tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-74637874405105942502012-01-28T22:59:50.164+10:00The Guurrbi BlogBehind the scenes of Willie's magical rock art toursMagical, award-winning Aboriginal rock art tours with Nugal-warra Elder, Willie Gordonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01162672320351952897noreply@blogger.comBlogger781100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7463787440510594250.post-72145083420343600032012-01-28T18:39:00.000+10:002012-01-28T22:59:50.266+10:00The Reconciliation or Acceptance Story<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dmps7NBGXsU/TyOwH9q2IEI/AAAAAAAABps/rpYzmJ0M0p4/s1600/14-handprints%28BD%29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="208" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dmps7NBGXsU/TyOwH9q2IEI/AAAAAAAABps/rpYzmJ0M0p4/s320/14-handprints%28BD%29.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">In the 1930s there was a decision made by my clan to accept a little girl, my Auntie Ruby, into their midst, even though she had a lighter coloured skin. We called this event the Reconciliation or Acceptance Story. </div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">First of all my Auntie Ruby, when she was old enough to understand, was asked to put her handprint in a cave to symbolise her acceptance into the clan. A hand stencil was made to give the hand's true shadow and to record that she was there. (Aunt Ruby's hand is the first on the left.) The stencil was made by blowing ochre through a hollowed bone to create the spray effect. <i>Thagu, </i>the left hand, was used as this is generally regarded as a person's signature, and because it is the peaceful hand; whereas <i>nganhthirr, </i>the right hand, is generally the first used in anger.<br /><br />Then the artist and the story-teller sat down to document the event. They had to find a symbol they could paint to represent the story. So in a cave close to the handprint cave, they painted a big fish to symbolise the good decision made. </div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">The reason they painted a fish is because when fish are swimming they sometimes turn and reflect the light. This is called <i>gandal. </i>Light has always been the symbol of spirituality, where good spirits are found. Darkness is where the bad spirits linger. So the reflection of the fish reminds us of how we should be accepting of all people, regardless of skin colour or culture.<br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CkDWA_YEn-0/TyOxZkD_LnI/AAAAAAAABp0/VU2aMND7Uwk/s1600/15-fish.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CkDWA_YEn-0/TyOxZkD_LnI/AAAAAAAABp0/VU2aMND7Uwk/s320/15-fish.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"></div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />You can see the big fish and the handprints, and hear more about the Reconciliation Story, on our <a href="http://www.guurrbitours.com/site/tours" style="color: #b45f06;" target="_blank">Rainbow Serpent Tour</a><span style="color: #b45f06;">. </span></div><div style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></div><div style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="http://guurrbitours.blogspot.com/2011/11/first-reconciliation.html" target="_blank">Cooktown & The First Reconciliation</a></div><div style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="http://guurrbitours.blogspot.com/2011/09/aboriginal-family-marriage-taboos.html" style="color: #b45f06;" target="_blank">The Aboriginal Family: Moieties & Marriage</a> </div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="http://guurrbitours.blogspot.com/2010/04/yirmbal-creation-story.html" style="color: #b45f06;" target="_blank">Yirmbal, the Creation Story</a></div><br /><div style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.guurrbitours.com/"><span style="color: #990000;">www.guurrbitours.com</span></a></div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/7463787440510594250-7214508342034360003?l=guurrbitours.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Magical, award-winning Aboriginal rock art tours with Nugal-warra Elder, Willie Gordonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01162672320351952897noreply@blogger.com0Cooktown McIvor River Rd, Cooktown QLD 4895, Australia-15.337167131558688 145.07171630859375-15.582216131558688 144.75585930859376 -15.092118131558689 145.38757330859374tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7463787440510594250.post-68096129203891632562011-11-30T12:02:00.000+10:002012-01-09T14:15:08.778+10:00Cooktown & The First Reconciliation<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UHVqb1hjnH0/Twomlp0x4DI/AAAAAAAABpM/7V42jNmv1F0/s1600/endeavour_sailing_603x320+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UHVqb1hjnH0/Twomlp0x4DI/AAAAAAAABpM/7V42jNmv1F0/s200/endeavour_sailing_603x320+crop.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">HMB Endeavour replica (Photo: ANMM</span></b><b><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">)</span></span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="color: #444444; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Did you know that the First Reconciliation between Aboriginal Australians and Europeans took place here in Cooktown nearly 250 years ago?</span></span><br /><br /><span style="color: #444444; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Lt James Cook's meeting with members of my tribe, the Guugu Yimithirr, at Gungardie where Cooktown now stands, is now recognised as the first recorded reconciliation between Indigenous Australians and Europeans. </span></span><br /><br /><span style="color: #444444; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I have told this story from our own perspective in <a href="http://guurrbitours.blogspot.com/2010/10/cooktown-small-town-whose-history.html" style="color: #b45f06;" target="_blank">'Cooktown - a small town whose history changed the world</a><span style="color: #b45f06;">'</span>. Now here's the story from the viewpoint of Lt James Cook and Sydney Parkinson - and from Emeritus Professor of History at ANU, John Molony. </span></span><br /><br /><div style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eLm7MjDpEKA/TwouUyRrwEI/AAAAAAAABpU/coDk4nm5v84/s1600/HMB+Endeavour+careened.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="147" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eLm7MjDpEKA/TwouUyRrwEI/AAAAAAAABpU/coDk4nm5v84/s200/HMB+Endeavour+careened.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: xx-small;">HMB Endeavour careened (Tim Johnson)</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: small;">In June 1770, Cook careened his damaged ship, HMB Endeavour, on the banks of Wahalumbaal Birri (now called Endeavour River) after it was holed on the Reef. He and his crew spent nearly 7 weeks here carrying out repairs, meeting the local Guugu Yimithirr on many occasions. This was the first time Cook had ever met Aboriginal people. Although he had seen Aborigines during his week's stay In Botany Bay, they had not been interested in making contact and seemed terrified of the whites, suggesting Cook was not the first white person they had encountered and that previous experiences had been violent. </span></div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span><br /><span style="font-size: small;"></span></div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">In contrast, Cook's encounter with the Guugu Yimithirr at Gungardie was open and based on trust - the amicable relationship marred only by the refusal of Cook and his men to share the many turtle they caught. The story of the resulting hostilities, and the reconciliation which followed, is told in the in the Journals of Lt James Cook and Sydney Parkinson.</span></div><br /><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Cook's Journal, 19 July 1770</span></span><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TZG1ckdg_ps/Twov893kM7I/AAAAAAAABpc/jU9b-Ln7gTE/s1600/James+Cook.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TZG1ckdg_ps/Twov893kM7I/AAAAAAAABpc/jU9b-Ln7gTE/s200/James+Cook.jpg" width="181" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="color: #666666;">James Cook</span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Lucida Calligraphy"; line-height: 115%;">“In the AM we were visited by 10 or 11 of thenatives the most of them came from the other side of the River where we saw sixor seven more; the most of them were women and like the men were quite naked;those that came on board were very desirous of having some of our turtle andtook the liberty to haul two to the gangway to put over the side; beingdisappointed in this they grew a little troublesome, and were for throwingeverything over board they could lay their hands upon; as we had no victualsdress’d at the time I offer’d them some bread to eat, which they rejected withscorn as I believe they would have done anything else excepting turtle – soonafter this they all went ashore Mr Banks and myself and five or six of ourpeople being a shore at the same time. Emmediately upon their landing one of them took a handful of dry grassand lighted it at a fire we had a shore and before we well know’d what he wasgoing about he made a large circuit round about us and set fire to the grass inhis way and in an instant the whole place was in flames, luckily at this timewe had hardly any thing ashore besides the forge and a sow with a litter ofyoung pigs one of which was scorched to death in the fire – </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #666666;"><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Lucida Calligraphy"; line-height: 115%;">as soon as they had done this they all wentto a place where some of our people were washing and where all our nets and agood deal of linen were laid out to dry; here with the greatest of obstinacythey again set fire to the grass which I and some others present could notprevail until I was oblig’d to fire a musquet load with small shot at one ofthe ring leaders which sent them off; as we were apprised of this last attemptof theirs we got the fire out before it got a head; but the first spread likewild fire in the woods and grass.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #666666;"><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Lucida Calligraphy"; line-height: 115%;">Notwithstanding my firing which must havebeen a little hurt because we saw a few drops of blood on some linen he hadgone over; they did not go far from us for we soon heard their voices in thewoods upon which Mr Banks and I and 3 or 4 more went to look for them and verysoon met them comeing towards us as they had each 4 or 5 darts a piece and notknowing their intention we seized upon six or seven of the first darts we metwith;this alarm’d them o much that they all made off and we followed them fornear half a mile and then set down and call’d to them and they stopped also;after some little unintelligible conversation had passed they lay down theirdarts and came to us in a very friendly manner; we now returned the darts wehad taken from them which reconcil’d every thing.” </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444;"><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Lucida Calligraphy"; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> Parkinson's Journal, 19 July 1770</span></span></span></span></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9xj4PW7qpzU/TwoxCoiLKCI/AAAAAAAABpk/ezWAeneALzY/s1600/sydney-parkinson-02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9xj4PW7qpzU/TwoxCoiLKCI/AAAAAAAABpk/ezWAeneALzY/s200/sydney-parkinson-02.jpg" width="168" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Sydney Parkinson</span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Lucida Calligraphy"; line-height: 115%;">“And a little before we left the land; theyset fire to the grass around the spot where we had pitched our tent; butluckily for us, most of our things were on-board; or they would, in allprobability, have been consumed as the fire burnt very fiercely; and had liketo have destroyed a litter of pigs; and some other thing. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #666666;"><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Lucida Calligraphy"; line-height: 115%;">We shot one of them who ran up a hill with afore brand, and wounded him. Several ofthem came to us afterwards, and made peace with us.”</span></span></div><br /><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">During his stay, Parkinson recorded 130 words of the Guugu Yimithirr language in his journal. It is likely that this was the first written record of any Aboriginal language in this country. </span></span><br /><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #666666; text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">With thanks to </span><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">the Cooktown Re-enactment Association.</span></span></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></div><br /><div style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">More about historic Cooktown...</span></div><div style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://guurrbitours.blogspot.com/2010/10/cooktown-small-town-whose-history.html" target="_blank">Cooktown, the small town whose history changed the world</a></span></div><div style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://guurrbitours.blogspot.com/2010/06/51st-re-enactment-of-cooks-landing.html" target="_blank">The 51st Re-enactment of Cook's Landing </a></span></div><span style="color: #b45f06; font-size: small;"><a href="http://guurrbitours.blogspot.com/2008/08/images-of-cooktown.html" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;" target="_blank">Picture Gallery: Welcome to Cooktown!