earth’s poetic, ancient insights culminating in the movements of our senses with spirit and embodiment.”

Through language, landscape, and story, Lynne Thomas bridges generations. Her life is a testament to the power of cultural resilience. She invites others to see Country not just as landscape, but as living heritage rich with memory, spirit, and belonging.