Est. t. 22 QUAAMA COBARGO BERMAGUI TILBA & LOCALITIES Circulation 1800 plus online visits Issue No 199 September 2020 From left: Djinama Yilaga Choir members Michelle Davison, Maria Walker, Cheryl Davison, Iris White, Requia Campbell and Tamsin Davison Koori choir gifts original fire song to Indigenous children of Bermagui The Four Winds ‘Djinama Yilaga’ Koori Choir has gifted and sisters. This song reflects our concerns when the January 2020 their newly created song, Ganbi!, to the Indigenous children of fires approached. Our concern was not only for ourselves and our Bermagui Public School. property, it was for our family, for nature, for those things we are 'This is a very special gift', said Cheryl Davison, Four Winds responsible for caretaking for the future generations,' explained Aboriginal Creative Producer. 'The Choir has worked very hard Cheryl. Like all good songwriters, Djinama Yilaga hope their to revitalise our language through song. Language is a very songs will move audiences because of the significance of how, important part of a culture – it helps its people define themselves when and why they were created. and describe their world. To rediscover it, to use it and to sing it Four Winds will provide singing tutor, Robyn Martin, to has been a very emotional journey for us.' help the Indigenous students at Bermagui Public School become Beautiful songs have been created with the support of familiar with the song before they, in turn, gift it to the broader acclaimed Indigenous singer-songwriter, Dr Lou Bennett AM, school community. Although COVID has put a hold on the the newly-created Dhurga dictionary compiled by Trish Ellis, and process, the school is eagerly awaiting for restrictions to ease the dedication of Yuin community choir members. Dr Bennett before continuing on this journey. 'This is a really significant event is currently undertaking a research project on the use of song happening at our school,' said Principal Brendan Constable. 'It's composition as a process for returning language to community. wonderful to see our Indigenous students empowered with one of The coming together of the choir with Dr Bennett's work the Yuin languages. We value revitalising languages. has been one of great mutual benefit. 'This is what Aboriginal 'Our School Learning Support officer, Gordon Campbell, people have always done – they have recounted the stories of life has recently introduced a program of teaching Dhurga to all our through song and sung them together, and it has kept them strong students and staff. Having our Indigenous children be gifted this in culture. To be able to return a language to our people, in this song and then pass it to the other students is a great thing for all case across four generations, is so promising for the future of our children to see in their peers. Our Indigenous children, with the languages,' she said. support of the school and Four Winds, relish the responsibility in 'Ganbi' means 'fire' in Dhurga. The song calls to all family, keeping their culture strong. It's great for our school community even family in nature – country, trees, birds and animals – to be to see them so proud to teach others.' vigilant and look out for approaching fire. 'Aboriginal people The Four Winds team view animals, plants and rocks as family; they are our brothers Editorial Rosemary Beaumont Who does the work The Editorial Committee It must be spring – there's certainly Popping up like mushrooms are re- Linda Sang (President) new and creative energy around the place. invented businesses, particularly for food Stuart Absalom (Vice President) Alone-time is nurturing deep thought and options; community building projects; Carolyne Banados (Secretary) generative expression. Maybe the multiple themed photographic displays (the prize Bhagya (Treasurer) new spaces in our lives are magnets for is simply exposure); suggestions for open- Rosemary Beaumont Debbie Worgan inspiration to reboot of aspects of our lives. sensed walks in local beauty; community Ann Maree Menager For many, this year is one of the most gardens; writing competitions; supportive Sarah Breakey challenging, chaotic and confusing ever. Building Angels; and re-visioning forums. Georgina Adamson The ‘six month trauma slump’ shows in The common ground is care of the whole, Advertising a visceral weariness – yes, we are going encouragement of each, sharing the Book advertising space by ringing forward, but it's difficult. The changing providence. 