Richard Walley facts for kids

Richard Barry Walley (born 1953) is a proud Nyungar man from Australia. He is a talented performer, musician, and writer. He has worked hard to support and raise awareness for Indigenous people. Richard is also a skilled artist.

Life and Career

Richard Walley was born in 1953 in a place called Meekatharra, which is about 750 kilometers north of Perth, Western Australia. He spent a lot of his childhood in Pinjarra, about 80 kilometers south of Perth. From a young age, he started working for social justice (fairness for everyone) for Indigenous Australians in the Perth area, which is Nyungar country.

Welcome to Country Ceremony

Richard is well-known for helping to create the modern Australian "welcome to country" ceremony. In 1976, he and his friend Ernie Dingo created a special ceremony. This was to welcome a group of Māori artists. These artists were visiting for the Perth International Arts Festival.

Middar Aboriginal Theatre

In 1978, Richard founded the Middar Aboriginal Theatre. He started it with three friends, including Ernie Dingo, whom he met playing basketball. Richard quickly understood how powerful theatre could be. It could help share important messages with everyone, both Indigenous and non-Indigenous people. The Middar group wanted to share the Nyungar culture from Australia's south-west. They performed in 32 countries on every continent. Millions of people watched their shows.

Theatre and Music

After acting in theatre and TV, Richard continued to develop his skills. He worked as a director or assistant director for 10 productions between 1982 and 1993. Some of these shows took place in the United States and the UK. In 1990, his play Munjong had its first performance. It was shown at the Victorian Arts Centre.

In 1993, Richard Walley received the Order of Australia Medal. This award recognized his excellent work in performing arts and for sharing Nyungar culture.

Richard is also a famous didgeridoo player. He has created a collection of six CDs with didgeridoo music. This music is inspired by the six seasons of the Nyungar calendar. He has played the didgeridoo live in many places. These include London's Royal Albert Hall, Greece, Slovenia, Japan, Mexico, the US, and Canada.

Leadership and Recognition

From 2000, Richard served as the Chair of the Australia Council's Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Arts Board. He had also held this important position earlier, from 1992 to 1996.

In 2001, Murdoch University in Western Australia honored him. They gave him an honorary Doctorate of Letters. This was to recognize his great contributions to Nyungar culture and the wider community.

Also in 2001, he performed in Westminster Abbey in London. Important people, including Queen Elizabeth II, were there. This performance was part of Australia's Centenary of Federation celebrations.

Richard Walley has been involved in many stage and television productions. He has worked as a director, designer, writer, musician, dancer, and actor. Some of his works include The Dreamers (1982), A Fortunate Life (1984), and Jackaroo (1990).

Richard speaks the Nyungar language very well. He is also a talented visual artist.

Football Club Involvement

In 2013, Richard Walley designed a special football jumper. It was for the Fremantle Football Club to wear during the Australian Football League's Indigenous Round. In 2016, he was made the club's honorary number 1 ticketholder.

Discography

Richard Walley has released several music albums. Many of his works feature the didgeridoo and are inspired by Indigenous culture.

Awards

West Australian Music Industry Awards

The West Australian Music Industry Awards (WAMIs) are awards given each year to musicians in Western Australia. Richard Walley has won one of these awards.