27 May 2025
In keeping with the theme of Reconciliation Week 2025, ‘Bridging Now to Next’, a group of Indigenous Navy and Army members attended a workshop to learn to play the didgeridoo.
With increasing demand for didgeridoo performances at Defence events, the workshop aimed to begin the development of a future generation of performers.
Over three days at Nowra, NSW, participants carved and shaped their own didgeridoos and learnt practical performance knowledge, from circular breathing to technical sound production.
Lieutenant Estin Hunter, a Djabugay man from Kuranda in Far North Queensland, coordinated the course.
“This is the very first workshop of its type for Defence and gave us a great opportunity to strengthen connections between Indigenous performers from across the ADF,” Lieutenant Hunter said.
“Our aim with this course is to give people a foundational level of knowledge in playing the didgeridoo, but eventually we’d like to grow this to become a self-sufficient program in Defence and be able to instruct our own people.”
The key feature of the course was that participants were able to select their own ‘blank’ didgeridoo, which was only recently cut from the tree.
They then shaped it to their own preference by stripping the bark, shaping the wood and giving it a coat of varnish.
With the construction complete, the next day was spent learning to play the didgeridoo, which requires circular breathing and other particular techniques.
'When people shape their own didgeridoos, they make a personal investment in their learning.'
Participants were invited from all branches of the ADF and from around Australia, creating a rare opportunity to reinforce the sense of camaraderie between Indigenous members.
Assisting in bringing the event together, Able Seaman Kieryn Nieves, the Regional Indigenous Development Coordinator at HMAS Albatross in Nowra, is originally from Gimuy (Cairns) in Far North Queensland.
Having played the didgeridoo for 18 months, Able Seaman Nieves already performs at Defence events and recently played at Navy Week 2025. He is beginning to teach others how to play the didgeridoo while continuing to develop his own skills.
“A lot of courses simply give their students poly pipe from the hardware store, which means they have no strong connection to their instrument,” Able Seaman Nieves said.
“When people shape their own didgeridoos, they make a personal investment in their learning – every cut that's on it and its unique sound is a result of the effort they put into it. That effort means they are much more likely to persist with their practice, and many become incredible players.”
Participants agreed that they learnt more than they expected from the course.
“While most of them will need to practise more before they can perform, the course has given them all the tools, skills and drills to succeed,” Able Seaman Nieves said.
“With the right facilitation and education, they have reached a proficiency over two days that took me four months on my own.”
