CELEBRATING LOST BIRTHDAYS

Yinjibarndi Elder Diana Smith was one of several dozen celebrating an unusual event in Ierdamagadu Roebourne last year.

“I was born in this old reserve in the little gully up there toward the airport where that big gum tree standing,” she said.

While Mrs Smith is well aware of her date of birth, many of the Pilbara and Kimberley’s old people were born out in the bush and never had their birthdays recorded.

Every year Roebourne hosts the “old people’s birthday party” on the first of July so they can celebrate too.

Organiser Beth Smith said about 40 elders turned up to last year’s event, but a majority did know their date of birth.