The AHO produces a reasonably regular newsletter, ‘Yarnupings’, for AHO volunteers and supporters
News, articles and opinion about the wonderful and strange world we live in.
Included in this are photos from the wonderful Yarn Up with Karen Smith. Phil ponders on the value of silence and also the trailblazing Freedom Rides of the 60s.
We have Easter egg baskets for the Jarjums and a hot cross bun recipe for you to try.
Please enjoy this edition of Yarnupings for 2026.
In this issue we continue to celebrate 25 years of the AHO with great photos from the AHO 25th Anniversary celebration.
We also look at the beautiful shedding of bark that occurs at this time of year.
Karen makes a special announcement as well as writing about joyous summer foods.
And we celebrate our Volunteers at the annual Christmas party.
Most Christmas editions were use the beautiful Warlukurlangu Artists decorations. Warlukurlangu Artists Aboriginal Corporation is a non-for profit organisation that is 100% Aboriginal –owned by its artists from the remote communities of Yuendumu and Nyirripi in Central Australia.
Please enjoy our Christmas edition of Yarnupings for 2025.
We have a new logo! Designed by AHO staff member, Kyle Nettleton, the new logo represents what we do and where we’re from.
Included in this issue is an interview with former Councillor Kate Lamb, there from the very beginning. We continue highlighting our fabulous volunteers, we hear from Phil and Kyle about being part of the World Archaeological Conference in Darwin, we learn of the wonderful adventures of Karen and we introduce our new Manager, Brent Emmons.
Please enjoy another bumper edition of Yarnupings for 2025.
25 Years! A quarter of a century! Crikey that’s a long time!
Let’s celebrate all the years, the great work, the conservation, the education, the volunteers, the museum and the team.
We have new museum signage, stories from Karen, reminiscing from Phil and a delicious recipe to try.
Please enjoy the first edition of Yarnupings for 2025.
‘Tis the Festive Season! Our joyful Christmas edition cover was taken at the gorgeous Freshwater Beach, right down the road from the AHO Museum.
We’ve had some exciting times these past few months. We’ve spoken at the Rock Art Australia conference which was an awesome opportunity. We had a delightful Volunteer Christmas party at Manly Dam. We have enjoyed yarning with you either on a walk, an event or at the museum. This edition has some activities for those last hot days (or the rainy ones!), great reads, pretty pics and a simple recipe for a delicious additions to your Christmas Day treats.
Please enjoy the final edition of Yarnupings for 2024.
Wildflower Season! The most wonderful time of the year! Welcome to the third issue of Yarnupings—the spring issue. Our pages are full of colourful images of wildflowers. If you haven’t been able to get out to see them, we’ve brought the flowers to you.
In this issue, Phil interviews an incredible stone mason track builder. Karen shows us bush tucker from saltwater country and Kyle and Susan try out a delicious recipe using ingredients from our bush tucker garden. There are plenty of opportunities to ‘look deeply’ in your local area. Please enjoy the third edition of Yarnupings for 2024.
We are excited to bring you this issue of Yarnupings. It’s been a busy time at the AHO with a fantastic Yarn Up with Indigenous artist Jamie Eastwood, Volunteer Week celebrations and conferences, and Mabo Day, Sorry Day, Reconciliation Week and NAIDOC Week. In this issue, Phil writes about the Flat Rock Creek project and muses on development processes. Volunteer Ros has written about her wonderful trip to Boort to see the scar trees and there’s excellent education from Karen.
So grab yourself a cuppa, find a warm cozy spot and please enjoy the second edition of Yarnupings for 2024.
We’re excited to welcome our new intern, Alida, from New York.
Karen writes about fire, with some gorgeous pictures of pink flannel flowers taken in the Blue Mountains by Leanne Tobin. She also includes some Sydney language fire words. Phil writes about the challenges of conservation.
There are some lovely pictures of our volunteers , from the Christmas party and a walk to Grotto Point.
We have have activities for the Jarjums and a delicious recipe for crusted fillets.
Please enjoy the first edition on Yarnupings for 2024.
It’s the Christmas edition of Yarnupings and we’re getting festive!
In this issue we see a gorgeous Picture of Serenity by Volunteer Robyn Law. We farewell Kyle and Welcome Kahla to the AHO team. The Ocean Festival is on late Nov/early Dec and the AHO Museum in Freshwater is open and showcasing ocean based artefacts. The Volunteers have had a cracker of a year and we let you know what we’ve been up to. Karen writes about Connection to Sky Country and Phil discusses Cultural Burning. Karen has put together fun activities do do over the Christmas holidays and we’ve added in a delicious Christmas dessert for you to enjoy
Please enjoy the fourth edition of Yarnupings for 2023.
