Author: Jerome Coco

Not confident using language words? Well start by learning the meanings of your local suburbs and place names. That’s the advice from Uncle Bob Anderson – Quandamooka Elder and one of Queensland’s most recognized Aboriginal statesmen.

Uncle Bob Anderson and his great grandmother Winyeeaba Murriaba Kingal, who was born on Mulgumpin (Moreton Island).

Now in his 94th year, Uncle Bob is delighted that language is front and centre when it comes to being respectful of Indigenous culture.

Language is the voice of the land. People need to be comfortable to use it.

Uncle Bob

Which is where the place names suggestion comes in.

Explore locally and find out what Aboriginal names there are. Woolloongabba – means swirling water, And Pinkenbah – should really be binkenbah – place of the turtle. Everywhere you look you see Aboriginal words. That is a great way to begin to understand language.

Uncle Bob

Like many of his generation, Uncle Bob has survived the times when speaking language meant risking incarceration or separation from family and community.

But he has spent his lifetime working to improve the rights and opportunities for Indigenous people parallel with a distinguished career in the Building Workers’ Industrial Union of Australia.

Along the way he championed youth welfare, social justice, reconciliation and preservation of cultural identity. His work has been recognized at the highest levels throughout Australia, including a Medal of the Order of Australia.

As we sift through photos in his Brisbane home, his image smiles out from photographs alongside dignitaries including South Africa’s first black Prime Minister Nelson Mandela, Irish republican leader Gerry Adams and numerous premiers, mayors and politicians.

But the images of community and family members are the ones that stir the deepest memories.

He points to a picture of his mother and smiles fondly.

“She used to touch me on the cheek and say “millie binung… millie binung”. Translated it literally means eyes and ears. The message for young Bob – watch and listen. “And that’s a good lesson for kids today too,” he concluded.

Presenter: Language workshops in Charleville have heralded a new beginning for Bidjara people. The three-day event celebrated on the banks of the river, giving Bidjara mob of all ages a chance to show off what they’ve learnt.

Trevor Robinson: [Speaking Bidjara]

Reporter (Keira Jenkins): This is the first-time uncle Trevor Robinson has performed a Welcome to Country in Bidjara language, it is something he has picked up in language workshops in Charleville, Queensland and he couldn’t be prouder to be passing it down to the next generation.

Trevor: It’s part of the phase of the revitalisation of our culture and that and we think the most appropriate way to do that is through language because it involves the children as well.

Reporter: Out on the Warrego River, the community celebrates all they’ve learned at the workshop.

Child:Isaac Nahi Ngandina

Reporter: The kids swim, play and take part in dance workshops.

Olivia Robinson: So, I have two little boys, and I want them to grow up and to know their Bidjara culture and to know their Bidjara language and it was amazing to see them out there dancing.

Reporter: But the language lessons are not just for the kids, Elders like Aunty Dawn Willett say their memory’s been jogged and language is coming back to them through these workshops.

Aunty Dawn Willett: When we had this workshop here, two days, some of the words they were saying, it wasn’t sounding good, so I’d repeat it and I’d say it the right way, and I’d say, ‘oh gee, it’s coming back to me’.

Reporter: They’ve been supported by Gamilaraay linguist, Des Crump, to bring these workshops to life, he says it’s been a privilege to be part of Bidjara language revitalisation.

Des Crump: It’s just that sense of pride that real connection for their identity about who they are and where they’re from.

Reporter: There are plans for a language dictionary in the future but for now aunty Dawn says she just wants Bidjara mob to keep up the momentum and keep using the language.

Aunty Dawn: I hope that we keep this going, we got it going and we keep it going.

Reporter: Keira Jenkins, NITV News.