</a></span><br /><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"></span></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.guurrbitours.com/"><span style="color: #990000; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">www.guurrbitours.com</span></span></a></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/7463787440510594250-6809612920389163256?l=guurrbitours.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Magical, award-winning Aboriginal rock art tours with Nugal-warra Elder, Willie Gordonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01162672320351952897noreply@blogger.com0Cooktown QLD 4895, Australia-15.41131937798098 145.2392578125-23.32409987798098 135.13183581250001 -7.49853887798098 155.34667981249999tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7463787440510594250.post-63869904230683877042011-11-13T11:11:00.007+10:002011-12-01T09:45:33.555+10:00Memories which last forever<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: small;">Rhett Lego, CEO of the Conjoint Marketing Group in Germany, helped make a remarkable <a href="http://guurrbitours.blogspot.com/2008/05/on-tour-with-willie.html" style="color: #b45f06;" target="_blank">short video</a><span style="color: #b45f06;"> </span>of Guurrbi Tours about five years ago. Recently he wrote his memories of that afternoon with Willie for German tour operator, Art of Travel, and sent us a copy. Here it is.</span></span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">- - -</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Willie Gordon</b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">"I have a belief that there will be about five memories in my life that I will take with me to my grave. One of mine will be of my time with Willie Gordon in his homelands north of Cooktown in Far North Queensland.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-c-jB9CpNU10/Tr8Q7f5rO0I/AAAAAAAABj0/krXwxkWrJYY/s1600/Willie+Gordon+KT3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="211" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-c-jB9CpNU10/Tr8Q7f5rO0I/AAAAAAAABj0/krXwxkWrJYY/s320/Willie+Gordon+KT3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"></span><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: small;">"In my role of promoting Cairns and the Great Barrier Reef region across Europe and the UK, I have the pleasure of promoting some of the world’s greatest and most unique places, let alone the people in this remarkable corner of the planet.</span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">"On the morning I first met Willie in his country on his rock art tour, I was accompanying a group of five backpackers who we had recruited to be part of a film promotion we were shooting for Cairns. We had backpackers from Ireland, England, Antigua, Australia and Switzerland. We had had a rather large night in Cape Tribulation the night before and I remember telling them that I didn’t care what time they went to bed, but when they got up to meet Willie the next day, they had to remember the word: Respect.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">"We drove up the Bloomfield track from Cape Tribulation to Cooktown and from there about and hour and a half further north of Cooktown to where Willie lives in his country.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">"As we waited in the car park, Willie arrived in his understated casual way and introduced himself to the group. We all began an immersion into his country as he described the dreaming stories of his land as we walked along our path across an escarpment to the top of an open, rocky area that afforded us a remarkable vista over the country.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SP9L6UUgBjY/Tr8Rdq2VxCI/AAAAAAAABj8/iu9M2af5HKg/s1600/Dramatic+scenery+-+TA3-+%2528Rainbow+Serpent+Tour+only%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SP9L6UUgBjY/Tr8Rdq2VxCI/AAAAAAAABj8/iu9M2af5HKg/s320/Dramatic+scenery+-+TA3-+%2528Rainbow+Serpent+Tour+only%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">"As we walk, Willie quietly tells his stories and finds out more about our group of young and somewhat hung- over backpackers, who by this time were intently listening to every word he was telling us all.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">"As we walked down a track toward the cave where the rock art is which is tens of thousands of years old, we come across a snake sunning itself on the track. Willie encourages us to walk quietly past where the snake had slid off into the undercover, leaving me in no doubt that he was silently telling the snake that we were OK and wouldn’t be any cause for concern for Mr. Snake. I hate snakes by the way, but somehow with Willie’s presence I sort of felt safe.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">"We arrived at the rock art site where Willie allowed us to sit and gather our thoughts and bath in the splendor of the magic of this place. The backpackers were feeling the humidity and the impact of their late night. Owen the mad Irishman was sitting quietly on his own when Willie just sat next to him and spoke to him, telling Owen about parts of his life that he should not have known given that they had just met. Owen was a hard drinking, heavily tattooed loveable mad-man. But after a few minutes Owen was in tears responding to Willie's questions telling him about his early years of his life, which Willie somehow seemed to know all about.</span></div><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cD0zki_icXQ/Tr8RxactZYI/AAAAAAAABkE/a7iE4NBaYQI/s1600/Rainbow+Serpent+Cave+TA1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cD0zki_icXQ/Tr8RxactZYI/AAAAAAAABkE/a7iE4NBaYQI/s320/Rainbow+Serpent+Cave+TA1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">"Meanwhile the young woman from Antigua was sitting quietly and Willie commented that he knew her mother was no longer with her but that she would see her again and that she was OK. The girl was both visibly shocked and at the same time remarkably calm as she and Willie proceeded to discuss how she had lost her mother early in her life, but that in their next life they would be together.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">"Remarkable.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">"Willie recounted his stories of his lands; of the cave art; of his ancestors and of course of his lessons in life which, whilst steeped in thousands of years of wisdom, are as relevant today and they have been over time. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">"I sat in awe – not only at the remarkable spirituality of Willie the man, but at his incredible human insight and calmness. His tour was incredible; his passion for what he does and how he does it unrivalled; his ability to connect to people uncanny, and his warmth as an individual one of the most engaging I have encountered in my 50 plus years on this planet.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">"I love one of the quotes on the Gurrubi Tours website which captures his spirituality brilliantly - <i>“This is not just about Aboriginal rock art. It is about the present and the future and how we live.”</i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">"The five hour journey back to Cairns was a quiet and reflective time for us all, with each of us knowing that we had just had an incredible experience. Owen the mad Irish man was quiet and reserved that night. He had been touched by Willie, as indeed had we all.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">"As I write of these experiences, the hairs on the back of my neck stand up in memory of my time with this incredible human being. This is truly a man and a tour that you need to do – it will be an experience you will remember for life."</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">- - -</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Thanks so much for sharing this, Rhett, and for the great short video which came out of the visit. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">If you would like to <a href="http://guurrbitours.blogspot.com/2008/05/on-tour-with-willie.html" style="color: #b45f06;">see the video</a><span style="color: #b45f06;"> </span>- and to meet Owen, the Irishman! - click the link. And here's the shorter version of the <a href="http://www.docstoc.com/docs/102891574/DER-H%C3%9CTER-DER-REGENBOGENSCHLANGE" style="color: #b45f06;">article in German</a> which resulted.</span><br /><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.guurrbitours.com/"><span style="color: #990000;">www.guurrbitours.com</span></a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/7463787440510594250-6386990423068387704?l=guurrbitours.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Magical, award-winning Aboriginal rock art tours with Nugal-warra Elder, Willie Gordonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01162672320351952897noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7463787440510594250.post-27712458287611541632011-10-25T11:48:00.002+10:002011-10-25T17:49:22.243+10:00How Scrub Python got his flat head & the Endeavour River story<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BNIKbeabEIs/TqX7GMAch1I/AAAAAAAABh4/oXpnvY_TYxA/s1600/Aerial+pic+of+Grassy+Hill+%2528cr+blog%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TOVWje-PM8s/TqX_L7iGZkI/AAAAAAAABiY/egQ10Kc43FA/s1600/Mungurru+2+%2528blog%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="158" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TOVWje-PM8s/TqX_L7iGZkI/AAAAAAAABiY/egQ10Kc43FA/s200/Mungurru+2+%2528blog%2529.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">This is a story about Mungurru the Amethyst Python, also known as Scrub Python. In Guugu Yimithirr mythology, he's responsible for the creation of Wahalumbaal Birri the Endeavour River, and Dyiirrii, the rock we now call Nobby Point. Here's the story as told and illustrated by my Dad, Tulo, in <i>Milbi, Aboriginal Tales from Queensland's Endeavour River</i>.</div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">There was a blackbird, called Dyirimadhi, who wanted to marry the daughter of old Mungurru, the Scrub Python. But that old Mungurru wouldn't wouldn't give his daughter to Blackbird. He didn't want them to get married. So Blackbird got cross with that old Scrub Python.</div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">One day Scrub Python went out to sun himself. He lay down and stretched himself out in the heat of the day. Soon he fell asleep. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Dyirimadhi, the blackbird, had been out hunting. He was just on his way back to camp when he heard some little birds laughing at something. 'What are these little birds laughing at,' he said. 'Let me just go have a look.' He went over quietly and saw that old Python sunning himself. The little birds were laughing at him, asleep in the sun. 'Ohh,' said Dyirimadhi, 'that's my old father-in-law. That's the fellow who didn't give me his daughter.'</div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BMmc6fu4bic/TqYABtGLvzI/AAAAAAAABig/n4UQHpH4a7k/s1600/Mungurru+2+-+3A+%2528blog%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="170" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BMmc6fu4bic/TqYABtGLvzI/AAAAAAAABig/n4UQHpH4a7k/s320/Mungurru+2+-+3A+%2528blog%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">So he went off quietly again, and he looked all around. He looked and he looked and he looked until he found a big, heavy stone. He took that big stone, and he flew way up high into the clouds with it. He flew around and then he looked down to see where that old Mungurru was lying. When he was right above him, he let go of the big stone.</div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"></div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">The big stone went down, down, and landed right where old Python's head was. When that big rock landed on his head, that old Mungurru started to thrash about. He rolled this way, then he rolled over that way. He didn't know what to do with all the pain. Then the thought of the sea came into his mind. He headed off to the East, running towards the sea. He went straight down and came upon the sea right at <a href="http://guurrbitours.blogspot.com/2010/10/cooktown-small-town-whose-history.html" style="color: #b45f06;">Gun-gaar</a>, where Cooktown is today. He left deep tracks behind him, and that's where the Endeavour River is now. Before that old Scrub Python travelled down to the sea there was no river there.</div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sWFItv5koQ0/TqX-JNQWuEI/AAAAAAAABiI/2igg4ELNEOo/s1600/Aerial+pic+of+Grassy+Hill+%2528cr+blog%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="176" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sWFItv5koQ0/TqX-JNQWuEI/AAAAAAAABiI/2igg4ELNEOo/s320/Aerial+pic+of+Grassy+Hill+%2528cr+blog%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">When he reached the sea, old Mungurru went right out into the deep water. There he stayed for three nights and three days. But the sea was very cold. That old Python began to feel cold right through, so he said to himself, 'I'll go back West again.' He began to swim. He came to the shallow water, and then right up on the shore. Then he coiled himself up in the sand and went to sleep.</div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Soon the early morning sun came up, and he was still asleep. The sun rose and went higher and higher in the sky. Soon it was straight overhead, and still that old Mungurru slept. The sun became very very hot. It began to turn that Scrub Python hard. Finally the sun just turned him into a rock. </div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Old Mungurru is still there, all coiled up, a big rock just beside the sea. The old people call that rock Dyiirii. In English it's called Nobby Point. And whenever you see a Scrub Python nowadays, you can see his flat head from when that big rock hit him.