Roderick Slockee

Roderick Slockee is a respected Walbanja Elder and cultural educator from the Yuin nation of New South Wales. Deeply connected to his ancestral lands around Batemans Bay, Roderick has dedicated much of his life to preserving and sharing Walbanja cultural knowledge, heritage, and ecological traditions.

In 2015 he joined with local Elder Violet Parsons to lead a “Connecting to Country” walk for teachers at Batemans Bay Public School, sharing knowledge about significant local sites: from the ochre quarry at Observation Head, to the culturally important area known as Hanging Rock. At these sites Roderick explained the use and purpose of artefacts, plants, and traditional knowledge providing living education on Walbanja heritage and land.

Roderick also contributes to community ceremonies and public events. During NAIDOC Week celebrations in Narooma, he has been involved in smoking ceremonies and flag-raising events, fostering intergenerational transmission of cultural practices and strengthening community connection.

As well as engaging in cultural education, Roderick is a custodian of traditional ecological knowledge, including “fire farming” practices that balance environmental stewardship with cultural heritage. His guidance supports local efforts to protect biodiversity while maintaining ancestral land management methods.

Roderick’s local heritage is impact is profound. Through quiet leadership, teaching, and advocacy, he ensures the stories, customs, and knowledge of the Walbanja people continue to thrive, bridging generations and fostering understanding of Yuin culture for all who encounter it.