The Goondee Aboriginal Keeping Place & Museum

12/05/2026

💧gungan nhama yugal (Yuwaalaraay)

Gungan nhama winanga-la, Winanga-la!
Gungan nhama ngarra-la Ngarra-la!
Gungan nhama dhama-la Dhama-la!
Gungan nhama ngawi-ya Ngawi-ya!
Gungan nhama dhadhay-a Dhadhay-a!
Gungan nhama ngawu-nga Ngawu-nga!
Gungan nhama gaba, gungan gaba!
Gungan nhama gaba, gungan gaba!
Gungan nhama gaba.

Listen to the water, Listen!
See the water, See!
Touch the water, Touch!
Smell the water, Smell!
Taste the water, Taste!
Drink the water, Drink!
That’s good water, good water!
That’s good water, good water!
That good water.

https://goondeeaboriginalkeepingplace.com/resources

27/04/2026

1️⃣2️⃣3️⃣ Murrawarri numbers

Yaman (one)
Gabu (two) Gabu Yaman (three)
Gabulanta (four)
Marrangga (five)
Marrangguwa (six)
Marrangga gabu (seven)
Gabulanta gabulanta (eight)
Marrangga gabulanta (nine)
Marrangga marrangga (ten)

https://goondeeaboriginalkeepingplace.com/resources

23/04/2026

👀 Nhama Dhaay (Gamilaraay)

Nhama Dhaay!
Guwaa!
Yulugil-lanha
Barra-waa-nha
Dhaygal-a Yana-waa-nha, yana-waa-nha, yana-waa-nha
Dhalay-dhuul! Dhalay-dhuul!

Nhama Dhaay!
Guwaa!
Gayarra-gil-anha
Ngamildanha
Yuul-gu
Bamba ngamila, bamba ngamila, bamba ngamila
Dhalay-dhuul! Dhalay-dhuul!

Nhama Dhaay!
Guwaa!
Yana-waa-nha, yana-waa-nha
Yii-li-badhaay, yii-li-badhaay, yii-li-badhaay
Bangaya! Bangaya! Bangaya!

Look out!
Hornet!
Dancing
Flying around
Near our heads
Swooping
Cheeky one!

Look out
Hornet!
Searching
Hunting
For food
Watch carefully
Cheeky one!

Look out!
Hornet
Coming
It might bite
Run!

20/04/2026

💕A special poem from Murrawarri elder, Aunty Phyllis Cubby transformed to song.

Olga Gurrurru burdungga girri muthil-yi

Gawi-ya-a Gubi, burdu thana-yi

Gurrurru marrinj girri-ya guumpi-ya

Ngabangga girriyaa mugungga balaangga

Olga Gurrurru girrithirra burdungga

********

Olga the Brolga loved to dance in the rain

So she called out Mr. Rainmaker to make it rain again

The happy brolga danced and splashed all about

And in the water puddles she danced in and out

Available at: https://goondeeaboriginalkeepingplace.com/resources

18/04/2026

🎵 Birraliidjuul (Yuwaalaraay)

Birraliidjuul yulugilanha
*Little bubba is dancing / playing

Birraliidjuul gindamaylanha
*Little bubba is laughing

Birraliidjuulu dhaldanha
*Little bubba is eating

Birraliidjuul yingil gilanha
*Little bubba is tired

Birraliidjuul dhanduwiylanha
*Little bubba is sleeping

https://goondeeaboriginalkeepingplace.com/resources

17/04/2026

Resource Announcement!

Come on a journey across Murrawarri Country through song, story, and language. This album is a celebration of culture, connection, and the enduring strength of our old people.

Inspired by the voices and legacy of Jimmie Barker and Roy Barker, this project carries forward stories and knowledge that reinforce connection to Murrawarri Country, highlights the resilience of the Murrawarri Nation and encourages future generations.

