KIMBERLEY LOSES FIVE ELDERS

KLC chairman Anthony Watson is missing the five Kimberley elders who passed away over the last few weeks.

GEOFF VIVIAN

In the Kimberley, five Aboriginal elders have passed away in just a few weeks.

Nyikina man and Kimberley Land Council chairman Anthony Watson said they were already missed.

“I know during the wet season that we generally lose a lot of families,” he said. “But having that number of elders, leaders that are within the community passing away of old age it can put a big gap within the community with knowledge and the expertise they can share.”

The five elders were Mr Woolagoodga and Ms Ooboogama of Mowanjum, Mr Archer from Derby, The Fitzroy Valley’s Mr May, and Ms Patricks from Warmun.