</div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-K3mp4asrTPg/TqYGYXddxzI/AAAAAAAABio/EGoH7ehjr2k/s1600/Amethyst+python+-+Mungurru+%2528crop+blog%2529b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="227" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-K3mp4asrTPg/TqYGYXddxzI/AAAAAAAABio/EGoH7ehjr2k/s320/Amethyst+python+-+Mungurru+%2528crop+blog%2529b.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"></div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"></div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="http://guurrbitours.blogspot.com/2011/05/how-bunyjul-lizard-got-its-frill.html" style="color: #b45f06;">How the lizard got its frill</a></div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="http://guurrbitours.blogspot.com/2010/10/cooktown-small-town-whose-history.html" style="color: #b45f06;">Cooktown - the small town whose history changed the world</a></div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"></div><a href="http://guurrbitours.blogspot.com/2011/06/aboriginal-family-growing-up.html" style="color: #b45f06;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">The Aboriginal family: Growing up</span></a><br /><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.guurrbitours.com/site/tours"><span style="color: #b45f06;">About our tours </span></a></span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.guurrbitours.com/"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="color: #990000;">www.guurrbitours.com</span></span></a></div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/7463787440510594250-2771245828761154163?l=guurrbitours.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Magical, award-winning Aboriginal rock art tours with Nugal-warra Elder, Willie Gordonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01162672320351952897noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7463787440510594250.post-12003800807328140252011-10-03T16:43:00.003+10:002011-11-01T19:48:29.991+10:00The Aboriginal Family: Respect & Taboos<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1cVLK3olDOI/TojiaCOTJQI/AAAAAAAABhI/DubSsPoLPJ4/s1600/Faces+of+the+Cape+Kathi+Gibson.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1cVLK3olDOI/TojiaCOTJQI/AAAAAAAABhI/DubSsPoLPJ4/s320/Faces+of+the+Cape+Kathi+Gibson.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="color: #444444;">When I was a child my Dad explained to me who everyone was in my family, and my <a href="http://guurrbitours.blogspot.com/2011/06/aboriginal-family-growing-up.html" style="color: #b45f06;"><i>Mukai</i></a> taught me how to behave with them all. Knowing where you 'fit' is really important, as it tells you what your responsibilities are,</span> <a href="http://guurrbitours.blogspot.com/2011/09/aboriginal-family-marriage-taboos.html" style="color: #b45f06;">who you can marry</a><span style="color: #b45f06;">,</span> <span style="color: #444444;">and how you should talk with each other. Some relations I can't have a direct conversation with at all. These laws were designed to avoid conflict and keep peace and harmony in the clan. </span></div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">This is why, when we meet someone for the first time, we first work out our relatedness. The Guugu Yimithirr greeting <i>Wanhtharra wanthaalngan nyundu? </i>asks where a person's homelands are, and this kicks off the discussion. When we understand how we're connected, the information is passed on to others by way of introduction. </div><blockquote><div style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><i>"He is a cousin through my mother's side that comes from the north, and she had four cousin sisters, one of whom is the mother of this man's father." </i></div></blockquote><div style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">This way each person knows what language to use, or whether they need to stop the conversation immediately because it's <i>thabul </i>(taboo) to talk with one another.</div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="color: #444444;">Some family members, like my </span><i><a href="http://guurrbitours.blogspot.com/2011/06/aboriginal-family-growing-up.html" style="color: #b45f06;">Guman-ga</a>, </i><span style="color: #444444;">I have a </span><b style="color: #444444;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">Joking Relationship</span> </b><span style="color: #444444;">with. This means I can talk about anything at all, joke, tease, and generally not have to watch my tongue. I can also have a Joking Relationship with a stranger if, after we've worked out our kin connections, he falls into the same category as my father's father. Then there is </span><i style="color: #444444;">guugu dhabul, </i><span style="color: #444444;">or </span><b style="color: #b45f06;">Brother-in-law language</b><span style="color: #444444;">, which is soft and slow and very respectful. It isn't a totally different language, but has special words - like euphemisms - which have to be used instead of 'straight out' words. This language is used when talking with my brothers-in-law and other people who fall into that category in my extended family. </span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><b style="color: #b45f06;">Taboo relationships</b></div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">It is <i>thabul </i>to talk with my parents-in-law. I can't hand food directly to them, I can't look at them directly, and if I need to ask them something I have to do it through my wife. I certainly wouldn't dream of sitting down and watching the footy with them, and once, when I had to tell my father-in-law something important, I sent him a letter even though he lived next-door! I mustn't even say their name in conversation with somebody else - I use <i>ngathiina (</i>father-in-law) and <i>biwul </i>(mother-in-law) instead. These laws of respect are called <i>than-gun.</i></div><br /><div style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Today these respect relationships still exist, despite some of the younger generation thinking they are old-fashioned. My daughter thinks they are 'hooey', but if I visit her house, her partner will leave the room or sit with his back to us while he watches television. He still honours the laws of <i>than-gun, </i>so if I want my daughter to do something for me I'll sometimes ask him instead, as out of respect he'll make sure it gets done!</div><br /><div style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.guurrbitours.com/site/tours">About Willie's tours</a></div><br /><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">More stories about Willie's family:</span><br /><div style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="http://guurrbitours.blogspot.com/2011/06/aboriginal-family-growing-up.html">The Aboriginal Family: Growing Up</a></div><div style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="http://guurrbitours.blogspot.com/2011/09/aboriginal-family-marriage-taboos.html">The Aboriginal Family: Moieties & Marriage</a></div><a href="http://guurrbitours.blogspot.com/2010/11/mala-specialists.html"><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Mala - The Specialists</span></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.guurrbitours.com/"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">www.guurrbitours.com</span></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Photo courtesy of Kathi Gibson</span></span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/7463787440510594250-1200380080732814025?l=guurrbitours.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Magical, award-winning Aboriginal rock art tours with Nugal-warra Elder, Willie Gordonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01162672320351952897noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7463787440510594250.post-182821358603375612011-09-29T12:53:00.340+10:002011-11-01T19:33:27.174+10:00The Aboriginal Family: Moieties & Marriage<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-57QWwhbnrtg/ToPD8FmnK8I/AAAAAAAABg4/ysY7iS23Bh4/s1600/Moieties+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="315" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-57QWwhbnrtg/ToPD8FmnK8I/AAAAAAAABg4/ysY7iS23Bh4/s320/Moieties+5.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><b></b></div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">On <a href="http://www.guurrbitours.com/site/tours" style="color: #b45f06;">my tours</a> I explain how Aboriginal culture and society ensured the survival of the clan, and central to this was keeping our bloodline strong. So when I was growing up<span style="color: #b45f06;"> </span>and starting to look at girls, I had to learn who I could and couldn't marry. This was the responsibility of my <a href="http://guurrbitours.blogspot.com/2011/06/aboriginal-family-growing-up.html" style="color: #b45f06;"><i>Guman-ga </i></a>who made sure my final choice was <i>balgan-gu - </i>an appropriate match. <br /><br /><b style="color: #b45f06;">Choosing the right marriage partner </b><br />Guugu Yimithirr society is divided into two groups, or <i>moieties, </i>and it was <i>thabul (</i>taboo) to marry someone from the 'same side'. As children take the moiety of their birth father, I had to choose a marriage partner from my mother's side of the family - but not 'too close' and preferably from a distant geographic area. </div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">To help us know which moiety people belong to, we have many, many different names for our extended family members, which immediately tell us whether they are 'same side' or 'other side'. As you can see in the picture above, my Dad would call his (same side) children <i>yumurr </i>regardless of sex<i>, </i>but for my Mum we were <i>dyuway (</i>other side son<i>) </i>or <i>nguudhurr </i>(other side daughter). All the way through the family tree there are different names for 'same side' and 'other side' relatives. I also have a bloodline name, <i>Ngamu Bungangu, </i>which is<i> </i>like a surname and inherited from my father<i>, a</i>nd I share <a href="http://guurrbitours.blogspot.com/2010/10/galin-galin-and-other-totems.html" style="color: #b45f06;">my Dad's totem</a> too. <i> </i></div><div style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></div><div style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><b></b></div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #b45f06;">The Marriage Ceremony</span></b></div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">In traditional times, once an appropriate partner had been chosen, preparations culminated in the families gathering to witness the girl's mother hitting her future son-in-law on the head with the sharp side of a <i>w</i>oomera<i> (</i>throwing-stick) to draw blood. Once blood was drawn the couple was considered married. Today this sounds barbaric, but there was a reason for it. Girls married very young, so this ceremony was to ensure no sexual attraction developed between the young man and his mother-in-law who were of similar age. </div><div style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></div><div style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">The ceremony was forbidden after the arrival of the Mission, and around 1898 the first Guugu Yimithirr couples were married in church (photo below). Marriage partners were still chosen in old way, but slowly over the years this has changed, and now partners are usually chosen willy-nilly, much to the despair of the older generations who still honour and value the rules of <i>thabul.</i></span></div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Qd9kAHMZ2Dk/ToQcMv2Q4OI/AAAAAAAABhE/k2slLHVawuA/s1600/First+couples+at+Hope+Valley+c.1898.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="236" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Qd9kAHMZ2Dk/ToQcMv2Q4OI/AAAAAAAABhE/k2slLHVawuA/s320/First+couples+at+Hope+Valley+c.1898.jpg" width="320" /></a></div></div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />More stories about my family...<br /><div style="color: #b45f06;"><a href="http://guurrbitours.blogspot.com/2011/06/aboriginal-family-growing-up.html">The Aboriginal Family: Growing Up</a></div><a href="http://guurrbitours.blogspot.com/2011/10/aboriginal-family-respect-taboos.html" style="color: #b45f06;">The Aboriginal Family: Respect & Taboos </a></div><div style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="http://guurrbitours.blogspot.com/2010/10/galin-galin-and-other-totems.html" style="color: #b45f06;">Galin-Galin & Other Totems </a></div><div style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /><a href="http://www.guurrbitours.com/site/tours" style="color: #b45f06;">About our tours</a></div><div style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.guurrbitours.com/"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">www.guurrbitours.com</span></a></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/7463787440510594250-18282135860337561?l=guurrbitours.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Magical, award-winning Aboriginal rock art tours with Nugal-warra Elder, Willie Gordonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01162672320351952897noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7463787440510594250.post-39758777750453819922011-08-03T16:22:00.008+10:002011-08-04T19:44:47.523+10:00Willie's tours get world-wide recognition<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="messageBody">We are immensely proud to have been picked as one of the major contributors to Indigenous Tourism (world-wide!!) to be featured by <i>The Travel Word</i>, in celebration of Indigenous People's Week 8-12 August 2011. Here's the feature, written by American Aussie Specialist, Karolyn Wrightson. Thank you so much to everyone involved. What an honour! </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>Ancient Teachings in a Modern World:</b></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #b45f06;"> </span></b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #b45f06;">Willie Gordon's Guurrbi Tours in Australia</span> </b></span><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ppv2rTrHXBk/TjjfwZMObeI/AAAAAAAABfI/opCf8Qu-5NE/s1600/Willie+Gordon+of+Guurrbi+Tours.