Muurrbay staff enjoyed a day at the Bellingen writers festival in late March. Gary Williams and Michael Jarrett ran a session on Gumbaynggirr language and culture, and many participants dropped in to the Muurrbay stall with questions about Gumbaynggirr and other Australian languages. Aunty Emily Walker also ran a session on her poetry. It was a great opportunity to learn more about the writing and publishing world, and meet some local writers.
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Probably the largest volume of Aboriginal language story material in South East Australia comes from the Gumbaynggirr area. Muurrbay is restoring and publishing the Nymboidan Gumbaynggirr stories of Phillip Shannon as found in researcher Gerhardt Laves's manuscripts, and is comparing their language and story themes with those of other Gumbaynggirr sources. We are very grateful to the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies for
The Dhanggati Language Group has proposed a dual name for the longest bridge in Australia, currently under construction as part of the Kempsey bypass.
The proposed name for the 3.2km bridge is Yapang Gurraarrbang Gayandugayigu – Very Long Track to the Other Side.
The name is long because the bridge is long. We understand the RMS is considering one other proposal – the name of a deceased individual. If you want to support our proposal, please write t
Uncle Jim Ridgeway and his son, Tony were among the first group to graduate with a Certificate I in Gathang. Throughout 2011, they drove many hours every fortnight to attend the class in Taree, and still found time to produce an animated DVD of Gathang language stories, with Jeremy Saunders. It was so good to have these two enthusiastic language learners in the class, particularly when Uncle Jim brought out the banjo! Uncle Jim and Tony are shown here w
Dhanggati Elders and Muurrbay-MRALC staff attended the north coast meeting of the Centre for Aboriginal Languages Coordination and Development (CALCD) which focused on developing Regional and Local Aboriginal Languages Networks to provide opportunities for Aboriginal communities across NSW to have direct input into the revitalisation of Aboriginal languages. CALCD is auspiced by NSWAECG with funds from NSW Department of Aboriginal Affairs.
Gary was contacted by Fiona Poole of ABC's mid north coast radio. This follows media reports by Ghil'ad Zuckermann's on linguacide, or the loss of the world's Indigenous languages. Of the roughly 250 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages flourishing at the the time of European settlement, only 15-20 are now alive and kicking. Gary discusses what Muurrbay has been doing to revive languages of coastal NSW.
Gary Williams ABC Radio 10-4-12
Stories from a Bundjalung Wahlubal Speaker is a set of six DVDs featuring Poppy Harry Mundine Walker, these DVDs focus on the language, culture, stories and history of Harry Walker and the Tabulam area. This compelling new cultural and educational resource was celebrated at a launch in December 2011 at Tabulam Public School. It has been developed over several years and will be an excellent resource for students of Aboriginal studies and languages and a...
Directional and building signage at the Great Lakes campus of TAFE has had a major upgrade with input from students studying Gathang, the traditional language of the local Indigenous people.
Each major sign encountered by visitors to the campus now features a welcome and explanation in the Gathang language. This recognises the important role Aboriginal people have on the campus and in the local community.
“Late last year, elders studying the Cert...
Students and teachers of the Certificate I in Aboriginal Languages - Gathang celebrated completing the course at Taree TAFE in November 2011. The course is currently taught in Port Macquarie and there are plans to deliver it again in Taree and Great Lakes in 2012. Muurbay-MRALC staff developed the course in consultation with the Gathang Language Group and support Gathang langauge teachers to deliver it....
A Dhanggati dictionary with Dhanggati grammar and stories form around the Macleay Valley region of the NSW mid north coast has been launched at Kempsey.
The book, launched by Department of Aboriginal Affairs Director-General Jody Bround, is regarded as a valuable tool for Aboriginal language revitalisation.
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