Interview with Carol Ridgeway-Bissett

Carol Ridgeway-Bissett, a proud Worimi woman, born at Soldier's Point, New South Wales recalls her family history in Port Stephens area. Many in her family were involved in the local fishing industry at Port Stephens.

In an oral history interview she shares a rich and deeply personal account of her life, heritage, and activism, emphasising the importance of cultural preservation and environmental interconnectedness.

Identity and Upbringing
Carol identifies as Aboriginal on both sides of her family. Her maternal grandmother's mother was Aboriginal from South Australia, while her grandmother's father was Russian-Finnish. Carol's paternal grandfather was also Aboriginal, from Soldiers Point, where Carol was born in 1946 in the original family home. She fondly recalls a childhood spent fishing, prawning, crabbing, and building cubbies in the bush around Soldiers Point. She describes how her grandfather on her mother's side was the first Aboriginal person to graduate from the Pindimar missionary school, designated a "native worker" to Christianise others. Carol, however, openly expresses her strong dislike for this "controlling and brainwashing" aspect of Christian religion, finding deeper meaning in the lessons embedded within Aboriginal stories and spirituality.

Environmental Advocacy and Activism
Carol's activism began at the University of Newcastle when she started speaking publicly on environmental issues. She realised she could use her studies to write about Aboriginal heritage instead of solely European topics, earning a high distinction for her paper on Indigenous women. This led to public speaking engagements for organisations like the Wilderness Society and at various rallies.

A significant achievement was the nine-year fight to save a sacred women's site from development (first a caravan park, then housing). Despite political resistance, the site was eventually saved, though she later found evidence of recent unauthorised clearing.

She criticizes the impact of traffic on the Stockton Bight sand dunes, highlighting how they've shrunk from the "largest moving sand mass in southeast Australia" to "little piles of sand." She also points out the unsustainable practice of exporting high-quality sand from the area, some of which ended up in Hawaii and Dubai for glassmaking. She warns of quicksand dangers, recounting a recent incident where a young man's four-wheel drive sank.

Cultural Beliefs and Interconnectedness
Carol believes everything in the environment, including all human beings and other species, is interconnected and interdependent for survival. She expresses frustration that many people fail to grasp this, leading to environmental destruction. She shares cultural insights, such as the Kookaburra nesting in white ant nests, and explains that Aboriginal people never "destroyed things" but moved between clean areas to ensure sustainability of resources. She speaks of totems (animals, plants, marine species, and even natural phenomena like lightning, which is her nation's totem), and her clan's totem, the Gana (goanna), known for its speed.

She details the significance of burying ancestors above the high tide mark so their spirits could return to the woman's creation/birthing site, believing that spirits buried closer to the sea would be taken out and never return. This belief is even recorded in historical documents.

Challenges and Criticisms
Carol highlights systemic issues facing Aboriginal people today, particularly racism and the lack of rights stemming from the invasion. She confronts racism directly, recalling an instance where a non-Indigenous person tried to dictate how she should write her language book, accusing them of "white supremacy and racism." She states she will never give up her activism until the day she dies.

She is highly critical of Land Councils and missions, asserting that traditional owners are often excluded from decisions despite these organisations having significant power and control. She notes that many land council members are not traditional owners and, in some cases, non-Indigenous individuals are falsely claiming Aboriginal identity or status.

She emphasises the urgent need for government to genuinely consult Aboriginal people about their needs. She points to ongoing issues such as poor health outcomes (many Aboriginal people not living past 50), children born with problems due to parental alcoholism, and overcrowding in remote areas. She laments the lack of affordable housing, citing her own experience of paying high rent on a pension in a local area with skyrocketing property prices.

Legislative Efforts and Moving Forward
Carol has actively worked to change legislation to protect natural Aboriginal sites. In the late 1990s/early 2000s, while on various environmental committees (Aboriginal committee, lower north coast catchment management board, Hunter water committee), she successfully pushed for legislation to recognise "significant Aboriginal cultural landscapes" beyond just carved trees or etchings. This concept was later incorporated into federal legislation.

She also recounts her success in the 1990s during the Fern Bay development, insisting that any unearthed artefacts be reburied on-site as they belonged to her ancestors, a practice now codified in legislation. She also pushed for the recognition of human remains, noting that her ancestors buried their dead above the high tide mark.

Carol acknowledges that progress is made in "baby steps" and stresses the importance of educating people about their heritage and the environment. She states that she doesn't care about negative opinions, as her close friends, both Indigenous and non-Indigenous, share her values and willingness to fight.

Cultural sensitivity advisory notice:

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are advised that this recording may contain names and voices of deceased persons.

Notes:

Interviewee: Carol Ridgeway-Bissett

Interviewer: Natasha King (UoS Museums & Heritage Studies student)

Supervisor Dr Ann Hardy (GLAMx Lab Co-ordinator)

Recorded on 28 November, 2023 at Nelson Bay, New South Wales (Australia)

Digital master archived Special Collections, Auchmuty Library at University of Newcastle.

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