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ppv2rTrHXBk/TjjfwZMObeI/AAAAAAAABfI/opCf8Qu-5NE/s320/Willie+Gordon+of+Guurrbi+Tours.jpg" width="197" /></a><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Willie Gordon is likely simply to ask a traveller on one of his Guurrbi Tours "When was the Beginning for you?" I've yet to hear someone able to answer him. It is quite humbling to be in the presence of someone who is still in touch with his Beginning. I've seen rock paintings of animals that have been extinct for thousands of years, but in far too many magnificent rock art sites, the full story has been lost. Willie, however, learned what he knows directly from elders and grandparents.</span> </span><a href="http://www.thetravelword.com/2011/08/01/willie-gordon%E2%80%99s-guurrbi-tours-in-australia/"><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Read more...</span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.guurrbitours.com/site/tours"><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="http://guurrbitours.blogspot.com/2008/10/filmed-by-imparja-tv-for-footprints.html" style="color: #b45f06;">About Willie & Guurrbi Tours (short video)</a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="http://guurrbitours.blogspot.com/2008/07/blog-post.html" style="color: #b45f06;">Guurrbi Picture Gallery</a> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="http://guurrbitours.blogspot.com/2008/10/quotes-of-week.html" style="color: #b45f06;">What our customers say</a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> </span><a href="http://www.guurrbitours.com/"><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="color: #990000;">www.guurrbitours.com </span></span></a><b><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: right;"><span style="color: #666666; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">2 August 2011</span></span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/7463787440510594250-3975877775045381992?l=guurrbitours.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Magical, award-winning Aboriginal rock art tours with Nugal-warra Elder, Willie Gordonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01162672320351952897noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7463787440510594250.post-64805613121997011552011-07-30T09:54:00.021+10:002011-11-29T10:20:42.319+10:00Let's hear it from the kids!<div style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Willie loves having kids on tour with him. Here's some feedback (and stories) from some of those families - and the kids themselves. </div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UTuRws038nQ/TjuVHp95c1I/AAAAAAAABfk/MOk7Q7v3Pys/s1600/Thesinger+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="132" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UTuRws038nQ/TjuVHp95c1I/AAAAAAAABfk/MOk7Q7v3Pys/s200/Thesinger+3.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><span style="font-size: small;">"<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"></span></span></span></span>I</span>t was a very moving experience for all of us, in particular my sons, Dain (12) and Noah (7). They were captivated by the beauty of your land and have wanted to share their story many times since returning home. My daughter Maya (6) work the next day and her first words were, "I love Willie. Can we go see him again?" </div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Karen Thesinger, Jun 2009, by email</span></div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />"willie rocks he is funny cool and smart i love him" </div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Enrique Featherstone, 8 yrs. Feb 2009, Qeensland Must-Do website</span></div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dcgJiBpsQM0/TjuWNi5MgMI/AAAAAAAABfs/4YXxdechn1M/s1600/Macarthur+Anglican+School+2008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dcgJiBpsQM0/TjuWNi5MgMI/AAAAAAAABfs/4YXxdechn1M/s200/Macarthur+Anglican+School+2008.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>"What our children learnt from Willie Gordon was worth more than we could ever teach them. His tour was the best educational experience we have ever had as a family. We'd go back tomorrow if we could!" </div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Jill Shaw, Jan 2009, Queensland Must-Do website</span></div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>"We went on this trip as recommended by a friend, but were anxious as we have a hyperactive child, and a couple of teenagers, the oldest of whom is at that "lukewarm to do family outings" age. Fantastically they all really loved it, from the very beginning, with each one getting something different from the experience, but all still talking about it 6 months later, and using it as a reference. Our busy youngest, who can get bored, was engrossed, and truly felt Willie talked to him. Thank-you so much, it is our favourite trip we have ever done in Australia" </div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Hewdon, Apr 2010, TripAdvisor</span></div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uIybrxbltWU/TjtSwVEspII/AAAAAAAABfc/P4U2V6Xy6Gg/s1600/29164_395380543177_711653177_4305125_1212455_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uIybrxbltWU/TjtSwVEspII/AAAAAAAABfc/P4U2V6Xy6Gg/s200/29164_395380543177_711653177_4305125_1212455_n.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">"Dear Willie, My name is Finn and I went on your tour last year. I thought it was great!!! I'm doing a school project on a 'notable Indigenous Australian' and I thought that's what you are. So I want to ask you some questions. Do you have an email address? This is my Mum's facebook account. I'd love to hear back from you. Thanks, Finn"</div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">May 2010, Facebook</span></div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">"They LOVED Willie. The 22-year old with them said that the best thing about the WHOLE trip to Australia, was Willie."</div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">US travel agent, Jul 2011, by email</span></div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">"What we, as high school students, learnt from Willie was absolutely invaluable. His way of teaching us about his world is unique and unforgettable. We will remember his tour and its positive message for the rest of our lives." </div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Anna Shaw, Jan 2009, Queensland Must-Do website</span></div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zxaXJvPHHw4/TjtTDdoCQZI/AAAAAAAABfg/BchnKZyi_OA/s1600/Leah+%2526+Charlie+30-9-10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="149" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zxaXJvPHHw4/TjtTDdoCQZI/AAAAAAAABfg/BchnKZyi_OA/s200/Leah+%2526+Charlie+30-9-10.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">"Our little grandson will never forget the cave tour and often talks about the Children's Python he saw and Uncle Willie. We have promised to bring him up again..." </div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Bev Hall, Jan 2009, Queensland Must-Do website</span><br /><br />"<b>Once-upon-a-time</b>...<br />...my two children did Willie's tour (with Grandma Sue). Every cave with paintings in it, girl child asked, "Mr Willie, did people sleep in here?" Eventually, Mr Willie....said "Girl child, do people sleep in your library?" lol...we have been telling that story for years now - LOVE it" </div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Megan Bayliss, Jun 2011, Facebook </span></div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-B54hAU3p-zo/TjtSWoBgxsI/AAAAAAAABfY/t27g4acHYSA/s1600/Willie+%2526+Harvey+-+Bottoms+Up.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-B54hAU3p-zo/TjtSWoBgxsI/AAAAAAAABfY/t27g4acHYSA/s200/Willie+%2526+Harvey+-+Bottoms+Up.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">"I thought it was great!! I could go on the walk 100 times more!!! I didn't even get tired!! Willy rocks!!!! It was so interesting!!! Guurrbi tours rock!!" </div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Enrique 8 yrs old, Nov 2008, Queensland Must-Do website.</span></div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">"The tour is an inspiration...Our children continue to comment even after nearly six months has passed." </div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">William Shaw, Nov 2008, Queensland Must-Do website</span></div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"></div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"></div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">"[Willie's] knowledge of the bush and Aboriginal history and culture enthralled the six adults on our tour and the small boy (4 years) was treated in a very special way"</div><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Elizabeth Haverkamp, Jan 2009, Queensland Must-Do website.</span></span><br /><br /><div style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"></div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-L2gZw1JCjH8/TjubzWHhteI/AAAAAAAABgE/ZdgFQykN9is/s1600/Willie+%2526+Harvey.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-L2gZw1JCjH8/TjubzWHhteI/AAAAAAAABgE/ZdgFQykN9is/s200/Willie+%2526+Harvey.jpg" width="133" /></a>"Hi Grandma and Grandpa, Thank you you for having me and dad at Cook Town it was very good fun and I liked it a lot. My favourite part was Willie Gordon's tour. It was cool how I saw a green snake and two spiders..." (aged 8)</div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">October 2010, via his grandparents by email</span></div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />You can see these comments and more on...</div><div style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Attraction_Review-g499647-d1185502-Reviews-Guurrbi_Tours-Cooktown_Queensland.html" style="color: #b45f06;" target="_blank">TripAdvisor</a></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.150mustdos.com.au/must_dos/guurrbi_tours,_cooktown" style="color: #b45f06;">Queensland Must-Do website</a><br /><a href="http://www.facebook.com/guurrbi" style="color: #b45f06;">Facebook</a></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"></div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">And more pictures on...</div><div style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="http://guurrbitours.blogspot.com/2011/04/its-great-tour-for-kids.html">It's a great tour for kids (Picture Gallery)</a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.guurrbitours.com/"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">www.guurrbitours.com </span></a></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/7463787440510594250-6480561312199701155?l=guurrbitours.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Magical, award-winning Aboriginal rock art tours with Nugal-warra Elder, Willie Gordonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01162672320351952897noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7463787440510594250.post-89649846362697820332011-07-22T20:10:00.005+10:002011-07-22T20:21:56.659+10:00The return of Burriwi, the Emu<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mTRf06bdgls/TilFRj3tgEI/AAAAAAAABew/rbCL0t2JWMs/s1600/emu+adj+crop2+m-r+%2528blog%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="207" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mTRf06bdgls/TilFRj3tgEI/AAAAAAAABew/rbCL0t2JWMs/s320/emu+adj+crop2+m-r+%2528blog%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">When my Dad was little, Burriwi, the emu, was common all around this area, and an important food source for Bama. Its meat was highly valued for its oils, so it was always given to the Elders first before being shared amongst the clan. The eggs were also eaten, and the oil used to rub on the skin and ease muscular aches and pains. You didn't go out to hunt emu - you had to wait until you stumbled upon one. Then you had to know the tricks to lure him towards you until he was close enough to catch with spears, clubs and boomerangs.</span></div><div style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></div><div style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">When we got guns, hunting Burriwi became much easier. I was born into a house with guns. In our ignorance, we used to shoot at anything and everything - especially birds and animals. If they weren't around, then we'd shoot at trees. It was a 'game' that everyone played, until we gave our guns back under the Buy-Back Scheme, initiated by the government in 1996 in response to the horrific Port Arthur massacre. I gave back six guns, and most people in Hope Vale handed back all theirs too. </span></div><div style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></div><div style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">But for Burriwi it was too late. He had already disappeared from our landscape. The last time I saw him was at Coloured Sands, way in the distance, about 20 years ago. We still had the cave painting of him to remind us how important he'd been to our culture. We still danced the Emu Dance at Corroborees, and a few people had precious emu feathers they'd kept for decoration. But Burriwi, himself, had gone.