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Early morning, One Mile Creek
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Powrunna State Forest continues to be a hive of activity, with key updates over the past few months being:
- Another translocation occurred in June 2025. With another 11 northern hairy-nosed wombats being translocated from Epping Forest National Park (scientific) to Powrunna State Forest. This means that 38 wombats have now been translocated to Powrunna State Forest.
- Recent population monitoring has excitingly revealed three Powrunna pouch-young.
- In July, the installation of the wastewater and effluent treatment system at the workshop/base site was completed, and a planned burn was undertaken.
- Tenure actions are progressing to combine all the land associated with the project into the one aggregation and rename the area as Dhuny Yumba (Home of the Wombat) National Park (scientific). The dual name is something that the Steering Committee is exceptionally proud of, and will be the first dual park name within South West Region.
- Newly appointed Gunggari rangers visited the site for the first time in September and were given a tour of the site and provided with an overview of the project to date. A number of the Gunggari rangers also attended QPWS fire crew training in Gatton in September.
- A signage audit to identify the regulatory signage requirements, as well as other park signage has been undertaken.
- NRM work has been undertaken with a focus on macropod surveys and canid detection (presence or absence) using attractant pipes with cameras.
- Glencore have a promotional piece on the project on their website here Northern hairy-nosed wombat program
Photos attached:
- Pouch young.
- Wastewater and effluent treatment system being installed.
- Gunggari rangers and QPWS staff on site in September.
The Gunggari PBC marked two significant events earlier this month. Our Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Saturday 1 October was followed by the Yumba Reunion on 2 October.
At the AGM, two Directors stepped down. We thank Sue Saunders and Jamie Frid for their time, dedication and service. The Board welcomed new Directors Maud Kearns and Ray Stanley.
The Yumba Reunion was a significant celebration attended by more than 100 Gunggari People and community members who came together to mark the following anniversaries and milestones:
- The 5-yearly coming together of our families who lived on, or whose ancestors lived on, the Mitchell Yumba prior to 1968 when the local council forced these families from their homes and removed them from the property;
- Our successful Consent Determination (CD) in Gunggari People #4 made in 2019. The CD hearing was held in Brisbane because we already had two on-country determinations (Gunggari People #2 in Mitchell and Gunggari People #3 in Amby). This was our first opportunity (due to COVID) to celebrate on-country at the Mitchell Yumba, a property that we, the Gunggari People, were recognised to hold exclusive native title over in the 2019 determination; and
- 10-years of the Gunggari Native Title Aboriginal Corporation RNTBC being a registered native title body corporate.
HAPPENINGS ON GUNGGARI DANDHI
Yowalla
Welcome to this July edition of our newsletter. Read on to find out what’s been happening on your Country.
Winter has well and truly arrived, with several frosts already settling over the Country. How’s the weather where you are?
In this issue:
- Reconciliation Week activities
- New signage at Tregole National Park, Morven
- EOIs called for Cultural Heritage Survey Team
- How’s the weather today?
- Volunteer with GNTAC
- Donate to GNTAC
- Date Claimer: AGM & Community Celebrations
VISIT TO MORVEN STATE SCHOOL
During National Reconciliation Week, the Morven State School invited the Gunggari community to come to the school and share culture and language. Aunty Lynette Nixon, Sue Saunders, Leearna Saunders and Saraeva Mitchell travelled to Morven on 3 June 2022 where they taught the students language and song, including how to do the Hokey Pokey in Gunggari! They also learnt about catching food, the importance of sharing, how to look after rivers, and how stone tools were made and used. They danced to clapsticks and mimicked birds and animals.
Students, teachers and parents also took part in a Smoking Ceremony, then students unveiled a plaque for Acknowledgement of Country, which will be hung in a prominent place in the school.
The school is very keen to incorporate more Gunggari knowledge into the school program.
“Our students were so engaged and have already asked when they will have another visit.” – Hayley Rolfe (Principal)
Saraeva talked to the students about Mundagutta the Rainbow Serpent and the importance of looking after Country.
