Muurrbay began in 1986, when Gumbaynggirr Elders got together to revive their language and hand it down.  Aunty Maggie Morris, original member and patron of Muurrbay, who passed away in early 2005, passionately wanted to pass down the language and traditions of her Gumbaynggirr people.  The Elders worked with linguist Brother Steve Morelli to run the first Gumbaynggirr language course in Sherwood, west of Kempsey.

Muurrbay is based in the old church at Bellwood, Nambucca Heads where we began Gumbaynggirr language classes in 1997.  We continue to grow as a centre for Aboriginal community activities including classes in Gumbaynggirr language, arts and cultural practices, specialised workshops, and community meetings.

Muurrbay means 'white fig tree' in the Gumbaynggirr language. Our purpose is 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 has two main activities: supporting the revival of the Gumbaynggirr Language and auspicing Many Rivers Aboriginal Language Centre.

We conduct research on the Gumbaynggirr language and publish 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.

Many Rivers Aboriginal Language Centre, is 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's publishing branch is growing steadily, we have published several dictionaries and grammars as well as useful language teaching resources and children's stories. A Handbook of the Aboriginal Languages of NSW and the ACT by Jim Wafer, Amanda Lissarrague and Jean Harkins is now available.

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 Educaiton Consultative Group and the NSW Board of Studies.

Registered training organisation

In 2005, Muurrbay was re-registered as a Training Organisation through VETAB.  Muurrbay was audited by VETAB inspectors in July 2005.


Partnerships

Many partnerships and links have been formed or are in development, including:

• Local Aboriginal Land Councils – Macksville, Bowraville, Nambucca Heads and Coffs Harbour
• Local Schools – including State and Catholic Schools as well as pre-schools
• Department of Environment and Climate Change
• Goori Broadcasters
• Nambucca Shire Council
• Aboriginal Organisations in Bowraville Valley
• NSW Aboriginal Language Research and Resource Centre
• Aboriginal Education Consultative Group
• NSW Board of Studies
• NSW Department of Education and Training
• Wesley Uniting Employment
• Ngurrala Aboriginal Corporation
• Darkinyung and Dhanggati language Groups, Bundjalung, Gadhang and Yaygirr Elders, Wonnarua Nation Aboriginal Corporation
• Wollotuka School of Aboriginal Studies situated at University of Newcastle
• Koori Centre situated at University of Sydney
• TAFE North Coast