Kurlpurlunu Fund

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I have been asked by a photographer Judith Crispin to join her and Archeologist/Technologist Drew Baker on a field trip to Lajamanu and beyond. Here is an article on a project they are working on, some of the work done on this trip will feed into this project. 

Kurdiji Project

We will be leaving by vehicle from Castlemaine  on th 10th of June, so time is very short.

The intention of this trip is to take elders Jerry Jangala and Molly Naparrurla to a very remote and sacred site called Kurlpurlunu.  Kurlpurlunu has been “lost” to the Warlpiri people through their forcible removal and relocation to Lajamanu. The site was “rediscovered” by Molly and Jerry in 2015.

Article about Kurlpurlunu


Jerry would like to revisit Kurlpurlunu before he dies in order to visit the graves of his parents and reconnect with this site. It will also allow him to document this important piece of cultural heritage for the  Warlpiri people.

I am undertaking this expidition without payment, however i would like to have a per dium to cover my daily expenses and cover the loss of income whilst i'm away.

I intend to take with me a Warlpiri friend called Maxwell Japanangka who i have worked with over the years, I would like to pay him a per dium.  

I will need to purchase extra batteries as we will be 8 days without power.  I will need 2 x Hard Drives to store the footage, 1 for People Pictures and 1 for Jerry Jangala and his family. Other equipment includes a flame bar for lighting and the big cost is hiring a Mavic Drone $1,500, however I now intend to purchase this piece of gear because i can purchase a good kit for an extra $500. It will probably be the only opportunity to go to Kurlpurlunu, taking a drone will enable me to truely capture the drama and magnificence of this beautiful landscape.

I would also need to have a significant gratuities budget to provide gifts and payment to the local Elders.

There is also the chance that this whole expidition could come to a sudden halt. Henry Jakamarra who you may remember from our film Milpirri is very ill. There is a chance that he will pass away. If this were to happen whilst we are in Lajamanu then everything will simply stop. The purpose of the trip would become attending Sorry Business a ceremony that could take weeks.