Students unveiled this Acknowledgement of Country plaque
NEW SIGNAGE AT TREGOLE NATIONAL PARK, MORVEN
For the past several months, GNTAC has been working with Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service to update the signage at Tregole National Park, about 11 kilometres south of Morven. Though it is a relatively small park, it packs in a lot of plant and animal diversity and Gunggari cultural heritage, including several water wells. These water wells form part of a large Songline where our mob travelled across Country for resources, trade, ceremony, and looking after Country. The water wells sustained them on their journey.
Everyone is invited to attend unveiling of the new signage at the park on Wednesday 13th July at 10am. See invitation below. If you can’t make it don’t worry, as we will be sharing photos and story of the day in the next newsletter. Here’s some more information about the park: https://parks.des.qld.gov.au/parks/tregole
THE GNTAC CULTURAL HERITAGE SURVEY TEAM
GNTAC is seeking EOIs from Gunggari people who would be keen to join the Cultural Heritage Survey team. Please see document below for terms and conditions. To register your interest or make enquiries, please email your response to culturalheritage@gunggaripbc.com.au.
Cultural Heritage Inspectors & Monitors (Casual) – Varying rates of pay, plus Superannuation of 10.00%
Under s 25 of the Anti-Discrimination Act 1991 (Qld), it is a genuine occupational requirement of this position that it be filled by a person of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander descent
From time to time, the Gunggari Native Title Aboriginal Corporation (GNTAC) receives requests from external stakeholders to conduct cultural heritage surveys prior to their commencing capital works or other projects on Gunggari Country.
The Gunggari Native Title Aboriginal Corporation RNTBC is seeking Expressions of Interest from Gunggari people to be part of the GNTAC Cultural Heritage Survey Team to undertake cultural heritage site inspections and monitoring when required.
The ideal candidate will have strong cultural values, understand cultural protocols, and be of Gunggari descent.
Skills and Attributes
- Understanding of, or ability to rapidly acquire an understanding of, the statutory and regulatory operating environment for Cultural Heritage and Mapping Standards.
- Sound knowledge of, or ability to rapidly acquire knowledge of, how to identify and record Gunggari cultural heritage.
- Work as part of a team to undertake training and field work for recording of cultural heritage
- Strong communication skills with a wide range of
- Broad administrative skills, including:
- the ability to plan and coordinate meeting logistics;
- manage records and develop basic records management systems; and
- word processing
- Ability to occasionally work irregular hours, including
Applicants must be willing to provide written evidence from a registered medical doctor of their fitness and ability to work for extended lengths of times in sometimes remote locations. A Position Description is attached below.
How to Apply
If you would like to join our team, please submit your Expression of Interest outlining how you meet the above skills and attributes to culturalheritage@gunggaripbc.com.au.
POSITION DESCRIPTION – Cultural Heritage Inspectors and Monitors
Overview of the Position
The position is responsible for undertaking cultural heritage site inspections and monitoring, as well as assisting the Cultural Heritage Coordinator to develop and implement processes and documentation relating to Cultural Heritage management.
Key Responsibilities
- Undertake field trips on request with key stakeholders to monitor and assess development sites for cultural heritage
- Accurately record site data, audit pre-recorded information and provide reports to update the
- Work with the Cultural Heritage Coordinator to develop and implement processes and documentation to manage Gunggari cultural heritage, access to Country, compliance and sites
- Work in accordance with the Queensland Cultural Heritage Act 2003 including the Duty of Care
- Prepare written reports related to site
- Maintain business records.
SCHEDULE OF ADDITIONAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS
Where the employee is required by a client and authorised by GNTAC to use their motor vehicle or are required by a client to be away from home overnight in the course of their duties, the employee is entitled to be reimbursed for the amount stipulated in any agreement GNTAC has with the client.
Please provide a copy of a current driver’s license (in colour and both front and back), and a copy of your vehicle’s car insurance certificate.
Inspectors are required to provide their own Personal Protection Equipment (PPE), meals and water unless these costs are covered as part of an agreement with GNTAC’s client. Please discuss with GNTAC if you are not in a position to provide your own PPE, meals and water.
Any equipment provided by GNTAC to fulfil your role (e.g., GPS recorders, cameras) must be returned to GNTAC at the end of each day’s field work in good working condition.
