Simon Brown is Junggayi (cultural custodian) for Bagala clan lands. His area of responsibility is the lands around Barunga and Beswick/Wugularr. Simon is Jawoyn on his mother’s side and Ngalkbon on his father’s side. His moiety is Yirritja, which makes him Junggayi for Bagala lands which are Dhuwa country. Simon’s skin in Narritj.
Simon’s mother, Phyllis Wiynjorroc, was the daughter of Lamjorrotj and his first wife, Laurie. Simon’s father was Billy Dupdup, whose traditional lands are Ngalkbon lands around Lindsay Crossing, on the north side of Mainoru.
Simon is a strong cultural leader. He works hard to teach the young people about culture. He is worried that young people are more interested in mobile phones, and he is worried about drugs and alcohol. Simon believes that going out onto country is more important, getting bush tucker and learning about bush medicine. It is important to take kids onto country in the school holidays, camping out, fishing, hunting, telling stories about cultural knowledge and the ‘way it should be’. He says ‘That’s our law. That is the way it should be.’
