Aunty Sonya Parsons’ career has been a harmony of culture and care.
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As Aunty Son steps away from her role as Aboriginal liaison officer at Echuca Regional Health, she has taken the opportunity to reflect on her path thus far.
“I have amazing family and friends that have always given me strength,” Aunty Son said.
“My culture and connection to Mother Earth has always given me strength, made me happy.”
Aunty Son joined the ERH team almost seven years ago, joining from St Vincent’s in Melbourne.
After a health scare, Aunty Son wanted to be close to Country.
“I had a stroke while I was at work,” she said.
“I had 24 stitches, and they cut a piece of my skull out ... so I came home here because I thought, ‘I have to come back home to heal’.
“This is Country for me.”
While recovering from the stroke and surgery, Aunty Son saw a position at ERH pop up.
She took it as a green light to stay.
“The job came up here as an ALO, and I’m like, ‘that’s got to be a sign for me to come back home to Country’,” Aunty Son said.
“So I applied for it while I was here and I got it.
“Seven years I’ve been here and loved every minute of it because my family is all born and raised in Shepparton.”
Aunty Sonya, born Sonya Briggs, is Yorta Yorta and grew up listening to stories from the Cummeragunja walk-off in 1939.
Her family, who settled at Daish’s Paddock, have helped pave the way for the Aboriginal community — a legacy continued by Aunty Son.
“My oldest brother, Graham, Cobba, he was on the board at Rumbalara,” she said.
“He always told me about how important it was for community to build a foundation.
“That’s what Rumbalara was for ... so it’s a proud history to come from.”
In practice, Aunty Son has supported education, patient journeys and culturally sensitive care at ERH as an ALO.
Often this looks like a yarn and a signature Aunty Son hug.
“I’ve always been a yarner, I’ve always been able to talk and tell stories,” she said.
“I learned about our creation stories, and I love sharing them with everyone ... kids are amazed when you tell them stories, and they don’t forget them.”
At a farewell for Aunty Son, yarning was the common thread in reflections from her ERH colleagues and friends.
“We just really value the history that you’ve brought to us,” executive director of community services Cynthia Robins said.
“The yarning, the sitting down and telling us stories.”
Chief executive Robyn Lindsay spoke about Aunty Son’s impact, not only on patients, but on the entire team and wider community.
“We recognise that your commitment to community doesn’t start at 8.30 in the morning and finish at knock-off time,” she said.
“It often extended well beyond that and that load could be significant at times, so we are really grateful.
“You’ve been so generous with your sharing of information ... there’s nothing better than yarning with you.”
In finishing up as an ALO, Aunty Son has moved into a short-term role speaking with local Elders and recording their stories.
She has four Elders lined up, including Uncle Colin and Aunty Faye Walker, who attended Aunty Son’s farewell.
“I want to record or photograph their history through life, their work through life,” Aunty Son said.
“Where they were born, where they live, what was their family like, did they have things, did they not have things, how are they treated by the wider community, and what has changed from the time they were growing up to now, if anything.
“It’s also a way of healing past things that have happened, so it’s a cleansing and a healing journey for all.
“Their family gets to keep it, so they get to share it to grandkids and other cousins, and it keeps their family history alive for ever.”
Even as she steps away from “working” life, Aunty Son believes her work will always continue.
“I don’t think I’ll ever stop,” she said.
“I want to do a lot of healing with women, but not only in my culture, all cultures.
“I want to heal and strengthen women, empower women.”
Cadet Journalist