How’s the Weather Today?
| It is most likely that Gunggari people had several seasons; however, these have not been recorded or documented.
|
||
| Cloud, clouds: | Yugan | Yoo-gun |
| Cloudy/be cloudy | Yugani | Yoo-gun-ee |
| Rain clouds | Yugan darringarra | Yoo-gun dar-rin-gar-rah
|
| Cold: | Yagal | Yar-gul |
| I am, you are cold | Ngiya, yinda yagal | Nigh-ah, yin-dah yar-gul |
| Cold water | Amu yagal | Arm-oo yar-gul
|
| Dry:
The river or creek is all dry |
Dandhi
Baru dandhi
|
Darn-dee
Bar-oo darn-dee |
| Fog:
It is foggy (fog is here) |
Midarr
Midarr yulungu
|
Mid-arr
Mid-arr yoo-loon-goo |
| Flood, big water: | Guyun | Goo-yoon |
| There was a flood | Guyun barala | Goo-yoon bar-ah-la |
| When the flood was | Guyun baralanga
|
Goo-yoon bar-ah-lun-gah |
| Hail (cold rain) | Amu yagal
|
Arm-oo yar-gul |
| Hot:
When it is hot |
Balaina
Balaina baralanga
|
Bah-lye-nah
Bah-lye-nah bar-ah-lun-gah |
| Lightning | Mundanggarra
|
Moon-dung-gar-rah |
| Rain: | Amu | Arm-oo |
| Appearance of rain | Yugan | Yoo-gun |
| It rained | Yugan badila | Yoo-gun bar-dil-ah |
| It looked like rain | Yugan burana | Yoo-gun boor-ah-nah |
| Big shower of rain | Durrbuny | Doorr-boon-ee |
| It is raining | Amu wajana
|
Arm-oo wah-yah-nah |
| Rainbow | Mundanggarra /
Murrangarra / Ngurra ngurra
|
Moon-dung-gar-rah
Moor-rung-gar-rah Noo-rah noo-rah |
| Storm:
A storm is coming with rain It is storming (a storm is here) |
Darringarra
Darringarra Amu wagana Darringarra yulungu
|
Dar-rin-gar-rah
Dar-rin-gar-rah arm-oo wah-gah-nah |
| Summer | Milgiri
|
Mil-gee-ree |
| Sun: | Duru | Doo-roo |
| Sunshine | Durubari | Doo-roo-bah-ree |
| To sit in the sun | Durugu bindalgu | Doo-roo-goo bin-dul-goo |
| The sun is shining on me | Durunggu ngajuna wandana | Door-ung-goo nar-yoo-nah won-dah-nah |
| Thunder | Munngu
|
Moon-goo |
| Wet season | Amu baralanga (when it is raining / when the rain is) | Arm-oo bar-ah-lun-gah |
| Wind: | Yarrga | Yarr-gah |
| The wind is blowing | Yarrga mandana | Yarr-gah marn-dun-ah |
| Away from the wind | Yarrga mundu
|
Yarr-gah moon-doo |
| Winter | Yagal
|
Yar-gul |
| Nganinggara banda yulu?
How is the sky today? [How is the weather?]
Reponses: Amu wadana [It is raining]. Durunggu wandana [The sun is shining]. Durunggu ngajuna wandana [The sun is shining on me]. Darringarra Amu wagana [A storm is coming]. Darringarra yulungu [A storm is here]. Yarrga mandana [The wind is blowing.] Yarrgani duru [It is a windy day]. Yarrga mandanadurgu [Wind dust is blowing.] Balaina [Hot/it is hot]. Balaina duru [It is a hot day]. Dandina [Dry/it is dry]. Dandina duru [It is a dry day]. Yugani [Cloudy/it is cloudy]. Yugani duru [It is a cloudy day].
|
||
Darringarra yulungu – It is storming (a storm is here)
Date Claimer: Come to the AGM and stay for the celebrations!
This year’s AGM will be held on Saturday 1st October. All members are encouraged to attend to hear what GNTAC has been doing the past 12 months, and what is planned for the future.
On Sunday 2nd October, a Community Event will be held to celebrate our final native title determination in 2019. Previously planned celebrations had to be postponed because of Covid, but now we’re going ahead with it.
