In December, the Munggura Guraban Workshop took place on Djiringanj - Yuin Country.
Hosted by Gadhu Bagan (Living Knowledge Network Southern Yuin Team), the workshop united a large group of Cultural Fire Practitioners from Koala habitat regions across Australia, alongside a diverse group of government agencies and environmental groups, including NSW Koala Strategy, WWF Australia and Local Aboriginal Land Councils.
This four-day gathering was initiated with a warm welcome from Uncle Gary, who spoke on the cultural significance of the area, and the impact of land loss on the Southern Yuin people. This foundational moment set the tone for a week of healing, both land and community with Cultural Fire.
As part of the workshop, we gathered for a reset burn, which is fire applied after bad fire has torn through Country, initiating that healing. The burn was led by local practitioners Koorin Campbell and Durramah Parsons-Campbell on privately held land, using djamaga ganbi 'right fire' to heal sick and 'upside down' Country - creating healthier landscapes for koalas and all local wildlife, clearing the invasive plants without harming the good soil underneath.
‘It’s upsetting for us, seeing the land like this. What we’re doing today, this is the medicine this Country needs.” - Koorin Campbell, Lead Fire Practitioner, Southern Yuin said before the burn.
The success of this approach is supported by the return of koalas on this Country. During night surveys they found 22 koalas, including four joeys who were thriving in area. The significance of this methodology was further endorsed by Dr Michael Holland MP who attended the burn and noted, “Such important, impactful work – I could have stayed there all day listening and learning.”
What makes this community so special is the profound way mob, partners and community band together to support the same outcomes. This unique collaboration has supported the return of koalas to the area, with these successes being recognised on a national level.
Here we can experience cultural revival that is as alive as the animals that are thriving in that region.
Well done team Gadhu Bagan!
Everyone gathered at beautiful Tanja Lagoon Camp for a Welcome to Country from Uncle Gary
Greater Sydney Cultural Fire Practitioners Loryn Moore and Mel Wiya. Gadhu Bagan shared beautiful seafood they procured locally, including cooked oysters on the fire.
Day 1 - Lead Fire Practitioner Koorin Campbell speaks on the Black Summer bushfires during the mountain trail visit
One of the 22 koalas we found that have returned to the region ðŸ¨
Day 2 - Koorin Campbell and Darcy Dingle used Living Knowledge Network to ignite the Cultural Burn on Djiringanj Yuin Country
Applying djamaga ganbi 'right fire' to Yuin Country
A visit from Dr Michael Holland MP at the Cultural Burn on Yuin Country
Day 3 - An ochre welcome from Uncle Chris Hoskins for jarjums Darcy Dingle and Alba Smyth-King
"Munggura Guraban means Koalas Home in Dhurga, which is a language spoken by the tribes within the Southern Yuin Nation. The design represents the guraban in one of its favourite feed tree, gubaa - stringybark tree. The prints are the tracks of the guraban." - Tae'Arnie Campbell, Djiringanj & Walbunja - Yuin Artist who created the artwork for the workshop.
ðŸ“Djiringanj - Yuin Country
📸 Bella Laifoo