</span></div><div style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bA-eu3ETRzU/TilHGaWMrQI/AAAAAAAABe4/E0TD5rx5piQ/s1600/save+Laura+Dance+Festival+2009+%2528433%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bA-eu3ETRzU/TilHGaWMrQI/AAAAAAAABe4/E0TD5rx5piQ/s320/save+Laura+Dance+Festival+2009+%2528433%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Then, last year, I couldn't believe my eyes: at Elim Beach I found Burriwi tracks. And about a month later I spotted three birds in the same area. We were so excited, but a year went by and there were no more sightings. </span></div><div style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></div><div style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Until last weekend. Not far from my home, there they were, two of them, standing tall and proud in the long grasses. We stood looking at each other for some time, and I was able to take the photo below. The children were in awe - they'd never seen anything like it before. It was a wonderful moment.</span></div><div style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">So, hopefully Burriwi is coming back. And hopefully, now, we will all treat them with the respect they deserve, so that this time they'll come back to stay.</span></div><div style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-F8ennoEA8cA/TilL5xspWGI/AAAAAAAABfA/K36OcaQnI7g/s1600/Emu+crop3+17-7-11m-r.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="282" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-F8ennoEA8cA/TilL5xspWGI/AAAAAAAABfA/K36OcaQnI7g/s400/Emu+crop3+17-7-11m-r.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"></div><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"></span><br /><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: small;"><a href="http://guurrbitours.blogspot.com/2010/10/galin-galin-and-other-totems.html" style="color: #b45f06;">Galin-Galin and other totems</a></span><br /><a href="http://guurrbitours.blogspot.com/2010/08/warra-journey-of-life.html"><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: small;">How we all gain strength from the land</span></a><br /><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.guurrbitours.com/site/tours" style="color: #b45f06;">About our tours </a></span><br /><br /><div style="color: #990000; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_781639119"><br /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.guurrbitours.com/"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">www.guurrbitours.com</span></a><br /><div style="text-align: right;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="color: #999999; font-size: x-small;">22 July 2011 </span></span></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/7463787440510594250-8964984636269782033?l=guurrbitours.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Magical, award-winning Aboriginal rock art tours with Nugal-warra Elder, Willie Gordonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01162672320351952897noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7463787440510594250.post-31640417230072074122011-07-18T08:15:00.006+10:002011-08-04T22:31:15.385+10:00The mating dance of the taipan?<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/y93u0McyIM0" width="425"></iframe><br /><div style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #666666;">Willie's tours are full of surprises! Customers on Saturday's</span> <a href="http://www.guurrbitours.com/site/tours" style="color: #b45f06;">Great Emu Tour</a> <span style="color: #666666;">had a rare opportunity to witness what we thought were two young taipan (biigaarr) in their ritual mating dance. Willie spotted them at the side of the track and stopped the bus so everyone could watch. Taipan are normally both aggressive and dangerous, but these two were oblivious to their audience, so engrossed were they in what they were doing. Now we're not so sure that they are taipan, and it's been suggested that they might be two male Slatey Greys fighting. If you can help us identify them, we'd love to hear from you.</span></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #666666;"><a href="http://guurrbitours.blogspot.com/2010/07/yirmbal-rainbow-serpent.html" style="color: #b45f06;">Yirmbal, the Rainbow Serpent</a></span></span></div><div style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://guurrbitours.blogspot.com/2010/07/yangga-amazing-green-ant.html" style="color: #b45f06;">Yangga, the amazing green ant</a></span></div><div style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://guurrbitours.blogspot.com/2008/10/filmed-by-imparja-tv-for-footprints.html" style="color: #b45f06;">About Willie & Guurrbi Tours (short video)</a></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #666666;"> <a href="http://guurrbitours.blogspot.com/2010/07/yirmbal-rainbow-serpent.html" style="color: #b45f06;"><br /></a></span></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #666666;"><a href="http://www.guurrbitours.com/" style="color: #990000;">www.guurrbitours.com </a></span></span><br /><div style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #666666;"><span style="color: #666666; font-size: x-small;">18 July 2011 </span></span></span></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/7463787440510594250-3164041723007207412?l=guurrbitours.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Magical, award-winning Aboriginal rock art tours with Nugal-warra Elder, Willie Gordonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01162672320351952897noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7463787440510594250.post-12830397130934148652011-06-28T16:22:00.020+10:002011-11-01T19:35:31.582+10:00The Aboriginal family: Growing up.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aDlHG3_rFdI/Tq9rNfPjlxI/AAAAAAAABiw/2U33nmm0_X0/s1600/New+growing+up+pic+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="303" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aDlHG3_rFdI/Tq9rNfPjlxI/AAAAAAAABiw/2U33nmm0_X0/s320/New+growing+up+pic+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />On our <a href="http://www.guurrbitours.com/site/tours" style="color: #b45f06;">Rainbow Serpent Tour</a> we visit my clan's ancestral <a href="http://guurrbitours.blogspot.com/2010/08/warra-journey-of-life.html" style="color: #b45f06;">Birth Site</a> - a very special place which reminds us of the importance of family - and I'm sometimes asked why Aboriginal children have so many 'uncles' and 'aunties'. One of the reasons is that there just aren't the words in English to explain our extended family and the responsibilities of each person within that group. So I thought I'd share this knowledge with you, starting with the people who were very important for me when I was growing up. </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><b style="color: #e69138;">Bipa (D1) and Ngamu (M1) </b></div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">These are my birth parents. My Dad's responsibility was to be hunter and provider for his children. My Mum's responsibility was as gatherer of bush foods, and to look after us when we were tiny. When I grew older, then I went to live with a second mum and dad, also called Bipa and Ngamu, who were chosen by the family.</div><br /><div style="color: #e69138; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><b>Bipa (D2) and Ngamu (M2)</b></div><div style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">When my voice changed it was a sign that I'd reached puberty, and I went to live with my second Mum and Dad. They looked after my worldly needs, making sure I had food and clothes, and that I stayed healthy and safe. If I wanted anything in material terms, then I had to ask them - I wasn't allowed to trouble my birth parents. Once I was with my second Mum and Dad, I could no longer converse closely with any of my sisters. If I really wanted to talk to them, then I could do, but only from a distance.</span><br /><br /><div style="color: #e69138;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><b>Gami</b></span></div><div style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">My Gami are my same side grandparents - this means my mother's mother, or my father's father. They shared in the responsibility for bringing me up.</span><br /><br /><div style="color: #e69138;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><b>Guman-ga</b></span></div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">My Guman-ga were chosen by myself. I had to choose one male and one female from my grandparents' brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, on either my father's or mother's side. The choice was very important, as I could speak to them in absolute confidence about any matter at all.<b> </b>I could ask them about taboo subjects, like sex, and who I could and couldn't mingle with. They would suggest possible marriage partners for me too. These weren't subjects that I could bring up with my birth parents, as it would be extremely disrespectful.</span></div></div><br /><div style="color: #e69138;"><b><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Mukai, Yaba and Gaanhaal</span></b></div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="color: #444444;">I had two Mukai who were my birth parents' eldest brother or sister, and they were responsible for maintaining discipline. They were like mentors who would nurture and guide me so I chose to do the right thing. They would tell me about special places, such as birthing and burial sites, and bora, and explain why I had to respect these places. And they would tell me who I could and couldn't mingle with. They were helped by</span> <b><span style="color: #e69138;">Yaba</span><span style="color: #444444;">,</span></b><span style="color: #444444;"> my eldest brother, who would keep a watchful eye on me so I didn't misbehave, and</span> <b style="color: #e69138;">Gaanhaal</b><span style="color: #444444;">, my big sister, who was "She Who Must Be Obeyed!"</span></span><br /><br /><div style="color: #444444;"></div><div style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"></span></div><div style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><b style="color: #e69138;">How it is today... </b></span></div><div style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">When the Mission came, this extended family support group was broken down, and the responsibilities of each family member undermined. </span><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">You still hear old people say "Where has the respect gone?" and that's because respect is no longer built into today's family structure. </span><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Suddenly birth mothers and fathers were expected to take on all the responsibilities themselves, and it was too much for them. Alcohol and drugs also did irreparable damage, as you can't respect your Mukai, Yaba and Gaanhaal if they're sitting next to you in the drinking circle, so in some families discipline was no longer maintained. </span></div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></div><div style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">But even though we live in nuclear family units now, the kinship structure hasn't been totally lost. I still recognise the members of my extended family by their kinship name; I still talk with my Guman-ga when I have a problem I want to talk through, and my grandchildren still have to watch out for their Mukai, Yaba and "She Who Must Be Obeyed!" </span></div><div style="color: #444444;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_1522601259"><br /></a></div><div style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="color: #b45f06;"><a href="http://guurrbitours.blogspot.com/2011/09/aboriginal-family-marriage-taboos.html" style="color: #b45f06;">The Aboriginal Family: Moieties & Marriage</a></span></span><br /><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="color: #b45f06;"><a href="http://guurrbitours.blogspot.com/2011/10/aboriginal-family-respect-taboos.html" style="color: #b45f06;">The Aboriginal Family: Respect & Taboos </a></span></span></div><div style="color: #b45f06;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="http://guurrbitours.blogspot.com/2011/04/its-great-tour-for-kids.html" style="color: #b45f06;">It's a great tour for kids! (Picture Gallery)</a></span></div><div style="color: #b45f06;"><br /></div><div style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> </span></div><div style="color: #444444; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="color: #990000;">www.guurrbitours.com</span></span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/7463787440510594250-1283039713093414865?l=guurrbitours.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Magical, award-winning Aboriginal rock art tours with Nugal-warra Elder, Willie Gordonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01162672320351952897noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7463787440510594250.post-50262441191319552942011-05-05T12:16:00.026+10:002011-10-05T12:39:24.815+10:00How the lizard got its frill<div style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0fgBJwpXrVA/TcIV8clXnnI/AAAAAAAABc8/sryFmowRQc4/s1600/IMG_0164+low-res+%2528cr-small%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="161" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0fgBJwpXrVA/TcIV8clXnnI/AAAAAAAABc8/sryFmowRQc4/s200/IMG_0164+low-res+%2528cr-small%2529.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>This is the time of year that the baby <i>Bunyjul</i>, frill-necked lizard, is hatching and finding his feet, so we thought you would enjoy this traditional story which explains how he got his frill.<br /><br />The story is also about the importance of sharing - even something we love very much, like honey!<br /><br />This is how my Dad, Tulo, tells the story in <i>Milbi: Aboriginal Tales from Queensland's Endeavour River. A</i>nd the illustrations are his too.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Frill Lizard had two sisters, two blackbirds. One day he decided to go out hunting, and he called his sisters to come along with him. They set out and walked and walked. Frill Lizard happened to look up in a tree, as they were walking. There he spied a bees' nest.