It’s also 10 years since the Gunggari Native Title Aboriginal Corporation became the registered native title corportion for the Gunggari People.
More information on the AGM and Community Celebrations will be available in the coming weeks. For now, put it in your diary and plan to be there!
VOLUNTEER WITH GNTAC
The Gunggari Native Title Aboriginal Corporation relies on the hard work of volunteers to manage the Corporation and its business. Volunteers may be able to:
- join committees or working groups;
- help to plan and run events;
- undertake administrative tasks; or
- get involved with various projects.
If you are a Gunggari person and you would like to offer your time, skills and experience to the Corporation, we invite you to fill out a form by going to this link: https://www.gunggaripbc.com.au/volunteering/
The information you provide will be sent to the Board, so they can contact you when a suitable opportunity arises.
DONATE TO GNTAC
Did you know that GNTAC is a not-for-profit organisation and is also a registered charity with the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC)? This means that you can make tax-deductible donations to your own mob’s organisation. For more information, call the office on 0439 204 986 or write to secretary@gunggaripbc.com.au
HAPPENINGS ON GUNGGARI DANDHI
Yowalla
Welcome to this edition of our newsletter. Read on to find out what’s been happening on your Country.
We’ve had our fair share and more of rain this summer and autumn, and
Gunggari Country is looking magnificent! All this rain has filled up the waterways, brought back the native grasses and generally made us all happy.
In this issue:
- Looking After Country Project
- Community Possum Cloak workshops
- Date Claimer: AGM & Community Celebrations
- What’s your Jurdi?
- Volunteer with GNTAC
- Donate to GNTAC
Looking After Country Project
GNTAC has successfully secured a $74,500 grant from the Qld Department of Environment and Science (DES) under their Looking After Country grant program.
The project is called Mount Moffatt Cultural Heritage: Site Survey and Management Plan It involves a number of visits to Mount Moffatt National Park to conduct a thorough cultural heritage site survey. Mount Moffatt is one of the richest cultural heritage sites in Australia, with many artworks and other features not seen anywhere else in the world. The last time a comprehensive survey was done at Mount Moffatt was some 30 or 40 years ago, so the information currently available through the State’s database is very much out of date and inaccurate.
The funds also enable GNTAC to purchase an online database from Environmental Systems Solutions to hold site data for Mount Moffatt and all other cultural heritage across Gunggari Country. The database will provide a safe, secure place for almost all of Gunggari business, including our intangible cultural heritage such as songs, language, dance, poetry and other literature.
We look forward to sharing more about the database in future newsletters.
For more information about the DES Looking After Country grant program, go here: https://statements.qld.gov.au/statements/95180
Some of the stencil artwork at Mount Moffatt National Park
Community Possum Cloak Workshops
Over the last 12 months, Gunggari people have been working on a community possum cloak. The project under “Art of the Skins” was funded by the Indigenous Research Unit, Griffith University and facilitated by Dr Carol McGregor (Wadawurrung). Carol’s research showed that mobs from Western Queensland had a rich tradition of possum cloak making and decorating and she offered to show us how to create a community cloak of our own.
After community discussion and consultation with local Elders, it was decided that the project could go ahead. Workshops were held in January and November last year. The cloak was stitched together with a number of possum skins purchased from a company in New Zealand. You may not know this, but, though the possum is a protected animal in Australia, in New Zealand it is considered a pest animal. Possums were exported to New Zealand last century and, not being native to the country, they’ve had and still are having a detrimental effect on the biodiversity of New Zealand’s natural fauna and flora.
ABC Southern Queensland took an interest in the project and filed this story: Possum skin cloak making workshop to revive culture. Here is the link to the story and below are some pictures of how the cloak looks so far: https://www.abc.net.au/radio/southqld/programs/saturday-breakfast/possum-cloak/13652050
The community cloak is held at the Yumba and Gunggari families are invited to contribute to the cloak with your artwork and family story. There is a skin on the cloak for each known Gunggari family group and spares skins as well.
Workshop participants working on the cloak’s design
Tracing the path of the Maranoa River and other waterways on to the possum cloak
Date Claimer: Come to the AGM and stay for the celebrations!
