Elder Revives Ancient Language on Sacred Australian Land

When Goombri elder Aunty Polly Cutmore walks across the grassy plains of Dhirri-aay-aay in northern New South Wales, she follows in footsteps laid down generations before her. The land now known as Terry Hie Hie once served as a refuge for her ancestors during colonization, offering high ground during floods and abundant food sources.

Aunty Polly's grandfather survived the Waterloo Creek massacre nearly two centuries ago, where at least 40 Aboriginal men, women and children were killed. Despite the trauma, the land protected many who knew where to hide in the mountains and find water during the darkest days of colonization.

Today, Aunty Polly returns regularly from her home in Moree to walk the same paths she explored as a young girl. She learned the stories and language from her mother, uncles and extended family, often without realizing she was speaking words passed down through countless generations.

The area holds one of the largest corroboree grounds in New South Wales and 19 recorded sacred sites. The Cutmore family still gathers in the community hall for celebrations, transforming a building once controlled by the Aborigines Protection Board into a space of joy and connection.

Why This Inspires

Aunty Polly's work goes beyond personal healing. She's teaching younger generations that language means identification of who they are, their sacred sites and their country. When she plays near the water or walks the land, she feels like a child again, but now carries the knowledge to pass forward.

Her advocacy for land and water rights extends to all Aboriginal communities. She dreams of bringing her people back to country that she says is crying for them, just as they cry for it.

The sacred connection continues as new generations learn traditional words like "yanay" and understand the deep relationship between language, land and identity. Aunty Polly considers herself blessed to walk where her elders walked, seeing what they saw and honoring their survival by keeping their culture alive.

Through her dedication, Dhirri-aay-aay remains what it has always been: a safe space where Indigenous knowledge, language and connection to country can flourish for generations to come.