6493 8369 or 0407 047 404 or email environmental, climatic, economic and The song gift of the ‘Djinama Yilaga’ [email protected] now social conditions ensure no return Koori Choir, ringing through its country, Layout & Design to ‘normal’ – and in the space the new calls to nature in the Durga language and Bhagya & Debbie Worgan emerges with a plethora of learnings, reminds us of the human responsibility Copy Editing suggestions and visions. The resilient of caretaking for the land and future Jen Severn bounce-back of our artists reflects the generations. We are a community in Accounts resilience of our community. transition with the essential qualities ever- Email: [email protected] Post accounts to: present. PO Box 293, Bermagui NSW 2546 Phone: 6493 8369 Letters to the editors Area Contacts Bermagui: Georgina Adamson, Ann Maree Wrong questions! demand a totally different streetscape than Menager [email protected] It concerns me that responses to would a faux-history ‘reconstruction’ of a Cobargo: June Tarlinton ‘motherhood’ questions included in a tourist-oriented town. [email protected] I would now like to see much more Quaama: Bhagya ‘community survey’ recently undertaken [email protected] by a special-interest group (the Cobargo discussion about what role Cobargo township might be expected to play in the Tilba: Stuart Absalom Quaama Business Recovery Group), which [email protected] future, and exactly who it is likely to serve, is developing a ‘rebuild masterplan for Printing: Excell Printing Pambula before any further consideration is given to Cobargo’ may, at some future time, be used Accountant: Fredrick Tambyrajan to support suggestions by this group that, comparatively-trivial things such as main Distribution Service: Linda Sang in reality, are not widely supported by the street streetscaping. Peter Lacey Distributed by Australia Post and local community. available from: To start, their questions relate to Quaama Bermagui: 777 Supermarket, Post Office, the ‘main street’. If a ‘Cobargo Rebuild’ To open, or not to open? Shell Bermagui plan is being developed, it surely should The article in the August Triangle, Central Tilba: Post Office, ABC Cheese Factory encompass the whole town. For example, 'What will it take to save our lake?' raises if any significant building is to occur in Cobargo: Post Office, United Petrol, some interesting points about Wallaga BP station the town, perhaps the unique, presently- Narooma: Lake. Quaama: General Store available opportunity should be taken to Wallaga Lake is an ICOLL – one Tilba Tilba: Tilba Nursery move the town’s ‘main business street’ of many Intermittently Closed and Open Wallaga Lake: Merrimans Land Council away from a severely traffic-affected Lakes and Lagoons along our coast. As the Deadlines: highway – with the focus of any (re) name suggests, it is natural for the Lake Advertising: 5pm, 19th of each month building being to the east of the highway. to close, usually during periods of low Editorial: 12pm, 22nd of each month Letters to the editor That sort of community discussion needs rainfall or drought. Waves, tides and wind to be had before questions are asked about All communications should be forwarded to: also influence the closure of lake mouths. [email protected] whether the ‘historical character of the Records from 1993 to 2015 indicate main street’ should be retained or whether Postal address: Wallaga Lake is closed for 39% of the time The Editors, The Triangle trees and landscaping should be included and open for 61% with closed conditions PO Box 293, Bermagui. NSW 2546 in any masterplan. ranging from nine days up to 810 days, but ABN: 75 182 655 270 Surely decisions to rebuild on sites typically in the order of several months. The Triangle is a community newspaper. on Cobargo’s (current) main street are the Closure only becomes a problem Its aim is to provide information and news land-owners’ prerogatives (and should be to the people in the Triangle area - the area when human structures are affected bounded by the three mountains (Gulaga, funded by them, not the public). What they by rising water levels. As the ICOLL ultimately construct will be determined by Mumbulla and Peak Alone). The committee Entrance Management Policies - Review comprises volunteers who donate their time commercial demand for their structures, of Environmental Factors states, entrance and expertise for the benefit of our readers. and this will then determine how the management (artificial opening) is required The Triangle is financially self-sufficient streetscape develops. Decisions to provide 'for the sole purpose of reducing the through advertising income. This is a tight drive-through outlets such as fast-food impacts of flooding on private and public budget and prompt payment of accounts is appreciated. The Triangle is published every outlets, service stations and tyre supply assets' (page 55). In the past, humans businesses, as an extreme example, will month except January and has a circulation of have unwittingly built on and used flood- 1600 in print plus online visits. The Triangle September 2020 page 2 www.thetriangle.org.au prone land with no consideration for the Habitat Management - Aquatic habitats attitudes and behaviours, from: natural environment and with little or no - Wetland habitats - Coastal wetlands - 'I need to protect and guard me and understanding of ecological processes. Management of coastal lakes and lagoons mine', to 'Let’s take care of all of us, which The Entrance Management Policies NSW.