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A week in the Cocos Atoll.
This year I travelled to the Cocos and Keeling Islands as part of Western Australian Museum’s (WAM) Indian Ocean Communities (IOC) Program.
This remote grouping of twenty-seven islands has fallen under Australia’s federal mandate as a territory since 1955.
Two of these islands, Home Island and West Island, are populated by just under six hundred people and are situated at 2,932 kms from the Australian mainland.
The communities on these islands primarily identify as Cocos Malay.
The cultural practices of this community have, unsurprisingly, a strong maritime alignment.
Boatbuilding and sailing are central to life on the islands, and documenting its legacy, and ongoing practice, was a particular focus for my work trip.
In this talk I will share what I learned to this end and further speak on the challenges of working with a museum collection in a sub-tropical environment.
Oral Histories undertaken during the trip, and a visit to Direction Island – best known for the grounding of HMAS Sydney (I) - will also be focused on.
Tuesday 15th July
6.15pm for a 6.30pm start.
In the Rottnest Island Authority Walyalup Office,
1 Mews Rd, Fremantle.
Free parking is available at Reception and along Mews Rd.
OUR SPEAKER
Maritime History Assistant Curator
David O'Sullivan
“I am enthusiastic about histories driven from the community level. With a background in radio production, I have a particular interest in oral histories and community consultation, and work that seeks to animate museum collections”
Please RSVP by hit GOING or INTERESTED on this event page, THANK YOU!
ABOUT MAAWA
Created in 1974, MAAWA (the Maritime Archaeological Association of Western Australia) is primarily an archaeological association with members having the opportunity to dive on shipwrecks, and also to participate in research and management of maritime archaeological heritage sites around the coast of Western Australia.
Read more about us here....
https://www.maawa.net
