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. 

Ray Kelly Jnr comes from a local indigenous family. The Kelly family is synonymous with the Aboriginal community of Newcastle. His father, Ray Kelly Snr a respected Dhungutti culture  and language Elder. 

Ray Kelly Jnr grew up in Newcastle and is a member of the Gattang language belt of east coast New South Wales. He's is a father of two, an artist and active member of Newcastle’s Aboriginal arts community.  

This is a Newcastle Libraries REAL Production.