It is the third issue of Yarnupings and we are jam packed full of articles!
In this issue we see the return of Karen Smiths Pollination – Importance to Country, aswell as The Language Corner and every green thumb’s favourite, The Bush Binge.
Phil Hunt takes on a thought provoking journey with his article Certainty and a Sophisticated Emu. Then we have volunteer monitor Suzanne Barber’s article sharing about her trip to see the Brewarrina Fish Traps.
For the first time in a Yarnupings, you will have an opportunity to WIN an AHO gift pack! Have a look at page 14 to see how.
Please enjoy the third edition of Yarnupings for 2023.
In this second issue of 2023 we start a new regular article called Leaving Our Mark. We also have a recap of Susans skills refreshers she ran during National Volunteer Week and an article from Phil about how we should Imagine From a Different Perspective.
Leaving Our Mark will get the insights from Harrison Goddard on what it is like to be a professional rugby player and how he represents his
culture on the big stage.
The Language Corner is back again and we have information from one of our volunteers Jim Boyce on all things EELS. Jim Boyce – Eels
Please enjoy the second edition of Yarnupings for 2023.
We are excited to announce that our Freshwater Museum and Keeping Place is back open to the public on Wednesdays and other week days by appointment.
This issue will have the first of two new reoccurring articles. The Language Corner and The Bush Binge will have new information in them every newsletter. Both having different content and their own style. There will be something for everyone.
Karen has started with Part 1 of her Pollination—Importance to Country series. This is highlighting the impact pollinators have and just
how important they really are. We also look at the context for the Voice, and finally a chance to have a few quiet breaths.
Please enjoy the first edition of Yarnupings for 2023.
Happy Festive Season, Everyone!
We were excited for you to meet our newest AHO team member, Kyle Nettleton. This issue provides thoughts and reflections of the AHO staff about the importance of Aboriginal cultural heritage, in history, in development and in appreciating this extra ordinary land and its people. Karen highlights catch-up summer viewing for you and delicious recipes for you to try.
Please enjoy the final edition of Yarnupings for 2022.
This issue we look at the career of Aboriginal Heritage Office founder, David Watts. ‘How do you measure a ripple?’ looks at the positive flow on effects of the work of the AHO throughout the years.
We delve into the urban threats to the Powerful Owl and how we can play an active role in their protection.
We also recount how the AHO team was privileged to be involved in the excavation of Aboriginal ancestral remains at Little Manly Beach.
It’s wildflower season , so this issue is full of pretty pictures from around the Partner Council LGAs and our very own Bush Tucker Garden. We even created our own delicious recipe from our garden for you to try.
This issue highlights and celebrates Reconciliation Week and NAIDOC Week. It’s been a big couple of months. Mabo Day celebrated its 30th anniversary, Reconciliation Day inspired us to ‘Be Brave, Make Change’ and founder of the AHO, David Watts has retired (Whaaaaat!!! See page 4 for details…)
Please enjoy the second issue of Yarnupings for 2022
We’re so excited to be back in the swing of things. Phil muses over being Lost & Disconnected, what it means and asks how have we become so disconnected. Karen writes about Summer, the different seasons and the fish that run at different times of the year. She has also compiled a list of summer words in language. Phil has been monitoring sites in the Ku-ring-gai LGA and writes about doing so during a La Niña summer. We meet a new volunteer and give thanks to a retiring one. For kids, there is a book review of ‘Somebody’s Land’ by Adam Goodes and Ellie Laing, the D’harawal Calendar to print out and follow and a damper recipe to try.
Please enjoy the December issue of Yarnupings.
This issue highlights our amazing volunteers who continued monitoring sites throughout this challenging year.
For those interested in learning more about archaeological sites, we have articles on stratigraphy and whelks.
Phil has been out and about on the Step Track and running into unexpected things.
Karen reflects on the wetlands in our areas. This holiday season could be a good opportunity to explore them.
We also have some Christmas craft to enjoy and some present ideas for those yet to grab a gift.
Download your copy today! https://www.aboriginalheritage.org/yarnupings_issue4_dec-2021-rev-min/
Finished this edition? There are plenty more Yarnupings newsletters in our Resources section!
