Possum skin link to Macquarie's history

Law graduate swaps academic robe for traditional indigenous attire at graduation In his graduation ceremony at Macquarie University Lachlan McDaniel swapped his western academic uniform for a possum skin cloak. In doing so he became one of Australia's first indigenous students to graduate in traditional garb. The cloak represented not only links with Macquarie University's namesake, but a new era for Australian universities in integrating and celebrating indigenous culture. As a student of the Bachelor of Arts with the degree of Bachelor of Laws, McDaniel has investigated the record of one of Governor Macquarie's first interactions with the Wiradjuri people. In exchange for a tomahawk and yellow cloth, three Wiradjuri warriors presented Macquarie with a possum-skin cloak, a Willay Badhang. McDaniel said: "The process of making a Badhang could take anywhere between months and years, making them amongst the most treasured possessions a Wiradjuri could own. As such, it would have been a great honour for the governor to receive the cloak." Possum skin cloaks have since faded from contemporary indigenous life, but a recent revival of the art has begun, and cloaks have been worn in important events in Australia's Parliament and courtrooms. McDaniel's father sought permission from the Wiradjuri Council of Elders to start a cloak-making project and has since taught Lachlan the art. Inspired by the inclusion of traditional Maori cloaks into the academic dress requirements of universities in New Zealand, McDaniel proposed an exception to Macquarie University's regulations. With permission received, he set about the nine month process of creating the cloak. "The possum is a protected species in Australia, so we import the skins from New Zealand, where they are being eradicated as an environmentally destructive introduced pest. We then stain them, mark out the size and start burning on the gurrilgang - the patterns of the cloak. Finally, the cloak is stitched together." After his graduation ceremony, McDaniel was joined by staff from Warawara and Macquarie's social inclusion team, where he now works as an indigenous engagement officer. "My hope is that more indigenous students create cloaks to graduate in, as an alternative to the western academic 'uniform'. It's exciting that universities can actively promote indigenous culture on campus and celebrate indigenous students coming to uni in this way," he said. McDaniel was amongst 220 students graduating on Monday. The occasional speaker was Stuart Clark, BA LLB (Hons) Macq., Chief Operating Officer, Managing Partner - International Clayton Utz. The award was presented by Associate Professor Natalie Klein, Dean, Macquarie Law School, and by the Chancellor of Macquarie University, Michael Egan. McDaniels cloak was also referred to in the Welcome to Country, given by Chris Tobin, a traditional custodian of the Darug people.