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Yolngu soldier calls elder warriors home from Gallipoli

01 October 2015
Culture and Capability
Aboriginal man in full army uniform standing with trees in the background.

When the Australian Defence Force decided to send Indigenous soldiers to Gallipoli to perform a ceremony for elders who fell there, they turned to Norman Daymirringu to lead it.

When the Australian Defence Force decided to send Indigenous soldiers to Gallipoli to perform a ceremony for elders who fell there, they turned to Norman Daymirringu to lead it.

Sergeant Patrol Commander Norman Daymirringu of NORFORCE is a Yolngu man from Ramingining in north-east Arnhem Land. He is also the Australian Government’s Indigenous Engagement Officer in his community, working to link locals and government bodies, so he was the ideal soldier to lead a cultural ceremony half way around the world.

One hundred years after the ANZAC landings, Norman performed a smoking ceremony and a calling ceremony in the Yolngu Matha language at Gallipoli, calling the spirits of Indigenous warriors from the battlegrounds back home to Australia.

“About one hundred and fifty Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander soldiers fought at Gallipoli,” Norman said.

“We brought some soil from Australia to leave at Gallipoli and we’re taking soil from Gallipoli back to Australia. As part of this I called our elder warriors back to Australia so they can be back in their own country with their families.”

Norman’s visit caught the attention of locals, as Turkish people saw for the first time a traditional Yolngu calling ceremony and found Indigenous Australian culture fascinating. In response, Norman saw firsthand the Turkish people’s deep respect for the Australian soldiers that fought and died there, and why Gallipoli is so important for both nations.    

“I definitely felt something special at Gallipoli, I could feel the spirit there, and the hair on my arms and legs stood on end as I thought about all those traditional elder warriors who fought at Gallipoli,” Norman said.

Norman is also aware of how important his trip was to the communities in north-east Arnhem Land.

“For me, it has been my first time overseas, and I am the first Yolngu to participate in a ceremony like this. The elders were proud of me doing this, a Yolngu representing Australia overseas, singing our ancestors home,” Norman said.

Find out more

The Australian Army supports the Australian Government’s Closing the Gap commitment to improve the lives of Indigenous Australians. The Army Indigenous Strategy focuses on four key goals. These goals are Recruit, Retain and Develop Army's Indigenous personnel, and to Contribute to Government community development programs and broader community engagement.

For further information, visit Army Indigenous Strategy.