WARNING

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander visitors are warned that this section contains images and voice of the late Bullinj M. Hall, the Black Hawk. Bullinj was the Vice President and a founding member of Djilpin Arts Aboriginal Corporation, a songman, performer and artist. Together with Frankie Tango Lane, Bullinj made and painted many of the didjeridus in the Centre. This site is dedicated to the memory of the Black Hawk.

SUGAR BAG WAX, A NATURAL MOUTH PIECE

The mouth piece can get dry and splintery so we make it more comfortable by putting sugar bag wax around the mouthpiece. This wax also moulds to your mouth making a more comfortable seal so all your air is used.

Using the wax involves finding sugar bag (native bee honey) and using the wax from the hive to put on the mouthpiece. It is a long and difficult process to find sugar bag. We go out into the bush and keep our eyes looking for non-stinging native bees. They are quite small and difficult to spot.

Once found you follow the fast moving bee with your eyes to see where it goes. There is a lot of skill involved in finding the hive as the only indication is a tiny 3mm hole in trees or in the ground. Finding the hive is not easy you can be out looking all day and not find any.

Getting to it once you have spotted the hive takes a lot of effort too. Sometimes you have to climb a tree and chop off the hollow branch containing the hive, and sometimes it means digging underground to get to it.

You squeeze out the rich golden sugar bag (honey) it’s delicious, sweet with a slight citrus flavour. The wax left behind is drained, cleaned and ready for many different uses, including the mouthpiece of your dij, making it taste faintly of delicious sweet-smokiness.