This year’s AGM will be held on Saturday 1st October. All members are encouraged to attend to hear what GNTAC has been doing the past 12 months, and what is planned for the future.
On Sunday 2nd October, a Community Event will be held to celebrate our final native title determination in 2019. Previously planned celebrations had to be postponed because of Covid, but now we’re going ahead with it.
It’s also 10 years since the Gunggari Native Title Aboriginal Corporation became the registered native title corportion for the Gunggari People.
More information on the AGM and Community Celebrations will be available in the coming weeks. For now, put it in your diary and plan to be there!
What’s Your Jurdi?
In the Gunggari tradition, we have Jurdis (yerr-dees) rather than totems. Jurdi is the Gunggari word for ‘meat’ and each Gunggari person belongs to a Jurdi depending on which family group you come from. What’s your Jurdi?
VOLUNTEER WITH GNTAC
The Gunggari Native Title Aboriginal Corporation relies on the hard work of volunteers to manage the Corporation and its business. Volunteers may be able to:
- join committees or working groups;
- help to plan and run events;
- undertake administrative tasks; or
- get involved with various projects.
If you are a Gunggari person and you would like to offer your time, skills and experience to the Corporation, we invite you to fill out a form by going to this link: https://www.gunggaripbc.com.au/volunteering/
The information you provide will be sent to the Board, so they can contact you when a suitable opportunity arises.
DONATE TO GNTAC
Did you know that GNTAC is a not-for-profit organisation and is also a registered charity with the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC)? This means that you can make tax-deductible donations to your own mob’s organisation. For more information, call the office on 0439 204 986 or write to secretary@gunggaripbc.com.au
HAPPENINGS ON GUNGGARI COUNTRY
Yowalla
It’s been a while since the last newsletter from GNTAC, but that doesn’t mean that nothing’s been happening!
We’ve had our challenges with COVID 19 and the weather affecting the rollout on some projects, but all in all there’s quite a bit to talk about.
Here’s just a couple of them. More to come in later newsletters this year.
In this issue:
- Return of artefacts to the Gunggari People
- New shed at the Yumba
- Become a member
- Donate to GNTAC
Return of Artefacts to the Gunggari People
Last year, GNTAC was contacted by a family who had previously owned a property near Morven, to the west of Mitchell. The family owned the property for a generation and over time collected a number of stone artefacts they had found while working on the property. When they sold the property and moved to the coast, they took the artefacts with them.
After many years, they decided to let go of the artefacts, and rather than donate them to the local museum, they decided to contact GNTAC and arrange for them to be returned to their rightful owners.
”“We’ve had these in our family for a long time, and we just wanted to make sure they were returned to the right people…”
Family member
Representatives from Gunggari met with the family near Morven, where a handover took place at the side of Angellala Creek to the north.
The artefacts are excellent examples of the variety of implements used by our Ancestors in daily and ceremonial life.
They’re currently being held at the GNTAC office in Mitchell, so next time you’re out for a visit or travelling through, ask to see them!
Here are just some examples of what’s been returned to us.
Check out the new shed at the Yumba!
Well, it’s not really new, it’s the old one done up, but what a difference! The local CDP program in Mitchell, run by RESQ, was looking for a project for their participants to work on. After tossing around a few ideas, it was decided to turn what was a dark, uninviting storage shed into a bright, light-filled space for art projects, workshops and meetings. It even has air-conditioning.
There’s more work to be done on it yet, with outdoor areas, plants and a veranda planned for later in the year. GNTAC thanks RESQ for their care, full consultation and attention to detail during the renovation. The new shed provides a welcome facility for future meetings, workshops and community events. Thank you to Bevan from RESQ, who did most of the work.
DONATE TO GNTAC!
Did you know that GNTAC is a not-for-profit organisation and is also a registered charity with the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC)? This means that you can make tax-deductible donations to your own mob’s organisation. For more information, call the office on 0439 204 986 or write to secretary@gunggaripbc.com.au
BECOME A MEMBER OF GNTAC
It’s easy—just go to https://www.gunggaripbc.com.au/membership/ and fill in the details. You’ll need to be a person of Gunggari descent and at least 18 years old to be approved as member. Membership gives you a vote and a say at the Annual General Meetings and even become a GNTAC Board Director.
