Ms Hughes was among 13 people in Australia to receive a Regional Arts Australia volunteer award for her 12-year commitment to the promotion of Aboriginal fibre arts.

The festival received more than 500 submissions from Australia, Canada, Japan and UK in the exhibition and competition this year.

Not just the vogue of devout hippies, the beanie is now commonplace in Australian winter fashion collections.

However, for the Pitjantjatjara and Yankunytjara peoples, ``mukata'' or beanies have been worn as ceremonial headdresses for thousands of years, spun from human hair, animal fur, and feathers of native birds.

Elders kept sacred items under their mukata, and many today keep photos or keepsakes of loved ones.

``Beanies are a point of commonality between white-fella and blackfella culture, and crochet and knitting are part of European female fine arts,'' Ms Hughes said.

``Aboriginal women of Ernabella were taught to crochet in missions, and adapted traditional spindle techniques using bilby fur, replacing it with wool which came from sheep stations.

``There's a lot of quirkiness and fun but there is a serious element in assisting indigenous communities to keep traditions in arts and craft, creating employment opportunities for indigenous women, and promoting an understanding of Aboriginal culture.''