</div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"></div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />He said to his sisters, 'Did you see, up in the tree, where that honey is? You two wait down here, and I'll climb up and get it.'<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-f1HbRyTlQ2E/TcILZkWVufI/AAAAAAAABcs/WV4sCEzNywA/s1600/frill+lizard+story+%2528hunting%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="132" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-f1HbRyTlQ2E/TcILZkWVufI/AAAAAAAABcs/WV4sCEzNywA/s320/frill+lizard+story+%2528hunting%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div></div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"></div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />Frill Lizard got his stone axe, and he started to climb. He used the axe to chop notches in the tree, and he climbed up and up until he reached the branch where the honey was. Then he began to chop at the branch. Soon he had chopped an opening in the wood just big enough for him to get his hand in.</div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">He reached in through the hole and took a handful of honey. He pulled it out and ate that first lot all by himself. He put his hand in a second time, and he was about to eat it when those two sisters sang out from down below: 'Hey, you, throw some of that honey down to us. Throw some to us!'<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-X9UY9ot5v34/TcIKSS3T8HI/AAAAAAAABco/-iBL_oRZF0o/s1600/Frill+lizard+story+%2528tree%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="287" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-X9UY9ot5v34/TcIKSS3T8HI/AAAAAAAABco/-iBL_oRZF0o/s320/Frill+lizard+story+%2528tree%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div></div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"></div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Frill Lizard called back, 'Wait a bit, wait a bit!' Then he put his hand in the hole and brought out another handful of honey. 'Here, here, I'll throw it down to you,' he cried.</div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Those two sisters stretched out their hands to catch that honey as it came down. But just at the last minute, instead of throwing the honey down, Frill Lizard went Whooomp! and threw the honey right up into his own mouth. He ate it himself.</div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">'Well,' Frill Lizard sang out, 'I can't throw the honey down just like that. You two have to go look around for some <i>baaydjin</i> grass. I'll make a sponge and dip it in the honey. Then I can throw that down for you to suck the honey from.'</div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">So the two sisters went to have a look around. They searched and they searched, but they couldn't find any <i>baaydjin</i> grass. They came back and called up to their brother, 'No <i>baaydjin</i> grass around here!'</div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Frill Lizard said, 'Never mind. One of you take off that little skirt you're wearing and throw that up. I'll dip that in the honey.' So one of the blackbird sisters untied the little <i>yirrbi</i> she had around her waist, and she threw it high up to her brother in the tree.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-496hRwhI_T8/TcIGTLMvbCI/AAAAAAAABcY/n9hkfY40-yo/s1600/Frill+Lizard+%2526+honey+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="157" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-496hRwhI_T8/TcIGTLMvbCI/AAAAAAAABcY/n9hkfY40-yo/s400/Frill+Lizard+%2526+honey+%25282%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Frill Lizard took that </span><i style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">yirrbi </i><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">and stuck it in the opening. He dipped in the honey and sopped it up until it was full. Then he pulled it out. But instead of throwing the skirt, soaked with honey, down to his sisters, Frill Lizard sucked that honey out himself. And he was so greedy that he swallowed the whole thing, skirt and all. </span><br /><div style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />Well, his sister's skirt got stuck in the Frill Lizard's throat. And from that time on, when Frill Lizard gets excited he grows a lump on his throat. Well, that lump is his sister's <i>yirrbi</i>, which he wasn't even supposed to touch, and which he sucked honey from.<br /><br /><a href="http://guurrbitours.blogspot.com/2009/11/summer-is-coming-to-guurrbi-3.html" style="color: #b45f06;"><i>Bunyjul</i> the bush weather forecaster</a><br /><div style="color: #b45f06;"><a href="http://guurrbitours.blogspot.com/2010/01/fierce-dragons-spiders-worthy-of.html"><span style="color: #b45f06;">Hissing dragons & scary spiders</span> </a></div><a href="http://guurrbitours.blogspot.com/2011/03/story-of-ngurrayin-barretts-lagoon.html" style="color: #b45f06;">The story of Barrett's Lagoon</a><br /><a href="http://www.guurrbitours.com/site/tours" style="color: #b45f06;">Our tours</a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.guurrbitours.com/" style="color: #990000;">www.guurrbitours.com</a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/7463787440510594250-5026244119131955294?l=guurrbitours.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Magical, award-winning Aboriginal rock art tours with Nugal-warra Elder, Willie Gordonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01162672320351952897noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7463787440510594250.post-89561615021957493802011-04-04T08:43:00.017+10:002011-11-25T14:58:17.533+10:00It's a great tour for kids!<div id="__ss_10316507" style="width: 425px;"> <iframe frameborder="0" height="355" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://www.slideshare.net/slideshow/embed_code/10316507" width="425"></iframe> <br /><div style="padding: 5px 0 12px;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">If you have kids, don't think they'll be left out! Willie loves having them on tour, and there's lots of hands-on things for them to do - especially on the </span><a href="http://www.guurrbitours.com/site/tours" style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Rainbow Serpent Tour</a><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">. Here's a scrapbook of photos very kindly sent to us by some of our lovely customers.</span></span></div></div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; visibility: visible;"><div style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">More about kids </div></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="color: #444444;"><a href="http://guurrbitours.blogspot.com/2011/07/lets-hear-it-from-kids.html" style="color: #b45f06;">Let's hear it from the kids!</a></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="color: #444444;"><a href="http://guurrbitours.blogspot.com/2010/11/how-to-play-didgeon-walking-stick.html" style="color: #b45f06;">How to play the didgeridoo on a walking stick (short video)</a></span></div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; visibility: visible;"><div style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; visibility: visible;"><a href="http://guurrbitours.blogspot.com/2011/06/aboriginal-family-growing-up.html" style="color: #b45f06;">The Aboriginal family: Growing up </a><br /><a href="http://guurrbitours.blogspot.com/2009/06/beautiful-thank-you-e-mail.html" style="color: #b45f06;"><br /></a></div></div><div style="visibility: visible;"><span style="color: #444444; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">More Picture Galleries</span></span><br /><span style="color: #444444; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="http://guurrbitours.blogspot.com/2008/07/blog-post.html" style="color: #b45f06;">On tour with Willie</a></span></span></div><div style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; visibility: visible;"><a href="http://guurrbitours.blogspot.com/2009/01/bush-creatures.html">Guurrbi's Bush Creatures</a></div><div style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; visibility: visible;"><a href="http://guurrbitours.blogspot.com/2011/11/bush-foods-medicines-crafts.html" target="_blank">Guurrbi's Bush Foods & Medicines</a></div><div style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; visibility: visible;"><a href="http://guurrbitours.blogspot.com/2008/07/blog-post.html"><br /></a></div><div style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center; visibility: visible;"><span style="color: #444444;"></span><a href="http://www.guurrbitours.com/"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">www.guurrbitours.com</span></a></div><div style="visibility: visible;"><br /></div><div style="white-space: nowrap;"><br /><a href="http://www.slide.com/pivot?cy=ms&at=un&id=3386706919831728313&map=F" target="_blank"></a></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/7463787440510594250-8956161502195749380?l=guurrbitours.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Magical, award-winning Aboriginal rock art tours with Nugal-warra Elder, Willie Gordonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01162672320351952897noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7463787440510594250.post-62755797522778516112011-03-22T13:42:00.007+10:002011-06-03T11:52:00.458+10:00The story of Barratt's Lagoon.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-blBR7EZitFQ/TYgRR82nI9I/AAAAAAAABbw/mdPcMLsTde8/s1600/Barrett%2527s+Lagoon+Nov+10+%25282%2529+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="228" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-blBR7EZitFQ/TYgRR82nI9I/AAAAAAAABbw/mdPcMLsTde8/s400/Barrett%2527s+Lagoon+Nov+10+%25282%2529+crop.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">In the past, when Aboriginal people wanted to explain something, they would start by telling a story about it. This could be a mythical story using your imagination, like a fairy tale, and was often linked to a place.</div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Just outside Cooktown, on the way to the rock art sites, we pass a story place we call <i>Ngurrayin</i> or Barratt's Lagoon. The story belonging to this place explains how we all come to speak different languages, and it's the story depicted in the picture below which was painted by my Dad, Tulo. This is how he told the story in <i>Milbi: Aboriginal Tales from Queensland's Endeavour River</i>.</div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Long ago all men had a single language, which everyone could understand. </div><br /><div style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Then, one time, word went out to all the different tribes of people that there would be a big dance. People came together from the East, from the West, from the North and from the South. They all gathered together at <i>Ngurrayin, </i>to have their corroboree. </div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></div><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Now this place, </span><i style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Ngurrayin, </i><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">is a big lagoon. In the summertime, no matter how hot it is, that water never dries up. It is fresh water, but the old people say that sea water comes underground from the ocean and holds the water in that lagoon up. That's why it never dries up, you see, because it is connected to the sea underground.</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-s2uRgyIrUc4/TYgU4QAp6bI/AAAAAAAABb0/vulVDWCqMlE/s1600/Tulo+-+Barrett%2527s+Lagoon+Story+%2528mr%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="247" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-s2uRgyIrUc4/TYgU4QAp6bI/AAAAAAAABb0/vulVDWCqMlE/s320/Tulo+-+Barrett%2527s+Lagoon+Story+%2528mr%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Well, there was a giant fish, a <i>nhinhinhi</i> or groper, that came up from the sea, from the East. It came along underground towards the lagoon where all those different tribes were having their dance. When it got there it opened up its gigantic mouth, and it rose up out of the water, and swallowed the whole jolly lot of them. Then that giant fish turned around and headed East again, travelling underground until it reached the sea. </div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">For two months that groper stayed in the sea, with all the people inside of him. Then he came again from the East, just the same way, travelling underground. When he got to the lagoon he opened up his mouth and vomited all the people out again.</div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">The people jumped down onto the ground and they began walking all about. But when they tried to speak to one another, they found that they were all speaking different languages. One man would talk one way, and another man would talk another way. And the first one couldn't understand the second one.<br /><br />Well that's why Aboriginal people talk different languages until today.<br /><div style="color: #b45f06;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="color: #b45f06; text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.guurrbitours.com/site/conservation"><span style="color: #b45f06;">A place called <i>Wangaar-Wuri</i></span></a></div><div style="color: #b45f06; text-align: left;"><a href="http://guurrbitours.blogspot.com/2010/12/bush-soap-antiseptics-cure-for.html">Toothache? Here's a bush cure! </a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://guurrbitours.blogspot.com/2010/10/cooktown-small-town-whose-history.html" style="color: #b45f06;">The small town whose history changed the world</a><i></i><br /><a href="http://www.guurrbitours.com/site/tours" style="color: #b45f06;">Our tours</a><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i> </i> </div><br /><a href="http://www.guurrbitours.com/" style="color: #990000;">www.guurrbitours.com</a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"></div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/7463787440510594250-6275579752277851611?l=guurrbitours.