officers be elected, the feeling of the meeting was that they would prefer to work as a group and allow the natural leader to emerge as needed. This was an advanced theory of emergent leadership from a supposedly inferior group. That evening was also an historic event. Our hostess, Mrs Crane, invited both Aborigines and the local Europeans to an informal party to meet the Maoris—the first time that both groups had mixed socially. The Headmaster of Woodenbong Central School and most of his staff were present and all expressed interest in the project and promised help. This help materialised the next morning in the form of paper, paint, brushes and books.

First Session The second day, the first session of the preschool group was held. The first problem—that of material—had partly been overcome with a donation in kind from the school. As paint and dough were new to the Aborigine mothers, we demonstrated how to mix and make. For us it was an exciting experience to see children exploring these media for the first time. It was a colourful beginning in more ways than one. Paint flew in all directions! We found the children very attractive, with brown skins, soft wavy brown hair and large, brown eyes ringed with long, spiky black lashes. However, they did not lagh much and showed a considerable amount of aggression Hiria Parata observing children pasting.

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and hostility towards each other. Perhaps this was an expression of the barrenness of their lives.

Farewell In the little time remaining we evaluated what we had done, plans for the future were discussed—how the local environment could be exploited for equipment and materials at the least cost, we talked of the organisation and supervision within the group—how we could continue and help through correspondence, and finally, our hopes of meeting again. That evening, six very weary women met again at Casino Airport. Our Aborigine friends from Box Ridge were there to farewell us. Somehow during the weekend they had learned “Now is the Hour’ which they sang as we crossed the tarmac.

Evaluation In four days we had experienced a great deal. We had gained deeper insight into ourselves. We had made new friends and had seen how they lived. Because of their lives we had gained a deeper appreciation of our own way of life. We had given of ourselves, so that emotionally we were drained and empty, left with the feeling that the friendship, encouragement and support we had given must not be withdrawn. I think that they saw in us a realisation of what might be. They had taken steps towards its achievement. They wanted recognition and equality for their own efforts. This feeling is best expressed in this quotation from a poem by Kath Walker, an Aborigine who has published two books of poems. ‘Make us neighbours, not fringe dwellers, Make us mates, not poor relations, Citizens, not serfs on stations. Must we native Old Australians In our own land rank as aliens? Banish bans and conquer caste, Then we'll win our own at last.’ Aboriginal Charter of Rights.