Kory’s Journey to the Bunya Mountains Gummingurru Field Trip By Amber Forbes, David Willoughby and Tiffany Kaesermann

Hi, my name is Kory. I am from the Dandrubin Gorenpul group and we live on North Stradbroke Island. Every 3 years my family and I journey to the Bunya Mountains to attend the Bunya festival. This year is special because I am now old enough to be initiated into the group as an adult. I will experience many different challenges, some of which I will need your help to complete. You will be given activities to complete as you come along with me on my journey!

Last week we were invited by a member from the Traditional Custodians of the Bunya Mountains, via a message stick to join them in the Bunya Festival! The duties of Traditional Custodians are to: Take care of the environment. Prepare for the Bunya Festival Send out invitations Welcome the other groups (like us) to the Festival Take care of the Bunya Trees

Various groups were invited to the Bunya Mountains to attend the feasting of the Bunya nuts. Our people have lived on the Island for the past 20,000 years, living off the sea and fishing for food. To get to the Bunya Mountains, we the Dandrubin Gorenpul people have to travel inland towards south Gatton, stopping by the Chullawong Rock Art site before reaching Gummingurru, then the Bunya Mountains.

As you can see we begin our journey at the blue dot, North Stradbroke Island. We then walk to South Gatton to the Chullawong Rock Shelter and then journey to the sacred mans initiation site at Gummingurru. Lastly we go to the red dot, high in the Bunya Mountains where we celebrate and feast on the Bunya Nuts.

The Chullawong Rock Art site is situated close to Black Duck Creek, south of Gatton, surrounded by steep gorges and gullies. Travelling to the Rock shelter was common, as along the route, there would be plenty food and water available for us.

Chullawong Rock Art site contains rock carvings in the sandstone wall consisting of dots, lines and animal prints which could be connected to the Dreamtime, or a particular pathway. The carvings may represent Aboriginal group Yurees, and may represent hunting and gathering, or maybe fights. They could also be possible warning signs for travellers entering or leaving the area. This is where you must complete Activity 1!

Gummingurru is a significant meeting place for many different Aboriginal groups travelling to the Bunya mountains. But Gummingurru is a men’s business sight, women and uninitiated children are not allowed on the site. Today, anyone can visit Gummingurru. It is open to anyone who is willing to learn about the past, just like you guys.

Gummingurru has a number of stone arrangements laid out in numerous patterns and designs representing different Aboriginal Yurees. When we get old enough, we are given the responsibility to learn about our environment. We are given different plants and animals and are expected to know everything about them. Yurees seen at Gummingurru are things such as an Emu, a Turtle and a large carpet python. There are also other rock formations such as rings (representing a waterhole) and different stages of the initiation ceremonies. This is where you do Activity 2!

The Bunya Mountains are located 250km north-west of Brisbane. The highest point of the Mountains is Mt Kiangarow. Smoke signals were used to communicate to other groups who were invited to the Festival and about people would gather In the Bunya Mountains. At the festivals people would share songs and dances, have group or individual fights, play games, arrange marriages and create trading relationships between groups, as well as settling arguments and developing new laws.

Every 3 years, the Bunya Trees produce lots of nuts. This is why we have the festival every three years and we feast on them! At the festivals people would share songs and dances, have group or individual fights, play games, arrange marriages and create trading relationships between groups, as well as settling arguments and developing new laws.

Children played many games at the Bunya Festival, these are: Boomerang throwing Mariutchi: a tag game where the children would swim and chase the ‘black swan’, tagging them and becoming the swan themselves Murri Murri: where the children would try to spear a circular piece of bark, which became the target Purru-Purru: a soccer-like game where a ball was made from kangaroo skin stuffed with grass. Children also skipped: using vine, played by children and adults. Warru Warru: where a string is woven to form pictures and shapes on your hands. Now do Activity 3!

Thank you for coming with me on my journey! It is now time for you to visit Gummingurru yourself! Please respect the site and enjoy your field trip!