Bernard Singleton
12 GALGA MILAY-DJADA Spear & Spear thrower (set)
2025
CAT #
SIAB-19
Tree sapling, Cooktown ironwood/gum tree wood, string, resin
twelve available
Various sizes, approx. 260 cm
cm
GALKA spear - As a young boy to go with the older ones spearing for mullet and mudcrab, I was to learn patience and the process of how to make spear. Where to cut them, how to strip and cook the handle over fire to strengthen and straighten the handle and then how to aim and throw with the woomera. We used wire prongs for our spears whereas our old people crafted spear tips out of stone, bone and hard wood as you see here. Canoe bark resin or Ironwood gum and string fasten the spear tips into the handle. It allows me to be by the fore and slows me down into a therapeutic space. Don't allow anyone to step over your handles when you making spear as you may not catch anything.” MILAY spear thrower (woomera) - "“I remember them old fellas walking back into camp with big fish over their shoulder with nothing but two spears and a small stick woomera in the other hand It also means having an understanding of country, tide and how the fish move with it. The only way to know is to sit and watch and be fully immersed in country. We all need to slow down and breathe, work with our hands or tap into a creative part of ourselves. We make the spear thrower the length of the arm from fingertip to underarm out of hardwood and attach a pin to sit in the end of the spear shaft. This extension of the arm allows a greater length and much more powerful throw.. The spear thrown with the woomera have fed me well.”
900
For Sale