‘Now that I know it is important I’m telling everything I know — over and over again. Like the way I learnt from my old people. I want them to hear and remember too.’ — Lorna Mandima Dixon
Lorna Rose Mandima Dixon, Canberra, ACT. AIATSIS Collection, LAMBERT.J01.DF-D00002241.
Lorna Rose Mandima Dixon, Canberra, ACT. AIATSIS Collection, LAMBERT.J01.DF-D00002241.
Lorna Rose Mandima Dixon was a Wangkumara women from the Coopers Creek area in New South Wales. Born in 1911 in Tibooburra, Lorna’s traditional name, Mandima, sometimes pronounced Mandimana, means nice looking girl.
Lorna had a vast knowledge of Wangkumara culture and language which she had learnt from her grandparents. Growing up, Lorna’s parents were often away working on a cattle station just over the Queensland border, and Lorna spent most of her time with her grandparents learning the language, stories and food gathering techniques from the old women.
In 1936 her family was forcibly re-located to the government station at Brewarrina; known as the Mission. Here they lived for four unhappy years, forbidden from speaking their language.
In 1940 she married Eric Dixon and moved with her husband to Bourke. Together they had 12 children; Michael, Anthony, Claude, Edna, Noelene, Don, Beverly, Eric, Patricia, Netta, Roy and Paul. Today, Lorna Dixon’s descendants number over 382!
While Lorna kept her knowledge of Wangkumara language and culture hidden, when she was alone, and especially in bed at night, she translated her thoughts into Wangkumara.
She recited the stories and customs she had learnt in language and even devised a spelling system so that she could correspond with a cousin in Broken Hill who had shared her childhood experiences. Lorna was determined not to forget what she had learned before her removal from Tibooburra.
It was not until 1970 that Lorna began recording her Wangkumara linguistic and cultural knowledge with sound recordist Janet Mathews. She also did valuable work with linguists Luise Hercus and Gavan Breen who studied her system of spelling.
For many years Lorna was actively involved in helping people around the Bourke region, fostering a pride in Aboriginal identity and reviving knowledge of Aboriginal culture.
In 1974, Lorna was elected to full membership of the AIATSIS.
Lorna passed in 1976 leaving a priceless legacy of Wangkumara knowledge with the Institute. It is due to her efforts that the language and stories of the Wangkumara people are now accessible for future generations.