With heartfelt thanks we acknowledge Aunty Phyllis Cubby for kindly sharing her stories, poems, and cultural knowledge. Through the generosity of Aunty Phyllis and the creativity of Kelsey Barker (Kelsey Iris Music) and Felix Bodewes-Leach these stories have been transformed into songs that can now be heard, felt, and shared through the spirit of music.

We proudly give a shout out to our young people - Ava McBride, Dharamulan Williamson & Mayii Weribone for singing on this album. We also acknowledge the community consultation group who through the persistence of Tom and Aunty Phyllis met regularly to keep this project going.

A huge thank you to the Aboriginal Languages Trust, NSW AECG Inc. and the Gamilaraay/Yuwaalaraay/Yuwaalayaay Language and Culture Nest for their support to help make this project possible.

We would also like to acknowledge the University of Queensland, School of Languages and Culture for their support and encouragement during the On Country Language Workshop at the Goondee.

The Yunggi Murrawarri Project is about keeping culture strong, it’s about continuing what has always been ours—ensuring language is not only remembered, but spoken, sung, and strengthened across all generations.

We invite you to listen, reflect, and celebrate with us.

https://goondeeaboriginalkeepingplace.com/resources

10/04/2026

We launched the Yaluu Ngiyani Bawili & Yunggi Murrawarri Projects at the Goondee Aboriginal Keeping Place.

We spent the evening celebrating our languages & culture through performance, story, & song. In particular we want to acknowledge our Elders, Aunty Phyllis & Walgan Brenda for their contribution, cultural knowledge & encouragement.

Kelsey spoke about the recording process… “we were recording in the middle of summer in this small recording space at the Goondee. We had to turn off the aircon to record & then turn it back on straight away when we finished, making us sweaty after each song. These experiences were all a part of the process that made it so memorable”.

We want to celebrate & say how proud we are of our ‘dhirrabuu’ young people - Ava, Ivy, Bella & Skylar who joined Kelsey to perform the songs. It was also special to see Frankie who was joined by Louie & Harper get up to perform Dhaygal Walarr with Walgan Liz, encouraging the entire audience to sing along.

Maayubaa to Tin Camp Studios & also Kevin for making precious time to come share their talents & perform for us. A big shout out to Tiarnie for making the effect to be there & continuing to support our young people in the Language & Culture space.

Sadly, we missed some people crucial to the projects, Nardi, Lucy, Tracey & Felix– but we knew they were there in spirit.

You can find Yaluu Ngiyani Bawili on the Goondee website to stream online. Once we have the Yunggi Murrawarri album available online we will share an update to the link also.

Happy listening!
https://goondeeaboriginalkeepingplace.com/resources

10/04/2026

Last night we celebrated the launch of Yaluu Ngiyani Bawili and Yunggi Murrawarri projects - language songs that celebrate culture, language and story from community.

You can listen to the Yaluu Ngiyani Bawili album here:
https://goondeeaboriginalkeepingplace.com/resources

The Yunggi Murrawarri album will be available soon!

A huge thank you to all those involved in the projects, and came to join in the celebration and listening party.

02/03/2026

Yaamandaay!

We are excited to launch Yaluu Ngiyani Bawili and Yungki Murrawarri Projects on Thursday 9th April 2026 at the Goondee Aboriginal Keeping Place.

Both projects involved song writing, music production and sound engineering. These projects were completed locally with children and adults over the course of two years. It is intended that all songs will be readily available for community to use as resources to strengthen and revitalise our Aboriginal Languages at home and in community, and to reinforce a sense of pride and respect for culture and creative practice.

Come and share in a special evening of live performances, music and light refreshments as we honour the strength of our languages through the voices of our people, young and old.

Dhugay ngurrambaa-gu, bamba ngiyani bawildanha. Always for Country, we are singing loudly!

Please RSVP to [email protected] by 30 March. We look forward to celebrating with you!

PS… Performers and artists will be announced and profiled closer to the launch date.

20/02/2026

16/02/2026

buliyaagu ngindaay (morning) ☀️

We are beginning online language classes soon. If you are interested in participating please email [email protected] to submit an EOI.

All are welcome!