$30.55 per hour (1 day or equivalent per week)
Under s 25 of the Anti-Discrimination Act 1991 (Qld), it is a genuine
occupational requirement of this position that it be filled by a person of
Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander descent
The Gunggari Native Title Aboriginal Corporation RNTBC (GNTAC) is seeking Expressions
of Interest from Gunggari people for the above position.
The main responsibilities of the role are to lead a Cultural Heritage Survey Team to
undertake cultural heritage site surveys at Mount Moffatt National Park and to assist
with input of all relevant cultural heritage materials and information held at the GNTAC
office into an online database purchased for the project. This includes data captured
through the cultural heritage site surveys.
The ideal candidate will have strong cultural values, understand cultural protocols, and
be of Gunggari descent.
The position reports to the GNTAC Cultural Heritage Coordinator, and is based in
Mitchell, Qld.
Skills and Attributes
• Understanding of, or ability to rapidly acquire an understanding of, the
statutory and regulatory operating environment for Cultural Heritage and
Mapping Standards.
• Sound knowledge of, or ability to rapidly acquire knowledge of, how to identify
and record Gunggari cultural heritage sites and artefacts in the context of a
whole-of-Country cultural landscape.
• Provide leadership and support to a team to undertake training and field work
for recording of cultural heritage information.
• Strong communication skills with a wide range of stakeholders.
• Broad project administrative skills, including:
* the ability to negotiate, develop and coordinate a cultural heritage survey program;
* manage information management systems such as online databases,
* word processing skills, and
* ability to manage a project budget and provide timely and accurate reporting as
required for the project
• Ability to occasionally work irregular hours, including weekends.
Applicants must be willing to provide written evidence from a registered medical doctor of
their fitness and ability to work for extended lengths of times in sometimes remote locations.
How to Apply
If you would like to join our team, please submit your Resume and Expression of
Interest outlining how you meet the above skills and attributes to
culturalheritage@gunggaripbc.com.au
A position description is attached below.
Applications close 26th March 2022.
The National Library of Australia will hold a two-day conference commencing Saturday, 9 February 2019 to celebrate Indigenous languages and their role in cultural practice and healing.
From the National Library of Australia:
Wordlists recorded on Cook’s three Pacific voyages are invaluable sources for historians and First Nations peoples today. They show people coming together, trying to make themselves understood, and trying to understand each other. This conference highlights these wordlists, as well as the wide variety of work being undertaken in
language preservation in the cultural, academic and community sectors.
Over two days, experts from Australia and the Pacific will reveal how European travellers recorded the languages of the Pacific, and how the revitalisation of Indigenous
languages is supporting cultural practice and healing. Language Keepers will demonstrate the important work being undertaken by many organisations and communities in this sphere and celebrate the many examples of revitalisation of Indigenous languages of Australia and the Pacific.
Language Keepers: Preserving the Indigenous Languages of the Pacific is both the closing event surrounding the National Library of Australia’s exhibition Cook and the Pacific and the first event presented by the Library in association with the United Nations International Year of Indigenous Languages.
Conference Details:
Date: Saturday 9 February and Sunday 10 February 2019
Time: 9:30am to 4:30pm
Place: Theatre, National Library of Australia, Parkes Place, Canberra
Program: Download the Conference program here
Published on the NAIDOC website on 24 July 2018.
She is a change maker and cultural keeper, always opening her home and heart to her extended family, and becoming a mother and mentor to so many.
Aunty Lynette’s exceptional work in and for her community began when the Mitchell Aboriginal Community received financial support to establish their own Kindergarten in 1975 – she became its president, and served on the committee for many years.
An advocate for the Gunggari people, she is the founding member of many of the local organisations in South West Queensland. She is a community worker, and has worked tirelessly to advocate and lobby for the rights and betterment of the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people for over fifty-three years.
Aunty Lynette is the Cultural Keeper of Knowledge for Gunggari people. She is a story teller, sharing the importance of land, language, identity and cultural practices.
It is because of her, so many can.
