The possum skin cloak healing workshops received a highly commended in the May 2015 Museums Australia’s MAGNA Awards (Museums and Galleries National Awards) in the Indigenous Project or Keeping Place Category.

In October and November last year, in the lead-up to Bathurst’s bicentenary, Bathurst Regional Art Gallery worked with the Bathurst Wiradyuri and Community Elders, the local Aboriginal community and Banmirra Arts Victoria to host a series of workshops over three days. 

According to council’s director of cultural and community services, the workshops were an outstanding success, with members of the Indigenous and wider community working on the construction of the cloaks.

“Possum skin cloaks are one of the most sacred cultural expressions of the Aboriginal people of south-eastern Australia,” a report from the director stated.

 “Cloaks were traditionally incised with designs significant to the wearer and their clan group.

“The two cloaks made during the workshops became part of the Bathurst 200 Proclamation Day Ceremony on May 15, when one of the cloaks was presented by Dinawan Dyirribang, a Wiradyuri Elder, to the Mayor in a symbolic gesture of reconciliation.”

According to the report, the MAGNA judges were impressed with the Bathurst  initiative. 

The MAGNA judges stated: “It was an important and culturally significant extension of the ever-growing movement of revival of possum-skin cloak making. 

“The project and outcomes would be bound to leave a long-term impact in Bathurst, especially through the intended use of the two cloaks produced. 

“What an honour for present and future Bathurst mayors to be offered a possum skin cloak to wear on ceremonial occasions.”

The cost of the venture was covered by $10,000 funding from Bathurst Regional Council’s  B200 Projects. 

Bathurst Regional Art Gallery also contributed $5000 to the project from its Arts NSW artistic program funding.