Aunty Dot and Uncle Hewitt Whyman inducted onto Wagga Walk of Honour

The Daily Advertiser

Aunty Dot and Uncle Hewitt Whyman's dedication to community saw them recognised as recipients of the Wagga Walk of Honour on May 28, 2025.

Transcript

00:00We're indeed honoured and humbled to have this award today.

00:07Today we celebrate the outstanding achievements and unwavering contribution

00:11to our community by Aunty Dorothy and Uncle Hewitt Wyman.

00:15Since arriving in Wagga Wagga in 1974, Aunty Dorothy and Uncle Hewitt have worked together

00:21to establish a wide range of services for the First Nations community here in Wagga Wagga.

00:25Aunty Dorothy and Uncle Hewitt work tirelessly to establish services

00:31such as Wiradjuri Child Care Service, Riverina Medical and Dental Aboriginal Corporation,

00:39Aboriginal Legal Service, Wagga Local Aboriginal Land Council,

00:45ATSIC Banal Bilart Regional Council and more.

00:50Aunty Dorothy and Uncle Hewitt stand as exemplary figures within our community,

00:55embodying the spirit of selfless dedication and generosity that has spanned over many decades.

01:02Whilst working with Aunty Dorothy and Uncle Hewitt to design their plaque,

01:05they shared with us that some of the greatest recognitions were to jointly win

01:09both the Walk of Honour and the Wagga Wagga Peace Award for 2025.

01:16The positive impact in the Wagga Wagga community is immeasurable,

01:19and their achievements have transformed the quality of life for our First Nations community.

01:25It is therefore very fitting that we gather here today to acknowledge these

01:29incredible individuals through this Walk of Honour Award.

01:33And personally, as Peter has said, I've got to know both Aunty Dot and Uncle Hewitt over the last

01:41several years as a councillor and as I've been in council. And every conversation is, as it is with

01:49all Elders, is learning something new, something you didn't know before, just to try to add to the

01:54knowledge. And both of you are such prompts of knowledge of a lot of the history and what's happening

02:01now. And I'd also like to acknowledge the attendance and the Army here to recognise your

02:07service also up here. So thank you. I am just like to say on behalf of my family,

02:16and we've moved here since, moved here in 1974. My husband was a instructor out of Kapooka,

02:25and we thoroughly enjoyed his time here. As you are aware, there had been no services whatsoever in

02:35Wagga Wagga in the early days. And then the Aboriginal Family Resettlement Scheme began in the late 70s.

02:43So people were missing. That was for better housing, employment, education and health, but there was

02:50no such services to cater for our First Nations people. And yes, we all started working towards

02:58establishing such services with other people. And yeah, it was a long journey. But what you see now

03:10is all the hard work that was started back then. And we're so proud of all that. And I'd just like to

03:19say we're so honoured to be here and it's a privilege of receiving this award and where it's going to be.

03:27And every year on Anzac Day, this is where our family gather and for the March. So we're very proud to be

03:36here and have it situated here too. Thank you. I guess living in August in 1974, 50 years and

03:47having the recognition that it's bestowed on us today, I'd like to thank the persons who nominated us

03:54and he's hiding in the corner. Thank you, Luke, really. And Moira. He took the time out and asked us some

04:05questions. And look, follow the podcast, guys. There's a podcast out there. And see Luke later

04:13and Moira and they can direct you to the podcast. We'll tell you all about the family resettlement

04:19here in 1974. Like Aunty Dot said, we were proud to come here during my army career and being posted

04:28here after Vietnam in 1974. As a soldier at Moira Tui, the computer and instructor with Alpha Company.

04:40I come here in 74, took my discharge here in 76 and raised our family. Like Aunty,

04:46and we have four children, three boys and a girl. And they've given us 13 grandchildren.

04:54And we're very proud that they're not far from us. They haven't fallen far from the tree. So we're

05:02pleased to have them around us as well. And the many friends that we've encountered and engaged with

05:09over the years that we've been in Wagga, most of you in here today, and we really appreciate you coming.

05:17I'd like to do a special call out to my new year's most senior Aboriginal elder in the community.

05:28And the longest surviving member of this whole generation.

05:30I thank the guys at the back there for coming out today. I can relate to that. And thank you,

05:39Colonel Kearns, for bringing the guys along. Others that I've invited. I had a good, my youngest grandson

05:48is over there in the white jacket. He's the youngest of 13. His name is River Wyman.

05:59He's over there with his mum and dad. Thank you for coming, River. He just travelled all the way up

06:03last night from Ballarat, would you believe, to be here. So there are people here from Rotary,

06:11people here from the Vietnam Police. And we all appreciate RSL Care being here as well. There are

06:19too many here to go through, but if I've missed you, you know who you are. But we're indeed honoured

06:28and humbled to have this award today, to be on the roll of the honour of the walk.

06:37We, we picked this place like Aunty Dots. It is where our family gathers on Anzac Day and watch the

06:47the centre path sign on. So, thank you very much.

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