This podcast series explores how Newcastle’s Aboriginal communities share and tell stories. Always Was, Always Will Be, recognises that First Nations peoples have occupied and cared for this continent for over 65,000 years. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people were Australia’s first explorers, first navigators, first engineers, first farmers, first botanists, first scientists, first diplomats, first astronomers and first storytellers.  

Australia has the world’s oldest oral story telling culture and Newcastle has a rich collection of storytellers. 

Donna Meehan is a local author and member of the Stolen Generation. In this podcast Donna, shares her thoughts on NAIDOC Week 2020. 

Donna’s has written several books and shares her story with grace and forgiveness. Her autobiography, It is no secret, tells the story or her sixteen hour train ride to Broadmeadow railway station, her life in Newcastle and her reunion with her birth mother. Donna is an Aboriginal advocate and active member of the Newcastle community. 

This is a Newcastle Libraries REAL Production.