City honours dancers who 'did this country proud' on historic tour

Members of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities are respectfully advised that this article contains the name of a deceased person.

Twenty years ago, a group of dancers left the Illawarra on a trip that would make history. In July 2006, the Wadi Wadi Mixed Tribe Dance Troupe travelled to Macedonia, becoming the first Aboriginal dance group to perform there. 

The troupe was invited to perform at the 2006 Summer Festival held in Ohrid, Macedonia (Wollongong’s sister city), as part of an official Wollongong City Council delegation visit.

"We left here representing Wollongong and the Illawarra," said Aunty Sharralyn Robinson (Aunty Shas). 

"But actually, when we arrived in Macedonia, we found out we were representing the whole of Australia. Forty years of the festival and no Australian troupe went over there to represent Australia, and to be the first Aboriginal dancers to go over there… they absolutely made history."

To mark the 20th anniversary, Wollongong City Libraries held a special event for community members and original troupe members on July 6. 

Photos from the trip were displayed in the first gallery of the new local studies exhibition space on Level 1. The event also celebrated the launch of a collection of oral history recordings from troupe members telling the story of the historic trip.

“When we got off that plane, there was media everywhere and people everywhere and wherever the boys went, people wanted to say hi, people wanted to touch them, people wanted to come and meet them. They were like celebrities in Macedonia,” Aunty Shas said.

“It was such a wonderful thing, and it was something each and every one of the boys and Jodie can be proud of. They honestly did this country proud, no matter where we went.”

The group of travellers included Ivan Morris, Solkan Donaczy, Aunty Jodie Stewart, Anthony Moore, Mark Mongta, Aunty Sharralyn Robinson with Jared Stewart and Uncle Roy Stewart. 

They originally set out to perform in three cities, travelling by bus over a 10-day period. But as word spread across Macedonia, more communities invited the troupe to visit, and they ended up performing in five different cities.

"The people and the media loved them," Aunty Shas recalled. 

"Every city we visited... people followed us wherever we went. I was then, and I still am now, very proud to have walked with them all."

The event is part of the Illawarra Stories initiative, where the local studies team aims to collect oral histories reflecting the diverse experiences of Wollongong residents, painting a more accurate and inclusive picture for the public record.

In December 2025, local studies specialist Samantha Figueroa was awarded the ALIA NSW Library and Information Excellence Award, for her work recording local First Nations histories on the Hill 60 Stories project. It was in her conversations with local elders that she discovered the legendary story of the trip to Macedonia.

"Sammy wanted to interview me as an elder and get my journey and story. And so we did that, and then I started to talk to her about the Wadi Wadi Mixed Tribe and the journey," said Aunty Shas.

"I said, 'Let's record it," Sammy said. "Let's make it an oral history project, record everyone's experience.' Then it led to looking at photos and we thought it would be really good to make an exhibition as well, so that everyone could see the photos."

The timing of the project launch turned out to be a very happy accident.

“We were trying to decide on a date, and we wanted to do it NAIDOC Week. The only date we could do it was the Monday," Sammy said. "It’s 20 years today since they actually went, and that was a fluke!” 

"And it’s Ivan’s birthday! The spirits work in wonderful ways," Aunty Shas said.

On the Illawarra Stories website, visitors can listen to the voices of Aunty Shas, Uncle Roy, Mark, Ivan, and other troupe members as they recount their adventures in their own words. The photo exhibition remains on display on Level 1 until 30 September.

For the veterans of the tour, the project is a long-awaited recognition of the history they created.

"I have to be honest, I was pretty disappointed when we came back because, you know, they were celebrities in that country and came back and I was expecting a big fuss, especially for the boys and for Jodie when we got back,” Aunty Shas said.

“I talked to the Illawarra Aboriginal Corporation in Kenny Street, and they said, let’s put on a luncheon, and I just did a small CD, part of the video we saw here today, and we had a lunch with the community, but I said to Sammy that it would really be great to recognise the history they created."

The group hopes these stories inspire the next generation.

"There's a lot of young fellas in here," Mark said, looking around the room at the exhibition launch. 

"Our next generation are our next leaders. This is just an opportunity for you guys. Think big. Culture will always stay alive if you fellas keep going on with it."

Listen to the troupe's oral histories and view the exhibition online.