Spring has sprung and we’re celebrating with a vibrant images of the amazing wildflowers that are in bloom.
This issue celebrates our volunteers and the valuable work they do. and provides some tips for taking photos of an Aboriginal site.
Phil discusses the ethics of revealing site locations and asks the question—who really owns the past?
We have some Sydney Language to learn and a mask to colour in for the kids (big kids too!) and Karen has shared her delicious banana bread recipe for you to make and enjoy at home.
Download your copy today! Yarnupings_Issue3_Sep 2021-
Finished this edition? There are plenty more Yarnupings newsletters in our Resources section!
Please enjoy the latest edition of Yarnupings. This issue celebrates Reconciliation Week. Phil talks us through the process of graffiti removal and we showcase some beautiful rock art. Enjoy!
Get your copy of the latest AHO Newsletter, Yarnupings Issue 2 2021.
Finished this edition? There are plenty more Yarnupings newsletters in our Resources section!
Please enjoy the latest edition of Yarnupings. This issue celebrates the AHO turning 21 – From Little Things, Big Things Grow. There’s many a story to share! We introduce you to a new volunteer and rejoice in saying thanks to our many enthusiastic and dedicated volunteer team. Phil takes us through monitoring sites in Lane Cove and we farewell Samaka. There’s ‘Deep Time Dreaming’ – Billy Griffiths’ book review and a delicious recipe to try. Enjoy our bumper birthday edition!
Get your copy of the latest AHO Newsletter, Yarnupings Issue 1 2021.
Finished this edition? There are plenty more Yarnupings newsletters in our Resources section!
Get your copy of the latest AHO Newsletter, Yarnupings Issue 4 2020. As usual there are crosswords, reflections, news, reviews, thoughts and upcoming events. We hope you’ll find something there of interest.
Finished this edition? There are plenty more Yarnupings newsletters in our Resources section!
Yarnupings Issue 3 September 2020
This issue focuses on the theme of food. There may have been an extra kilo or two sneak up on us during Covid time, so we thought we’d take a look at food from Aboriginal Australia.We write about the amazing Saltwater Women of Sydney, look at some tools used in the collection of food, ponder the way we view food and what to do if you’re out in the field and are recording food found in the archaeological record.
This edition looks at the first Australian pandemic, hearth and home, educational resources, national volunteer week, book reviews, quizzes and more.
This edition looks at cultural burning, volunteer of the month, AHO museum guided tours, the Schools Dig Program, 20 years of the AHO, Year of the Plant and more.
November we look at the Coastal Erosion Project, the real Gringai country, a visit to Noongah Country, 360 photography tours, whispers from the museum, a different perspective on Uluru, a walk in Willoughby Council and more.
A new museum exhibit, the Brewarrina Fish Traps, NAIDOC Week, David Unaipon, rainy day ideas, track of the month and unraveling mysteries of old site cards are some of the items in this edition.
This is our 19th birthday issue! We look at the AHO in perspective, the mapping massacres website, track of the month and more.
We welcome in the new year and have a look at our new home, Freshwater. Plus track of the month at Long Reef…
Shell fish hooks, new finds in Strathfield, how Aboriginal people could be discriminated on being too Aboriginal or not Aboriginal enough, the Koori Knockout, and more.
Yarnupings Issue 2 December 2017
Summer. We welcome Ed to the team, a visit to Broome, the ingenuity of humans past and present, a lighter side of a day in the life of the AHO, the NSW heritage reforms, crossword and quiz and the usual.
This week is a special one for Indigenous peoples in Australia. May 26th is Sorry Day, May 27th is the 50th anniversary of the 1967 Referendum, and this week (beginning May 22nd 2017) has seen a big meeting of Indigenous leaders from across the continent coming together at Uluru to look at the constitutional recognition issue.
A look at mapping sites, the AHO volunteer program, the 1967 referendum, in intern’s insights and a collection of fun activities.
Take a look at the latest AHO Newsletter, the December Summer issue of AHO Yarnupings.
Strathfield Council joins the AHO partnership, a summary of what the AHO is, an example of why we do what we do, a look at a continental myth, some Indigenous commentators and media, book reviews, Christmas stories, quizzes and more.
Read the AHO Newsletter, the October Spring issue of AHO Yarnupings.
A brief history of legislation affecting Aboriginal people, how to get less lost in the bush, education round up, book reviews, quizzes and more.
Read the April Autumn issue of AHO Yarnupings.
