Working Group

Cheryl Overton is a Walbunja and Ngarigo artist and storyteller based on the South Coast. Cheryl’s work focuses on stories from Yuin Country and showcases the landscape of Yuin Lands and Seas. Cheryl’s artwork was on the AFL Sydney Swan’s Indigenous Round Jersey. She is passionate about language, historical research and cultural education. Outside of her visual artistry, Cheryl was a member of a Gulaga National Park Board of Management, is the Aboriginal Creative Producer for the Four Winds Festival in Bermagui and Founder of Djinama Yilaga, a choir that sings in the Dhurga language.

Judy Norris is a proud Djiringandj woman of the Yuin Nation who has devoted her life to empowering her community. As part of the stolen generation Judy has a deep understanding of cultural values, community challenges and strengths, and a strong appreciation of having been raised in community. Judy has dedicated her working life to the areas of education, child protection, the University of Wollongong, women’s services, and community corrections. Judy is married with 3 adult children and 9 beautiful grandchildren. In her spare time, she enjoys being with her family, participation in culture practices and catching up with friends.

Lynne Thomas is a Yuin and Biripi artist who lives and breathes her culture into everything she does. Lynne is passionate about Country and the connection Yuin Peoples have to it. Lynne served as a cultural consultant on Bangarra Dance Theatre’s 2018 production ‘Dark Emu’ and won a Fergus Heritage Award in 2024 for her song ‘Country Comes First’. In the community Lynne works in many roles that look after Country and educate people on the ways of Yuin life, Country and culture. Lynne’s family have played an integral role in the protection and handing back of Yuin sacred sites.

Trish Ellis OAM is a Brinja Yuin Elder who has worked diligently on revitalising the Dhurga language. Trish has played an integral role in the Yuin community, previously serving as a chairperson of the Eurobodalla Shire Council’s Aboriginal Advisory Committee and as the joint management coordinator for handback of Biamanga and Gulaga National Parks. Trish has worked as a teacher of Yuin Language and Culture for 40 years and also teaches cultural perspectives in subject areas like conservation, land management and children’s studies. She was a board member on the NSW Aboriginal Languages Trust Board and in 2023 was awarded an Order of Australia medal for her contribution, work and service to the Aboriginal Community of Eurobodalla Shire.

BJ (Benjamin) Cruse is a Monaroo and Yuin Elder. BJ has been politically active since 1966 and is the chairperson of the Eden Local Aboriginal Land Council (LALC) for 41 years. BJ is passionate about reparations and recompense and caring for Country and Mother Earth. Through his activism BJ has been invited multiple times to speak at the United Nations about the Australian Government’s breach of human rights and has published works as a writer for IndigenousX, The Network for Business Sustainability and Overland Literary Journal.

Bunja is an Aboriginal Elder of the Walbanga, Murramarang and Djiringandj peoples, from the greater Yuin Nation on the South Coast of New South Wales. He has an extensive work history and passion for the advancement of Aboriginal people. Through his strong love for his culture, Bunja has served on several boards and advisories to provide an Aboriginal voice. He was part of the fight for the dual naming of Barunguba / Montague Island, was a leader in the 2024 yes campaign and works endlessly in Aboriginal health, climate action spaces and promoting meaningful reconciliation.

Djiringandj man Gary Campbell lives in Wallaga Lake on the Far South Coast. He is passionate about keeping the Yuin culture alive and passing the traditions on to the next generation. Gary frequently takes part in community festivals as a guest speaker, panel member or yarning circle host and often visits local schools to share his cultural knowledge. He comes from a prominent fishing family on Yuin Country.

Vivienne Mason is a Walbunga and Djiringanj Elder who is passionate about traditional dances, stories and passing that onto the next generations. In 2013, Vivienne created a dance troupe called the Djaadjawan dancers with her daughter and the troupe has since performed National stages, including at Dance Rites at the Sydney Opera House. The work of the Djaadjawan Dancers threads together traditional dance and storytelling alongside modern technology. She leads cultural immersion tours and shares her family history, artwork, stories and traditions with tour takers.

Warren Ngarrae Foster is a Monaro Yuin musician, actor, dancer and writer. Warren is the leader and founder of the Gulaga Dance Group, worked as a cultural consultant and vocal artist in Bangarra Theatre Company’s 2018 production ‘Dark Emu’. Musically, Warren uses hip-hop to spark discussions of reconciliation, culture and the dreams of young people. Warren is a highly regarded and respected community member and knowledge holder and regularly hosts cultural immersion and cultural tours around the significant and important sites of Wallaga Lake.