AustLit
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This story of Doitborke told by Joy Murphy and originally told by her Great Great Uncle William Barak who is regarded as the last Headman of the Yarra Yarra people in Victoria. This story comes from the Wurundjeri clan of the Woiworung people. Their country takes in the land around the Yarra River near Healesville, approximately 60km from Melbourne, Victoria. Doitborke was the Yarra people's name for fire. A story about how fire was first discovered. Source: Aboriginal Nations.
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Beruk (William) Barak spent much of his life at Coranderrk Reserve before becoming known as an energetic, charismatic and mild mannered ngurungaeta - clan leader - of his people. His father Bebejan was also a ngurunggaeta (clan head) and his Uncle Billibellary, a signatory to John Batman's 1835 "treaty", became the Narrm (Melbourne) region's most senior elder, succeeding Wonga.
Source: Essay drawn from Koori Heritage Trust
We have included a list of biographies written about this prominent freedom fighter from early contact with settler-invaders.
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William Barak King of the YarraSee full AustLit entry'This booklet was commissioned by the Victorian Government when the 525 metre long William Barak footbridge was built in 2006, connecting Birrarung Mar on the Yarra riverside to the MCG Stadium.
'A true Aboriginal leader and hero, this booklet tells his incredible story clearly and simply. It includes many photos and illustrations of his artwork and would be ideal for students.
'Born near the Yarra, Barak was present when Tasmanian pastoralist John Batman rowed up the Yarra River into history, beginning a traumatic series of events that was to forever change the Kulin’s way of life.
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'Coranderrk is about what might have been. At a Victorian Parliamentary Inquiry in 1881, the men and women of the Coranderrk Aboriginal Reserve went head-to-head with the Aboriginal Protection Board. Their goal was both simple and revolutionary: to be allowed to continue the brilliant experiment in self-determination they had pioneered for themselves on the scrap of country left to them. Coranderrk recreates the Inquiry. This is both great theatre and great history.
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Based on Shirley Wienke's biography, this an exhibit by the National Government of Victoria created 'The Barak Project' seeking to embed the early contact history and the heroic efforts of William Barak into the public imaginary. An essay exploring the tensions can be found here.
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These two poems appeared in 'The Atlas' in 1848, translated by a Correspondent of the Geelong Advertiser. The Correspondent describes the young woman as a 'Barrabool native girl' and 'approved chief at the corroboree'. There is a full text available linked to this record.
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This image has been sourced from online.See full AustLit entry'Stolen children, stolen land, stolen freedom. Enough to break the spirit but that's what these people have got, they're Too Bloody Strong to go under. The proud cry of survival is in all these stories and you can read the future in them too, because the Wathaurong people of South-West Victoria will be here while there's air to breathe. From making baskets to building fences, from nursing to law, in education and art, the Wathaurong are preparing for the brand new day when the sun rises over a land of equality, not the same land as 200 years ago but a better land than today.
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The Wathaurong people of South Western Victoria said no to European invasion. This title teaches us about this heroic resistance to the occupation of their lands. Designed as a complete unit of work for years 7 and 8 students, it raises poignant questions relevant to the teaching of Australian studies. Ages 12+. It is used as a history text for the Geelong and Ballarat area: Wathaurong country
Source: Trove.
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Boonwurrrung Elder, Jack Charles was born at the Cummeragunja Mission on the Murray River and was a child of the Stolen Generations. He was taken from his mother and spent many of his formative years in a Melbourne boys' homes. Charles originally believed he was a Yorta Yorta man, but later discovered he belonged to the Boonwurrung people. His obituary notes that he retained ties to the Yorta Yorta clan, as well as the Dja Dja Wurrong and Woiwurrung people, and other people across south-eastern Australia.
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Source: Adelaide Festival websiteSee full AustLit entryBruce Pascoe, a Bunurong man, is a member of the Wathaurong Aboriginal Co-operative of southern Victoria, and an award-winning Australian writer, editor, and anthologist. His works have been published nationally and internationally, and have won several national literary competitions. He has combined writing fiction and non-fiction with a career as a successful publisher and has been the director of the Australian Studies Project for the Commonwealth Schools Commission. He has also worked as a teacher, farmer, fisherman, barman, farm fence contractor, lecturer, Aboriginal language researcher, archaeological site worker, and editor.
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This image has been sourced from online.See full AustLit entry‘ILBIJERRI is one of Australia’s leading theatre companies creating innovative works by First Nations artists.
'ILBIJERRI creates, presents and tours powerful and engaging theatre, creatively controlled by Indigenous artists.
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Yirramboi means 'Tomorrow' in the shared languages of the Boon Wurrung and Woi Wurrung peoples of the Kulin Nations Melbourne, Australia.
Guided by key principles of First Nations' Leadership, New Work, Visibility and Dialogue.
Yirramboi 2017:
'In May 2017, the City of Melbourne, in partnership with First Nations People and Creative Victoria, hosted a city-wide ‘blak out’, a moving celebration of local and international Indigenous-led dance, music, visual art, theatre, film, talks and more.
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'ILBIJERRI Theatre Company and Te Rēhia Theatre present a creative development showing of BLACK TIES.
'A groundbreaking collaboration and cultural exchange between two leading First Nations theatre companies, this is your opportunity for a first look at BLACK TIES before its world premiere in 2020. Emerging out of long-standing First Nations Exchange initiatives, the development of BLACK TIES began in Melbourne as part of AsiaTOPA Creative Labs in May 2018 and brings together creatives from First Nations theatre companies in Australia and New Zealand.
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'Behind the boutiques, restaurants and cafes, there’s a powerful Aboriginal presence still around the streets of Fitzroy and Collingwood – the ‘dirty mile’. From its Woiwurrung beginnings right up to the here and now, this is a precious community, not just somewhere to get a good latte.
Despite the gentrification, this iconic place is a testimony to survival. On any given day, you’d find Mutti Mutti songman Kutcha Edwards cutting his way along the streets of Fitzroy with a car full of Koories – dropping people off, picking people up, singing and laughing, passing on knowledge through stories and song.
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