“All the family went fishing, so it was me and him sitting on the river, him telling me about how his uncle was taken away … and they never knew why,” he said.

“That was very significant, something that I remember the most.”

Mr Hampton’s recollection is just one story from members of the Indigenous community featured in a new series of short films produced by the Border’s Jacqui Schulz.

“Getting these stories out brings everyone back together and brings that cultural connection back … you definitely feel a strong connection,” he said.

“Learning about the past is important, not many people these days know the past and what the elders went through.”

Storylines, which will be available in hard copy for free at Wodonga Library and soon online, were released during the closing ceremony for NAIDOC Week. 

Wodonga council cultural development co-ordinator Helen Newman said four elders and six young Indigenous adults were involved in production.

“It was important not just to get the elder’s voices but to have young Indigenous people involved in the project,” she said.

“They were asking the questions they wanted to ask about their own history.

“It’s an honour when people are so generous with stories, particularly when they’re quite poignant and there’s sad elements.”

One elder, known as Uncle Tunny, speaks about the trauma experienced by many of the Border’s elders in the film. 

“They’re still feeling the after-effects … when they tell their stories, they cry,” he said.

During the closing ceremony, Mungabareena Aboriginal Corporation chief executive Caine Raudino congratulated the Albury-Wodonga NAIDOC committee on one of the most successful weeks in recent memory.

“The major event for the week was the Songlines Festival held at Wonga Wetlands, with a turn-out of over 1000 people,” he said.

“It has to be commended to all involved who organised the event, and I look forward to a bigger and better NAIDOC Week next year.”