Honouring Uncle Les Huddleston: Spirit, Story, and Deep Cultural Connection
One of the most quietly powerful moments we’ve experienced at the original Romulus Folio Gallery took place during National Reconciliation Week, when we had the honour of meeting Uncle Les Huddleston.
Uncle Les, also known as Lipwurrunga, is a Warray man, artist, didgeridoo maker, and spiritual healer from the Northern Territory. He joined us at the gallery during the first Weaving Three Stories workshop, led by First Nations artist Bianca Easton and organised by creative Director Sarah Naarden of Initiatives of Change Australia. Uncle Less closed the day with a phenomenal didg healing that had a deep and lasting impact that left us grounded, calm, and connected to something older than words.
Lipwurrunga: Art Rooted in Country
Soon after our meeting, and the time we were fortunate enough to spend speaking with him at the event, Scott and I went to see Uncle Les’s solo exhibition Lipwurrunga at Hawthorn Town Hall Gallery. His didgeridoos, paintings, and carvings are not only visually striking, they’re deeply embedded in cultural memory and spiritual connection to land. There’s a quiet, clear knowing and free precision in the way he works. His art speaks not only of the past, but continuity, spirit, timeless ancestral connection and story.
We left the exhibition with an even deeper appreciation for the man we had met.
Weaving Three Stories: Shared Learning on Country
The workshop itself was one of the most heartfelt events we’ve hosted to date. It created a space for cultural learning, storytelling, and connection through traditional weaving practices. It was the first in a series titled Weaving Three Stories, and part of a broader community effort to foster deeper listening during National Reconciliation Week.
Bianca Easton led the group with deep cultural care, guiding participants through traditional fibre weaving while sharing stories of her ancestors and Country. There was a quiet sense of reciprocity in the room of learning and listening through our hands and our presence with one another.
We captured part of the event on video, and we are honoured to share it here:
A Moment That Lingers
The combination of Uncle Les’s presence and didg healing, Bianca’s generous facilitation, Stephen Thorpe’s moving opening and the community in the room made this workshop the kind of gatherings remind us why Romulus Folio exists: to hold space for truth-telling, deep cultural exchange, and the kind of transformation that art allows.
This workshop was magnificently organised and creatively directed by Sarah Naarden, Initiatives of Change Australia; Facilitated by Bianca Easton – Boon Wurrung artist and cultural educator; healing through yidaki by Lipwurrunga Uncle Les Huddleston; welcome to Country and opening ceremony by Steve Thorpe, Sustainative Australia; supported by Kate Spencer FBIdeas and Micheal Woods Pacific Studio.
We’re grateful to everyone who made Weaving Three Stories possible and especially to have met Uncle Les, whose story, spirit, and artistry continue to resonate with my heart.
We have done our best to represent this event with cultural respect and accuracy. If there is anything in this post that requires correction or further context, we welcome that guidance and will make changes in consultation with community.
Workshop 3: Saturday 26 July, 2-5 pm The Third story of Place and artefact making. Please click to book via Humanitix