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Magical, award-winning Aboriginal rock art tours with Nugal-warra Elder, Willie Gordonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01162672320351952897noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7463787440510594250.post-73780586387537264082011-01-23T09:26:00.005+10:002011-01-23T09:39:15.159+10:00Jiliburu - Law Enforcement & the Bogey Man<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OUneO4G4emo/TTto45C-JFI/AAAAAAAABbQ/LSsT1-VmSlc/s1600/Jiliburu.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OUneO4G4emo/TTto45C-JFI/AAAAAAAABbQ/LSsT1-VmSlc/s320/Jiliburu.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="color: #444444;">Laws were made by man to enforce the lores, and were necessary to ensure the survival of the clan. But laws are of little use unless they can be enforced.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="color: #444444;">This is the <i>Jiliburu</i>, one of three mythical characters used by us to enforce the law. The <i>Jiliburu </i>stops people even thinking about breaking the law. He's like the bogey man who scares children into being good and doing what their parents tell them. It stops them from going where they might be in danger, and helps to keep them safe.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="color: #444444;"><i>Manu Galga-thirr, </i></span></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="color: #444444;">the second mythical character, warns of what will happen to people who do break the law. He's a terrifying and vengeful creature who torments the law-breaker</span></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="color: #444444;">. </span></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="color: #444444;"> </span></span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_OUneO4G4emo/TTtbRhnxgkI/AAAAAAAABbI/Ku5x2ytGMac/s1600/Wabuga+etc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="192" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_OUneO4G4emo/TTtbRhnxgkI/AAAAAAAABbI/Ku5x2ytGMac/s320/Wabuga+etc.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="color: #444444;">Our third mythical character, </span></span><i><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="color: #444444;">Wabuga, </span></span></i><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="color: #444444;">exists to remind children of the many ways they can be tempted to break the law. </span></span><i><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="color: #444444;">Wabuga</span></span></i><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="color: #444444;"> is a trickster, a red-eyed spirit or ghost which appears in many disguises. He climbs from tree to tree, calling temptingly and encouraging children to follow him away from the safety of their family. </span></span><i><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="color: #444444;">Wabuga </span></span></i><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="color: #444444;">reminds us that if you continue to break the law, it doesn't just affect your family, it will weaken the strength of the whole tribe. </span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="color: #444444;">More rock art stories...</span></span><br /><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><a href="http://guurrbitours.blogspot.com/2010/11/mala-specialists.html"><span style="color: #b45f06;">Mala, the Specialists </span></a></span><br /><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><a href="http://guurrbitours.blogspot.com/2010/10/galin-galin-and-other-totems.html"><span style="color: #b45f06;">Galin-Galin & Other Totems </span></a></span><br /><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><a href="http://guurrbitours.blogspot.com/2010/07/yirmbal-rainbow-serpent.html"><span style="color: #b45f06;">Yirmbal, the Rainbow Serpent</span></a><span style="color: #b45f06;"><br /></span><span style="color: #b45f06;"> </span></span><br /><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.guurrbitours.com/"><span style="color: #b45f06;">About our tours... </span></a></span><br /><div align="center"><br /><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.guurrbitours.com/"><span style="color: #990000;">www.guurrbitours.com</span></a></span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/7463787440510594250-7378058638753726408?l=guurrbitours.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Magical, award-winning Aboriginal rock art tours with Nugal-warra Elder, Willie Gordonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01162672320351952897noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7463787440510594250.post-19294908846276573332010-12-30T19:11:00.015+10:002011-02-06T10:59:34.841+10:00Bush Antiseptics, Soap and a Toothache Cure<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_OUneO4G4emo/TRw93SkvjuI/AAAAAAAABaM/RuixxUCyaI8/s1600/37-Bloodwood.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_OUneO4G4emo/TRw93SkvjuI/AAAAAAAABaM/RuixxUCyaI8/s200/37-Bloodwood.jpg" width="121" /></a></div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="color: #444444;">This is <i>Babatha</i>, the <b>Bloodwood</b> tree, which is an excellent source of antiseptic. You can spot this tree by the blood-like stain on its trunk. When a wood borer makes a hole in the tree, the tree reacts by sending out sap which then solidifies and turns into crystals. These are softened by the rain to give the blood-like appearance.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="color: #444444;">Because there is a small amount of eucalyptus oil in the sap, this serves as an excellent antiseptic and healing agent. You can either crush the crystals to a powder and apply directly to the infected area, or add water to make a cream. </span></span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_OUneO4G4emo/TRxPoehSNbI/AAAAAAAABak/wi8Zxurogqs/s1600/43-Cluster+fig%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="135" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_OUneO4G4emo/TRxPoehSNbI/AAAAAAAABak/wi8Zxurogqs/s200/43-Cluster+fig%25282%2529.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="color: #444444;"><b>Cluster Figs </b>are really tasty - and good for you too! They ripen during the winter months, and eating them helps wounds to heal, and acts as an anti-diuretic. If the fruit is still green and can't be eaten, then apply the sap directly on the infection to assist healing.</span></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OUneO4G4emo/TRw-Gu38r7I/AAAAAAAABaY/gxRJWwjfmrc/s1600/Soap+bush.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="132" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OUneO4G4emo/TRw-Gu38r7I/AAAAAAAABaY/gxRJWwjfmrc/s200/Soap+bush.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">It's really important to keep your skin clean in a tropical environment, so the leaves of the <b>Soap Bush </b>are valuable for maintaining general hygiene and keeping wounds from becoming infected. The leaves have a silver underside, and should be crushed before adding water. Then rub the mixture vigorously to make a lather. Its also an excellent hand cream as it leaves your hands beautifully soft.</span></span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OUneO4G4emo/TRxO4diyStI/AAAAAAAABag/ULmSRr3u8Oo/s1600/39-Moreton+Bay+Ash+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OUneO4G4emo/TRxO4diyStI/AAAAAAAABag/ULmSRr3u8Oo/s200/39-Moreton+Bay+Ash+%25282%2529.JPG" width="125" /></a></div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="color: #444444;"><i>Bingin, </i>the <b>Moreton Bay Ash</b>, is a common tree in this part of the world, and a member of the eucalyptus family. It's also known as the 'Blackbutt' as it's trunk is black at the base, and white at the top. If you're unlucky enough to find yourself with a raging toothache while in the bush, crush the white bark in water and then use the liquid as a mouthwash. But be warned! The reason it works so well is that it deadens the root of the offending tooth, which will then fall out.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">More bush survival tips...</span></span><br /><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><a href="http://guurrbitours.blogspot.com/2010/06/bush-insect-repellent-cooking-in-rain.html"><span style="color: #b45f06;">Bush insect repellent & cooking in the rain</span></a></span><br /><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><a href="http://guurrbitours.blogspot.com/2010/07/yangga-amazing-green-ant.html"><span style="color: #b45f06;">Yangga - the amazing green ant</span></a></span><br /><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.guurrbitours.com/"><span style="color: #990000;"> www.guurrbitours.com</span></a></span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/7463787440510594250-1929490884627657333?l=guurrbitours.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Magical, award-winning Aboriginal rock art tours with Nugal-warra Elder, Willie Gordonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01162672320351952897noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7463787440510594250.post-38338346553382288892010-11-25T13:58:00.006+10:002011-07-02T08:27:58.608+10:00How to play the didge...on a walking stick<object height="350" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/8fwb26SNHpg?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/8fwb26SNHpg?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="350"></embed></object><br /><br /><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="color: #666666;">Sue Wickes, from Mission Beach Tourism, posted this video on You Tube, with the message:</span></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="color: #666666;"><br /></span></span><br /><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="color: #666666;"><i>Here is an amazing video of Nugal-warra Elder, Willie Gordon from Guurrbi Tours playing the digeridoo on one of his tour participants walking stick. Willie has such a great sense of humour and had us all in stitches.</i></span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="color: #666666;"><i>The Guurrbi Tour in Cooktown, Queensland, Australia is an enjoyable, interesting, spiritual and very touching experience. Willie has a wonderful way of putting across the stories of the rock art, the history of his people and their culture. He has a way of engaging people and making them think deeply about the questions and issues that face us all on this planet and, in that, receive a special insight into the ancient philosophy of his people.</i></span></span><br /><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="color: #666666;"><i> </i></span> </span><br /><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="http://guurrbitours.blogspot.com/2008/07/blog-post.html" style="color: #b45f06;">Guurrbi Picture Gallery</a> </span><br /><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="http://guurrbitours.blogspot.com/2011/04/its-great-tour-for-kids.html" style="color: #b45f06;">It's a great tour for kids!</a></span><span style="color: #b45f06;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> </span></span><br /><a href="http://www.guurrbitours.com/site/tours"><span style="color: #b45f06;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">More about our tours...</span></span></a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://www.guurrbitours.com/"><span style="color: #990000;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">www.guurrbitours.com</span></span></a></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/7463787440510594250-3833834655338228889?l=guurrbitours.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Magical, award-winning Aboriginal rock art tours with Nugal-warra Elder, Willie Gordonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01162672320351952897noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7463787440510594250.post-8857695321576072142010-11-23T15:47:00.004+10:002011-11-26T10:56:07.558+10:00Bush foods, medicines & crafts<div id="__ss_10316646" style="width: 425px;"> <iframe frameborder="0" height="355" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://www.slideshare.net/slideshow/embed_code/10316646" width="425"></iframe> <br /><div style="padding: 5px 0 12px;"><div style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />Some stories related to the photos...<br /><div style="color: #b45f06;"><a href="http://guurrbitours.blogspot.com/2010/07/yangga-amazing-green-ant.html" target="_blank">Yangga - the amazing green ant</a> </div><div style="color: #b45f06;"><a href="http://guurrbitours.blogspot.com/2010/08/bush-wonders-fishing-tree-talking.html" target="_blank">Bush messengers & fishing made easy</a></div><a href="http://guurrbitours.blogspot.com/2010/06/bush-insect-repellent-cooking-in-rain.html" style="color: #b45f06;" target="_blank">Bush insect repellent & cooking in the rain</a><br /><br />More Guurrbi Picture Galleries...<br /><div style="color: #b45f06;"><a href="http://guurrbitours.blogspot.com/2011/04/its-great-tour-for-kids.html" target="_blank">On tour with Willie</a></div><div style="color: #b45f06;"><a href="http://guurrbitours.blogspot.com/2011/04/its-great-tour-for-kids.html" target="_blank">It's a great tour for kids</a> </div><div style="color: #b45f06;"><a href="http://guurrbitours.blogspot.com/2009/01/bush-creatures.html" target="_blank">Guurrbi's bush creatures</a></div></div></div></div><div id="__ss_10282297" style="width: 425px;"><div style="padding: 5px 0 12px;"><div style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></div><div style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.guurrbitours.com/" style="color: #990000;" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">www.guurrbitours.com </span></span></a></div><br /><br /><a href="http://www.slideshare.net/guurrbi" target="_blank"></a> </div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/7463787440510594250-885769532157607214?l=guurrbitours.