A full house gathered at Wollongong Art Gallery for a powerful afternoon of music led by Yuin musicians Ron 'Callo' Callaghan and Kyarna.

The free Music and Tea concert, held on July 3 as part of InspireMusicAus’s 2025 Emerging Concert Artists series, was tied to this year’s NAIDOC Week theme, The Next Generation: Strength, Vision and Legacy.

Wodi Wodi and Dharawal Elder Dr Aunty Joyce Donovan welcomed the audience to Country, followed by a didgeridoo performance from her great-grandson, Quinten Dingo, a student at Dapto High.

“Our stories are told through song, through dance – music is a very, very important part of our lives,” Aunty Joyce said on the day.

“When babies were born, the women would sing while the baby came into this world. Our people sang while they worked, we sang at funerals.

“Song is a very, very important part of our everyday life and of our cultural wellbeing.

“It’s really an honour to share our culture and participate in the reconciliation. For us to build our future, we must heal our past.”

Songs of pain and resilience

Ron was the next to perform, stepping on stage with his guitar to share his unique blend of country, rock and blues.

A proud Walbunja and Dhungutti man, he has spent decades performing original songs across Australia, inspired by his own life and the stories of his family, friends and community.

“I was blown away when he started singing those songs he wrote,” Aunty Joyce told the Illawarra Flame.

“He sang about running in the jungle and I knew what we was talking about - suicide.

“They’re writing their pain and they’re sharing. You could see how it affected every one of us there.”

“No matter whether you’re black, white, red or green, when you’ve got grief and trauma, we all go through the same thing inside.

“We’ve got to stand together and keep shouting it from the rooftops.”

After Ron’s performance, Kyarna took the stage to share a raw, deeply personal set of songs exploring love, loss, addiction and grief.

“You could have heard a pin drop,” Aunty Joyce said. “I remember Kyarna singing growing up in church, you could feel it right away.

“I come from an era where when things happened, our grannies and old aunties would lay their hands and say a prayer, say ‘you’ll be alright’. We’re not alright.

“We can all relate to what she was singing about - the drugs. We’ve all had someone chase the dragon. Young women, young men too. We’ve all had to bury our people.

“But what they’re doing is better than any pamphlet you could pick up – just listening to the power of them.

“If we could save one person, if they’re thinking of doing things like that, those songs let them know they’re not alone, they’re not an alien.”

To close the concert, Aunty Joyce – who was visibly moved by the performances – presented gifts to Ron and Kyarna, including artwork from Aunty Barbara Nicholson’s Dreaming Inside project.

Afterwards, Aunty Joyce reflected on the importance of sharing culture across generations, a message at the centre of this year’s NAIDOC Week.

“This NAIDOC is about passing it on,” Aunty Joyce said.

“My faith was renewed. They wrote them songs, they’re saying it how it is.

“The young people are the ones that are going to save our kids, because they’re speaking up.

“Callo and Kyarna, what they’re doing, is what our people need now – they’re talking about our people’s experiences.

“It’s an ancient thing they’re doing, retelling our stories through songlines, dance, music and song.

“This is for our lives and our children’s lives and our grandchildren.”

'Speak up, speak out'

Aunty Joyce has worked for more than 40 years to improve healthcare, education, human rights and social justice for First Nations peoples.

She was awarded an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Wollongong in 2023 for her work as a nurse, educator, advocate and trauma counsellor.

She said expressing grief and trauma, through song or other ways, is key to healing.

“We’ve got to harness this as best we can,” Aunty Joyce said.

“Acknowledge them, encourage them, encourage other people. I want to shout it from the rooftops.

“We’ve got some good young people out there. They need acknowledgement in the highest way we can. Speak up, speak out, say it loud.”

If this story has raised concerns for you or someone you know, please reach out:

• Lifeline on 13 11 14
• Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander crisis support line 13YARN on 13 92 76
• Thirrili 1800 805 801 Indigenous suicide postvention service (24/7)
• Kids Helpline on 1800 551 800
• Beyond Blue on 1300 224 636
• Headspace on 1800 650 890
• ReachOut at au.reachout.com
• MensLine Australia on 1300 789 978
• QLife 1800 184 527