Carrying the Load: Eldership, Obligation, and Hope for Our Future

In this powerful NAIDOC Week yarn, I sit down with Uncle Cheg—Gregory Egert—one of our most respected elders and lifelong advocates for community, culture, and education in Southeast Queensland. From growing up in Inala in the 1960s, to decades of service on community boards and as an inaugural Elder in Residence at QUT and now UQ, Uncle Cheg shares stories of resilience, responsibility, and staying grounded in culture. We talk about the early days of big community meetings (complete with the occasional flying chair), the importance of giving back, and how Aboriginal-led research is shaping better futures through the ARC Centre of Excellence for Indigenous Futures. Uncle Cheg reflects on what drives him to keep showing up for mob, why mentoring the next generation is non-negotiable, and his hopes and concerns for our young people as they step into a fast-changing world. Whether you’re mob, an ally, or someone wanting to understand more about what genuine community leadership looks like, this episode is a heartfelt reminder—especially during NAIDOC Week—that our culture, our stories, and our obligations endure. Tune in to hear Uncle Cheg’s wisdom on belonging, legacy, and the power of lifting each other up. Resources & Links ARC Centre of Excellence for Indigenous Futureshttps://indigenous-futures.org/ indigenous-futures.org+1indigenous-futures.org+1 The Murri Schoolhttps://murrischool.qld.edu.au/ murrischool.qld.edu.au+11murrischool.qld.edu.au+11murrischool.qld.edu.au+11 QUT Carumba Institutehttps://www.qut.edu.au/research/carumba-institute qut.edu.au+3qut.edu.au+3qut.edu.au+3 University of Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies Unithttps://indigenous-engagement.uq.edu.au/atsisu Website: www.blackmagicwoman.com.au Follow us on Instagram - @blackmagicwomanpodcast The Black Magic Woman Podcast is hosted by Mundanara Bayles and is an uplifting conversational style program featuring mainly Aboriginal guests and explores issues of importance to Aboriginal people and communities.  Mundanara is guided by Aboriginal Terms of Reference and focusses more on who people are rather than on what they do. If you enjoyed this episode, please ‘Subscribe’ on Apple Podcasts or ‘Follow’ on your Spotify app and tell your friends and family about us! If you’d like to contact us, please email, [email protected]  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.