Stan Dryden (Yarramunua)

An entrepreneur and humanitarian, passionate about Aboriginal culture and the founder of the Yarra Foundation for disadvantaged children.

Stan Dryden (Yarramunua) has worked to raise awareness of his culture through painting, art and craft making, storytelling, didgeridoo performing, traditional dancing, acting, clothing design, public speaking and healing.

Yarramunua’s keynote presentations are renowned for their high level of audience interaction and engagement. He will often prepare a painting prior to an event so that audience members can participate in its completion; Then leaving the final piece with the event organiser to be auctioned or hung at the location of the event.

Yarramunua’s indigenous art, Yidaki (didgeridoo) playing and storytelling, captivate many people both within Australia and around the world, and have resulted in him playing with Stevie Wonder on his Australia Tour in Sydney (Oct 2008); Van Halen; an alternative American Rock Band; WOMAD Adelaide and various Gala/Award openings.

In 2018, he was engaged by the Chief Commissioner of Police to speak to 500 Victorian Police on leadership and team building.

Yarramunua is currently engaged with Tennis Australia.  He has painted the Totem Pole for Ash Barty at the Australian Open, which was released in January 2023 and in 2024 designed and painted multiple tennis racquets that were awarded to the Men’s singles winner and runner up.

Yarramunua can also be engaged for ‘’Welcome to Country’’ and musical performances that include the Yidaki (digeridoo).

Yarramunua is a charismatic Yorta Yorta man (Barmah Forest region NSW/Victorian border) who grew up in Melbourne with an alcoholic and abusive father. He experienced a rough and sometimes homeless childhood and was in and out of trouble constantly. Yarramanua became an alcoholic, before swearing off the drink and committing himself to making something of himself.

Now a successful international artist, he is committed to improving the lives of Aboriginal children in his hometown of Shepparton, particularly through better housing.

On a national and international level, Yarramanua’s art reflects the growing awareness of so called ‘primitive culture’ where the land, its people and spirituality are one. His work is therefore typically derived from the cultural landscape of his people, their spirit and their beliefs and is based on a respect for nature, where the environment and all its inhabitants must live in harmony with each other.

As the owner of Art Yarramunua Gallery, a prominent Indigenous art gallery in Burleigh Heads, Queensland, his aim has been to create opportunity for people to learn, understand, appreciate and respect the Aboriginal culture through his art and storytelling. His ultimate message is one of ancestral wisdom, protection and worship.

An accomplished artist himself, he designed and painted the Miss World Australia Dress (2007) and swimwear for the Burleigh Surf Life Saving Club.

As a respected healer, Yarramunua has delivered healing sessions at the Royal Children’s Hospital. He is an inspirational leader of self-help groups for substance abuse and rehabilitation, and regularly speaks at local Colleges, Universities and Schools.

Yarramunua believes that the more we learn of the Dreamtime stories, the more we will be able to understand the delicate balance of nature. A versatile character actor of screen and stage, Yarramunua has taken part in some of the funniest and more controversial productions, notably the film; Welcome to Woop Woop, where Stan performs in both Stolen and The Dirty Mile.  He has also appeared in the television programs Corelli (with Hugh Jackman), Man from Snowy River (with Guy Pearce), Blue Heelers and Pee-Wee.

Yarramunua has also preformed privately and customised didgeridoos and paintings for Stevie Wonder, Prince, AC/DC, Eminem, Snoop Dog, 50cent, G-Unit, Bob Marley’s Wailers and Engelbert Humperdinck.

Yarramanua Talks About

• Leadership & Team Building
• Entrepreneurship: How to succeed in a White Fella’s World
• Entrepreneurs and Culture: The Future of Work and Entrepreneurs
• Managing Addictions
• Growing Up: From Rags to Riches