Mornington Island is situated in the southern corner of the Gulf of Carpentaria, Northern Queensland. It is the traditional homeland of the Lardil people.

The land is covered by low scrub vegetation with ti-tree and swamp flats providing a habitat for many species of wildlife. There are windswept beaches lined with sea-oak trees, rocky outcrops and mangroves. The surrounding sea is abundant with fish and marine life such as turtle and dugong, which are the traditional foods of the Lardil people. The Lardil people have a strong interest in maintaining a healthy natural environment that will always support future generations to live off the land.

The first three people on Mornington Island were Marnbil, Dhual-dhual and Ghingin who arrived by raft from mainland Australia some 10,000 years ago. They named all the places. Legends tell of the creation of the landscape and 'story places'. Laws and ceremonies came from Tuwartu (Rainbow Serpent) and Nyaranbi (Dingo). All the families and clans knew which special land areas were theirs to care for and to pass on to their children, how they should marry and how they should share.

The songs and dances teach us this history and inheritance. Many of the people still go to their traditional lands and "story-places" and family groups have begun to resettle their traditional lands with "outstations".

Missionaries arrived in 1914. After WW1 the Island became a Presbyterian Mission and the process of cultural 'assimilation' began. In 1978, both Mornington and the nearby islands of the Wellesley Group were granted Local Government status with a Shire Council and elected representatives of the community. The population numbers approximately 1200 people and the main community centre is Gununa, which means "Enough!"

"Woomera" is the spear thrower that gives strength to hunt better just as our organisation, "Woomera" gives us the strength and means to take our culture and people forward into the future.

In 1973, elders from the Lardil Aboriginal people of Mornington Island began one of Australia's special touring companies called "Aborigines Woomera". Groups of traditional songmen and dancers from Mornington Island performed for audiences in mainland Australia. In 1983 the organisation became legally incorporated as Woomera Aboriginal Corporation.

The Mornington Island Dancers now have a regular touring program visiting cities, towns and outback and remote areas. The dancers have participated in many international and Australian cultural events and festivals:

Sydney - Opera House Opening, 1973, "Ballet '78"
Townsville - Civic Theatre Opening, 1978
Festival of Pacific Arts, 1988
Adelaide - Arts Festival, 1976, 1982, 1983 & 1988
Perth - Kyana Festival and Tours 1992, 1993
Darwin - 1992 and 1994 Bougainvillea Festival
Canberra - Festival, 1989, National Folk Festival 1994
Brisbane - "Fiesta".

Major tours include:
Papua and New Guinea - 1980 and 1993
France - 1982
Great Britain - 1982 and 1993
India - 1982
Italy - 1982, 1989
U.S.A. - Los Angeles Festival, 1990, Arizona and New Mexico - 1990
Belgium - 1992
Sweden - 1992
Aotearoa - 1991 and 1994
Germany - 1995

Central Australia - 1986
Kimberley Region - 1988
Cape York Peninsular / Thursday Island - 1989
Arnhemland - 1993
Pilbara Region - 1993
Gulf of Carpentaria - 1993, 94