Aunty Ros Seeks Return of Stolen Breastplate

0:00It's April 13th, you're listening to Sydney News today, AI-powered local news. A Bunga Lung elder named Auntie Rose is calling for the return of a sacred breastplate stolen from a Lizmorm Museum over 60 years ago. The copper plate belonged to her great-great-grandfather, Jack Kiven, titled King of Woolongbar by early settlers. She believes it's now with a private collector, and insists it belongs to the land and community, not anyone person. These breastplates were gifts from settlers as symbols of honor, like military gorgeous warm back then, showing respect for help from Aboriginal, people. As a kid, Auntie Rose sought hanging in the museum stairwell with her grandma, etched with warrior and kangaroo images. For 30 years, she's chased leads to bring it home. In 2011, things got close. Tipped off by a journalist, she spotted it up for auction, and offered $5,000 to buy for the family. But it sold to a private buyer for $3,360, leaving everyone heartbroken.

1:03Auntie Rose and her niece, Mindy Woods, have hit up police, heritage offices, and more, but provenance issues blocked progress. It's part of a bigger fight, with over 130,000 indigenous items scattered worldwide. Groups like A.I.H.C. is have brought back nearly 2,300 since 2018. New South Wales is now investigating and teaming up with the family for voluntary return. If it comes back, it'll go on display in Woolenbar, honoring that deep connection to country for all to share.