Meet Dr Cass Lynch – a Koreng Wudjari Noongar writer and researcher dedicated to sharing and revitalising Noongar language, stories and culture. Through her work with Wirlomin Noongar Language and Stories, Cass creates picture books, maps and resources that connect people to language and place. She’s also an advocate for the trapdoor spider and once trained with Shaolin monks in China!
Describe your research in 3 words:
Community. Language. Connection.
Tell me briefly about your field of research?
I work in Noongar language revitalisation in partnership with Wirlomin Noongar Language and Stories, an Aboriginal non-profit focused on uplifting south coast Noongar culture and community. I’m Wirlomin Noongar myself and we create Noongar language picture books, Noongar language resources, research songs, run a website, and maintain digital maps of our sacred sites.
Research highlight:
I’m passionate about picture books, I’ve worked as a children’s book buyer in an indie bookstore, and I collect Indigenous-authored illustrated works. Right now we’re working on the next two Wirlomin books, ‘Yongka Miyaak Koorliny/Kangaroo and Moon’ and ‘Wirrawoorliny/Whirlwind’ It’s a dream come true to be part of creating books in the Noongar language for my family.
If you could sit-in with any Faculty for a day, which would you pick?
I often think about sneaking into a meeting with the BINAR team over at the Space Science and Technology Centre (SSTC). I’m fascinated by their CubeSats, they look like little half-loaves of bread sent into space.
What are your passions/hobbies outside of work?
I am an advocate for the walbungkara, the trapdoor spider. I write about them and photograph their burrows. Last year, an ecologist colleague and I rescued 40 spiders from construction in the Porongurup Range National Park.
What’s a fun fact about you that your colleagues would probably not know?
I did a lot of martial arts growing up. When I was a teenager, I travelled to China and trained with the Shaolin monks (even I forget I did that!)
What’s the most valuable things you’ve learnt in your career so far?
Collaboration makes the best research. Doing work in isolation isn’t nearly as effective as having colleagues to work with and talk to.
What’s a piece of advice you would give to your fellow colleagues and students alike?
Stay curious – reach out to that overseas researcher who is working in your field even if you’re feeling a bit shy and read outside of your discipline.
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