Informative and cultural activities to celebrate NAIDOC Week in Taree continued with a spear throwing demonstration at Johnny Martin Oval on Wednesday, November 11.
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Taree High School student Ethan Long and community engagement leader Jay Davis hosted the event and explained the intricacies of the traditional skill.
The duo used kurrajong spears (normally used for fishing) and sheok spears (a heavier and more flexible wood otherwise known as needle pine) that were made locally.
"We make a lot of our own implements and they're not artefacts because they're living things," Jay explained.
Jay then demonstrated spear throwing with a woomera.
He said unlike Western culture where the action is done with hands, the traditional Aboriginal method is to cradle the spear with a woomera.
Trying both methods, Jay made considerable distance with the woomera compared to his hand.
Then it was time for this correspondent and photographer Scott Calvin to have a go.
Never one to back down from a challenge, Jay informed me the record was 400 metres set by a Tiwi Islands man.
With visions of clearing the cricket oval and landing safely in a park somewhere kilometres away, I warmed up (as advised by Jay and Ethan) and prepared to launch.
The first issue was I had the spear around the wrong way, which was quickly corrected by Ethan.
The next problem for this poor leftie was throwing with my non-dominant hand.
But at last we had lift off but as quickly as it left my hand it came crashing down to the earth below about 15 metres in front.
"Not a bad first attempt for a rookie," I exclaimed, trying to hide the embarrassment.
It was nonetheless a terrific cultural experience.
NAIDOC Week activities wrap up tomorrow.
