Muurrbay Aboriginal Language and Culture Co-operative began in 1986, when Gumbaynggirr Elders got together to revive their language and hand it down. Muurrbay means ‘white fig tree’ in the Gumbaynggirr language. Muurrbay aims to support Aboriginal people, particularly Gumbaynggirr, in the revival and maintenance of their language and culture, and so strengthen their sense of identity, self esteem and links to country.

Muurrbay auspices the Many Rivers Aboriginal Language Centre, a regional language centre that provides vital support to Aboriginal communities who want to revitalize their languages; this covers an area from the Tweed to the Hawkesbury River.

Muurrbay conducts research on the Gumbaynggirr language and is publishing language and teaching resources as well as teaching Gumbaynggirr language for adults at TAFE, and in many pre-schools and schools in the Nambucca Valley and surrounding district.

Muurrbay’s publishing branch is growing steadily, we have published several dictionaries and grammars as well as useful language teaching resources and children’s stories. We are soon to publish the Handbook of the Aboriginal Languages of NSW and the ACT by Jim Wafer and Amanda Lissarrague.

Muurrbay supports the world famous Gumbaynggirr Nambucca Valley Elders Choir as well as organising the Sydney based Aboriginal Languages Summer School, funded by the NSW Department of Aboriginal Affairs.

Muurrbay provides advice on language to: TAFE students, National Parks and Wildlife, Local Council, novitiates, people training for religious vocation and the Department of Education and Training, Aboriginal Education Consultative Group and the NSW Board of Studies.

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