Raw
Raw is the fragile, ancient country of the Kuyani Adnyamathanha and Arabana peoples, also named Witchelina. The needle-sharp spinifex permeates the vast covering of weather-shattered chips of rock. The ground carries the battle scars of forces within and from a long time ago. The remnants of scorched animal skeletons mingle with the flowering ground covers, evidence of the feast or famine rainfall experienced over the last few years.
A flying formation of fluoro green budgies fleetingly drop onto the edge of a waterhole, drink and then fly on. Startled, grazing kangaroos stand to attention. The joey tumbles aboard, ready in case they must flee. A vigilant emu father shows excellent care over the following procession of chicks. The thick, powerful legs carry them on a slow, jerky walk that accelerates into a streamlined sprint at the first sign of danger. The laconic Gould goanna swaggers through the red ochre dunes, stopping at a clump of spinifex to dig.
Overhead a circling wedgetail eventually joins its mate to feed its young. The nest is prominent on the skyline. The regal spinifex pigeon swanks around the sand dunes, and only in full flight can you appreciate its finery. A Brown kite scoops up an oblivious brown snake. The kite struggles with the wriggling weight and must land on a nearby saltbush to decapitate its prey.
The numerous Cinnamon Quail thrush dart knee high amongst the eroded Breccia and mudstone containing Stromatolites searching for insects. These layers of sediments provide evidence of the past alongside remnants of damaged buildings which show an attempt to create a future. Before dawn, the highly camouflaged spotted nightjar nestles on the stony ground; sadly, this is becoming a rare find.
Raw is the aim. Raw is for the future. Raw is the fragile, ancient country of the Kuyani Adnyamathanha and Arabana peoples, also named Witchelina.
