11 August 2010
Territorian wins Rock Art prize
Local Rock Art expert Daryl Guse was last night awarded the George Chaloupka Research Fellowship for 2010, at the Museum and Art Gallery (MAGNT) of the Northern Territory Foundation's dinner.
Sponsored by Energy Resources of Australia Ltd (ERA), the Fellowship supports research and conservation of Aboriginal rock art in the Arnhem Land Plateau area of the Northern Territory.
The Fellowship recognises the outstanding work of rock art historian Dr George Chaloupka, who for over fifty years has documented and recorded more than 3000 rock art sites across the Northern Territory.
ERA, which operates the Ranger uranium mine at Jabiru, provided $75,000 over three years to support the Fellowship.
The mining company extended this commitment overnight, pledging an additional $85,000 over the next three years to ensure the Fellowship continues.
ERA Chief Executive, Rob Atkinson, in announcing Daryl as the successful candidate for 2010, said the 12 month Fellowship will, with the guidance of Traditional owners, involve documenting and conserving rock art in the Urrmarning (Red Lily Dreaming) precinct near the township of Kunbarllanjnja in Arnhem Land.
"Through this Fellowship, ERA is proud to support the extremely important work of identifying, documenting and conserving Aboriginal rock art in the Northern Territory."
"Working with local communities to protect and preserve cultural heritage sites on our mining leases is an important aspect of our own day-to-day work and we welcome this opportunity to support research and conservation of rock art in Arnhem Land."
Currently working towards a PhD on rock art at the Australian National University, Daryl has had a professional interest in the documentation and conservation of cultural heritage in the Northern Territory for over 10 years.
During that time he has worked closely with Aboriginal communities, developers and local government brokering meaningful outcomes for the interpretation and conservation of cultural heritage.
MAGNT Foundation President, Helen Garnett, said the MAGNT Foundation was honoured to have support from ERA for this prestigious Fellowship.
"Some of the thousands of examples of Aboriginal rock art documented by George Chaloupka are located on ERA's mining leases in Jabiru, along with other important cultural heritage sites, so it's fantastic to have the Company's support in continuing this work," said
Professor Garnett.
"We are very pleased to be able to support efforts such as this and to continue George's work and are delighted to present Daryl as the 2010 George Chaloupka Fellowship recipient.
ENDS
Media enquiries:
Emeritus Professor Helen Garnett 0416 222 000
Jane Hart, ERA Communications Specialist, 08 8924 3589