Aunty Bea Ballangarry is a Gumbaynggirr Elder from the Mid North Coast of NSW. She is a mother, mother-in-law, grandmother, sister, aunty, carer and friend to many.
She is a born storyteller, a published poet and is pro-active in most facets of community development. Aunty Bea is currently involved with Circle Work where she uses an ancient, supportive Indigenous model for those experiencing uncertainty and grief towards recovery, gratitude and comfort.
She engages participants in the experience of Circles based in the powerful simplicity of traditional cultural practices. Often Aunty Bea will use her natural connection with the arts to couple her formal work with ceremony and rituals that bring out the heart of spiritual essence.
The concept comes from a time when community engaged through sitting together, yarning up, holding sacred ceremonies and meetings and where listening to stories and respecting Elders was customary. She views this model important in the process of empowerment for all participants to undertake in their journey of recovery. This process is simple, non-threatening and is co-created by all who are present.
Aunty Bea is pro-active in the community for social justice, economic advancement and political change in a variety of ways across many openings.
Aunty Bea is a co-founding member of the WOW Women of the World in Coffs Harbour, an established community group that focuses on Honour, Respect, Connect, Courage and Empowerment. Bea sees her role in WOW as a way to promote and acknowledge Elder Ways and to uphold the significance to ceremonies.
Her ceremony work involves the earth for ‘Uniting Country’, Air to visualise a ‘letting go’ process, fire to ‘fire dreams’ and water by using it as an envoy to the universe and to close the ritual.
Aunty Bea in all her connections creates an environment that raises awareness for the equality and unity for and about women, where women will reach their own unique spirit to be her best self.
Aunty Bea plays a key role in Circulanation as a cultural advisor and facilitator. Circulanation supports Aunty Bea’s aspirations to take her circle work global.
