Richard Barry Walley (born 1953) OAM is a Nyungar man, one of Australia's leading Aboriginal performers, musicians and writers, who has been a campaigner for the Indigenous cause. Walley is also a visual artist. Life and career Walley, born in 1953 in Meekatharra, north of Perth, Western Australia, spent much of his childhood at Pinjarra, south of Perth. He began his work in social justice for Indigenous Australians in the Perth region, Nyungar country, at a young age. By 23 he was chairing Western Australia's Aboriginal Advisory Board, while also involved in the formation or operation of the Aboriginal Housing Board, Aboriginal Medical Service, Aboriginal Legal Service, Aboriginal Alcoholism Committee, Aboriginal Sports Foundation and the New Era Aboriginal Fellowship. He is known for helping to develop the modern Australian welcome to country ritual, when in 1976 he and Ernie Dingo and created a ceremony to welcome a group of Māori artists who were participating in the Perth International Arts Festival. In 1978, he founded the Middar Aboriginal Theatre with three friends, including Ernie Dingo, who he had met playing basketball. Walley had realised early the powerful potential of theatre to raise issues and bring messages to the broader community, black and white. Aiming to take the Nyungar culture from the south-west corner of Australia to as many people as possible, the Middar group went on to perform in 32 countries, on every continent, to live audiences totalling almost ten million people. After acting in theatre and TV, Walley went on to further develop his theatre skills, holding the role of either director or assistant director in 10 productions in theatre and TV from 1982 to 1993. Several of these productions took place in the United States and the UK. During this period Walley also wrote several screenplays. In March 1990 the Aboriginal National Theatre Trust staged the world premiere of his play Munjong, directed by Vivian Walker (son of Oodgeroo Noonuccal), at the Victorian Arts Centre. In 1993 Walley was awarded the Order of Australia Medal for his contribution to the performing arts and Nyungar culture. Walley is also a renowned didgeridoo player and has produced a six CD collection of didgeridoo music that is inspired by the six seasons of the Nyungar calendar. He has played didgeridoo live at London's Royal Albert Hall, as well as in Greece, Slovenia, Japan, Mexico, the US and Canada. From 2000 he served