Photo tips for volunteers, epistemology, Festival time, quizerama, bush food of the month and a small reflection of 17 years’ work.
Read the December Summer Special issue of AHO Yarnupings.
Volunteer snapshot, an intern’s insights, the importance of site location location location, a look at spring and we find where Gareth has been.
Read the October issue of AHO Yarnupings.
Tips for AHO volunteer monitors, what is a local, the seasons, God and smartphones, questions from students in Denmark and quizzes galore.
We farewell Gareth our vols coordinator and general rouse-about, a look at outer and inner heritage from the perspective of the Nepal earthquakes, and a wrap on this year’s Guringai Festival.
Read the March 2015 issue of AHO Yarnupings.
Learn more about the topical ‘Filling A Void’ report, the issue of inheritance, Art Gallery of NSW and even a little quiz.
Read the November 2014 issue of AHO Yarunupings.
A look at the idea of an unchanging land, fact or fiction, a visit to the World Parks Congress, and to Berry Island.
Here’s the October 2014 copy of AHO Yarunupings.
Read about nearly 15 years of the AHO, bush foods, who was Bennelong, hello from some interns and track of the month.
Here’s our latest copy of the AHO Newletter 2014 August.
Stories include 15 Years of the AHO, No Need to Think and our recipe and walking track of the month. Enjoy!
Read the latest issue of Yarnupings, June 2014
Mabo Day, possum cloaks, a visit from the NSW Judicial Commission, the AHO moves to Manly, track of the month and more
Read the March newsletter Yarnupings March 2014
Day of Mourning and Protest, a debate about re-grooving rock engravings, reflections from our Education Officer, shells in a midden, track of the month and more.
Read the latest issue of Yarnupings, November 2013
An award for the volunteer program, a yarn up, an exotic take on Native Title, the Tranby family, in fear of the field, movie review and more.
Read the latest issue of Yarnupings, October 2013
Someone finds an interesting bone, life in the defence forces, introducing the interns, quizzes, recipes and more.
Read the latest issue of Yarnupings, September 2013
Flowers and bushland fire management, fire management Top End style, a look at R.H. Matthews, the AHO gets another award, recipes, vols wrap and more.
Read the latest issue of Yarnupings, August 2013
The past repeating, Festival feedback, a loot at W.D. Campbell recorder of rock engravings, intern insights, winners of our design comp and more.
Notes from Tasmania, intern insights, God and lawns, the AHO’s new recording device, recipes and more.
A hello from an old North Sydney friend, Indigenous surfers, site predictions, and more.
Download the AHO December newsletter AHO Yarnupings Issue 9.
A look at skin, a galactic perspective, our new intern, Aboriginal war commemoration, recipes, quizzes and more.
Read the November newsletter AHO Yarnupings Issue 8 – now available.
How not to get kidney stones, discrimination and projection, insights into Aboriginal life, Gulgadya Muru and Manly Dam, track of the month and more.
The October newsletter AHO Yarnupings Issue 7 is now available – download it here.
Read the September newsletter AHO Yarnupings Issue 6 from the Aboriginal Heritage Office.
Volunteer site monitoring, a question about evolution, Education wrap, quizzes and more. In this issue:
Archaeological fieldwork and excavation update (Hunter Valley flint knapping sites and regional research)
Aboriginal heritage management and bureaucracy (changes to government departments and legislation history)
Education and interpretation of Aboriginal culture (museum exhibits, school engagement, heritage learning)
Poster competition, Track of the Month, Dreamtime story)
Read the August issue of Yarnupings, the AHO Newsletter.
Vandalism, a look at anthropology, Geoff’s work in the field, and more.
In this issue:
Read the July issue of Yarnupings, the AHO Newsletter.
Archaeology and prejudice, a welcome to Jimmy, insights from the interns, Aboriginal canoes and more.
Read the June newsletter AHO Yarnupings Issue 3, from the Aboriginal Heritage Office.
A visit to Byrock waterhole, archaeology and climate change, tracks and tracking, movie review and more. In this issue we discuss:
Aboriginal heritage stories and sites (Ngemba, Byrock Waterhole, Dreamtime narratives)
Read Issue 2 of Yarnupings, May 2012, the Aboriginal Heritage Office Newsletter.
Read the Newsletter 2010 March – Email version
10 year anniversary, heritage rangers around the world, inside the AHO museum, our volunteer program and more. In this issue we talk:
