8 Interviewee story summaries In her interview, Marilyn spoke about her connection to Country and the challenges she has faced fighting for her Country. She provided detailed information on her knowledge of bush medicine and on her family story, and how knowledge was passed down through the generations. She was concerned to ensure that she could pass it down too. In this context, Marilyn talked about her mother and grandfather’s particular knowledge of Country, and that it is only some people this knowledge is passed down to. She explained how some of these things are not meant to be spoken about: ‘that’s how it’s handed down. It was specifically handed down to me because I was the sickliest child out of 14 kids.’ Marilyn felt strongly that any explanation of her connection was inadequate if not done physically on Country. She was insistent that her education of others and her knowledge transfer to younger generations was only possible by being on Country and learning through practice. When unable to take people out on Country, Marilyn felt it hindered her ability to show and teach her culture. At the time of speaking, Marilyn was also frustrated that her family were having to justify their cultural fishing practices to the NSW Government authorities. Marilyn’s nephews were being prosecuted by the Department of Primary Industries for taking too much abalone. Marilyn explained that they did not make money from their fishing. She described how they have always fished for the whole family and community, as is traditional practice: ‘Those young men fish for many, many people and so it might look like they are taking too much but it is how it’s done traditionally – for sharing amongst many.’ She was angry and insistent that this was a cultural right, and they were not going to stop. The ongoing need to justify herself and her family’s cultural practices and connection to Country was felt by Marilyn as a never-ending demand, which was both exhausting and angering. She felt it was unfair and unjust to be required to explain herself, her culture, and her rights when she and her family had endured so much already. But Marilyn was also determined to continue fighting for her Country and the ability to fully pass on her cultural knowledge to her grandchildren. Australian Human Rights Commission 95