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Magical, award-winning Aboriginal rock art tours with Nugal-warra Elder, Willie Gordonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01162672320351952897noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7463787440510594250.post-43181433653692297472010-11-20T10:59:00.007+10:002010-12-30T11:52:30.763+10:00Mala - The Specialists<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OUneO4G4emo/TOcXDiqZb2I/AAAAAAAABZ8/ykzL8AbAuD0/s1600/23-Mala+dambun.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OUneO4G4emo/TOcXDiqZb2I/AAAAAAAABZ8/ykzL8AbAuD0/s1600/23-Mala+dambun.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="161" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OUneO4G4emo/TOcXDiqZb2I/AAAAAAAABZ8/ykzL8AbAuD0/s320/23-Mala+dambun.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="color: #444444;">Aboriginal society had many different </span></span><i><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="color: #444444;">mala</span></span></i><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="color: #444444;">, or </span></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="color: #444444;">specialists. There were people who were healers, rainmakers, crocodile hunters, artists.....and </span></span><i><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="color: #444444;">milbi malin - </span></span></i><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="color: #444444;">story-tellers like me. The rock art above shows a specialist called </span></span><i><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="color: #444444;">mala dambun</span></span></i><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="color: #444444;">. He was an assassin - a trained executioner who took revenge or 'payback'. This was an inherited position, and he was a highly skilled professional, trained by his father to stealthily execute by inflicting physical, mental and spiritual damage in undetectable ways.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="color: #444444;">There was a man that was good at deflecting spears. When someone was in trouble and was going to be punished by having spears thrown at him, he would have a </span></span><i><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="color: #444444;">mala digarra </span></span></i><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="color: #444444;">to defend him. The </span></span><i><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="color: #444444;">mala digarra </span></span></i><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="color: #444444;">was like a lawyer and would defend the accused by standing in front of him to deflect the spears. When they were being thrown, wherever the </span></span><i><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="color: #444444;">mala digarra</span></span></i><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="color: #444444;"> moved, that was where the man at the back had to follow, otherwise he couldn't be defended.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="color: #444444;">Those referred to as 'Elders' were also specialists. This title has nothing to do with age, but refers to people with specialist knowledge who become teachers. Elders were neither king nor chief: they were there to teach young people about survival techniques at a place called the </span></span><i><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="color: #444444;">bora, </span></span></i><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="color: #444444;">which was like a school.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="color: #444444;">The man below is an Elder. You can see the stripes that were cut into his skin during initiation. This was done with a white quartz called</span> </span><i><a href="http://guurrbitours.blogspot.com/2010/10/cooktown-small-town-whose-history.html"><span style="color: #b45f06;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">gun-gaar</span></span></a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">. </span></i><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> </span><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The stripes are high on his chest, telling us that he is a teacher and worthy of respect; whereas the striped on the </span><i><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">mala dambun </span></i><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">cover the bottom half of his body, showing that he was a man that taught how to kill.</span></span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_OUneO4G4emo/TOcersOmlDI/AAAAAAAABaE/LpXPfS306D4/s1600/Man+with+big+hair+jpeg+%2528mr%2529+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_OUneO4G4emo/TOcersOmlDI/AAAAAAAABaE/LpXPfS306D4/s320/Man+with+big+hair+jpeg+%2528mr%2529+crop.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="color: #444444;">More rock art stories...</span></span><br /><a href="http://guurrbitours.blogspot.com/2010/07/yirmbal-rainbow-serpent.html"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">Yirmbal, the Rainbow Serpent</span></span></a><br /><a href="http://guurrbitours.blogspot.com/2010/05/guurrbi-and-guurrbi-man.html"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">Guurrbi & Ngamu the Guurrbi Man </span></span></a><br /><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><a href="http://guurrbitours.blogspot.com/2010/04/yirmbal-creation-story.html"><span style="color: #b45f06;">Yirmbal, the Creation Story </span></a></span><br /><a href="http://guurrbitours.blogspot.com/2010/08/warra-journey-of-life.html"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">Warra & the Circle of Life </span></span></a><br /><br /><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.guurrbitours.com/site/tours"><span style="color: #b45f06;">About our tours... </span></a></span><br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://www.guurrbitours.com/"><span style="color: #990000;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> www.guurrbitours.com</span></span></a></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/7463787440510594250-4318143365369229747?l=guurrbitours.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Magical, award-winning Aboriginal rock art tours with Nugal-warra Elder, Willie Gordonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01162672320351952897noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7463787440510594250.post-60705941583632101532010-10-22T08:08:00.007+10:002011-02-13T16:56:17.157+10:00A beautiful testimonial from Switzerland<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OUneO4G4emo/TMC4zaB6_KI/AAAAAAAABYM/9mD0PRhB_DE/s1600/Australien+-+Willie+(5)+cr.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="175" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OUneO4G4emo/TMC4zaB6_KI/AAAAAAAABYM/9mD0PRhB_DE/s200/Australien+-+Willie+(5)+cr.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">"Your smile and your words have been my friends for my all trip in Australia... Everytime I see a rainbow, I think of you Willie and a connection is made in my heart with the magnific place you show me."</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Rosa & Jurg, </span></span><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">21 Oct 2010.</span></span></span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Rosa & Jurg went on our</span></span></span><span style="color: #b45f06;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.guurrbitours.com/site/tours">Rainbow Serpent Tour</a></span></span></span><span style="color: #b45f06;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">.</span></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> </span></span></span><br /><br /><div align="center"><span style="color: #990000;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.guurrbitours.com/">www.guurrbitours.com</a> </span></span></span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/7463787440510594250-6070594158363210153?l=guurrbitours.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Magical, award-winning Aboriginal rock art tours with Nugal-warra Elder, Willie Gordonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01162672320351952897noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7463787440510594250.post-48257700803797149872010-10-10T11:22:00.011+10:002011-10-02T10:28:31.856+10:00Galin-Galin and Other Totems<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_OUneO4G4emo/TLIveBWSaPI/AAAAAAAABXw/Z-I5eB7b4Qk/s1600/Hobby+Falcon+%28Greg+Miles%29+-m-r.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="228" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_OUneO4G4emo/TLIveBWSaPI/AAAAAAAABXw/Z-I5eB7b4Qk/s320/Hobby+Falcon+%28Greg+Miles%29+-m-r.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">This is <i>galin-galin, </i>the Hobby Falcon, also called the Little Falcon, and he is the <i>binga thawuun, </i>or totem, for my clan the Nugal-warra. Totems are spirit companions for a particular person, or for a clan or a tribe, and when I see our totem it reminds me of myself, my spiritual strength, and my family connections. It's like Christians who wear a cross, or Jewish people who wear the Star of David, to remind them of their spirituality. Totems also help us to comply with the law by telling us who we can and cannot marry. You cannot marry someone who has the same clan totem as you.</div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_OUneO4G4emo/TLEPU0G9SbI/AAAAAAAABXo/M43HyJ7rpPA/s1600/Hope+Vale+logo+l-r.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_OUneO4G4emo/TLEPU0G9SbI/AAAAAAAABXo/M43HyJ7rpPA/s200/Hope+Vale+logo+l-r.png" width="170" /></a><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">For my tribe, the Guugu Yimithirr, there are two totems: the white cockatoo - </span><i style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">binga wandaar - </i><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">which is the totem of the coastal people, and the black cockatoo - </span><i style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">binga ngurraarr - </i><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">for those that live inland. Our tribal totem is the black cockatoo. My home community of Hope Vale uses both to represent the coming together of the two moieties in the township, and you often see them used in local art. </span><br /><br /><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Totems can also be a place, like </span><a href="http://guurrbitours.blogspot.com/2010/07/yirmbal-rainbow-serpent.html" style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Gubal da Guthay</a><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">, or a special animal used like a family crest. </span><i style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Ngamu ngaathaar, </i><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">which literally means 'the mother of all other dogs', is special for the Nugal clan. There's a cave painting of him, and from his internal markings you can see that he is another representation of </span><a href="http://guurrbitours.blogspot.com/2010/05/guurrbi-and-guurrbi-man.html" style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Ngamu, the Guurrbi man</a><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">.</span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_OUneO4G4emo/TLEQTyyWT9I/AAAAAAAABXs/tVOcY5KGhRM/s1600/Dingo+l-r.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_OUneO4G4emo/TLEQTyyWT9I/AAAAAAAABXs/tVOcY5KGhRM/s320/Dingo+l-r.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><a href="http://guurrbitours.blogspot.com/2011/06/aboriginal-family-growing-up.html"><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">The Aboriginal family: Growing up</span></a><br /><a href="http://guurrbitours.blogspot.com/2008/07/blog-post.html"><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: small;">Guurrbi Picture Gallery</span></a><br /><div style="color: #990000; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_56440270"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="color: #b45f06; text-align: left;"><div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.guurrbitours.com/site/tours/">About our tours... </a></span></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: right;"></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><a href="http://www.guurrbitours.com/"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="color: #990000;">www.guurrbitours.com</span></span></a></div><span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"></span></span></span><br /><div style="text-align: right;"></div><div style="text-align: right;"><span style="color: #666666; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Photo of Hobby Falcon: </span></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/gregbm/"><span style="color: #b45f06;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Greg Miles</span></span></a></span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/7463787440510594250-4825770080379714987?l=guurrbitours.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Magical, award-winning Aboriginal rock art tours with Nugal-warra Elder, Willie Gordonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01162672320351952897noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7463787440510594250.post-79966063656663190552010-08-30T16:00:00.009+10:002011-07-02T08:51:06.367+10:00Bush Messengers & Fishing Made Easy<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OUneO4G4emo/THs-1Wa9ehI/AAAAAAAABU8/CUN-S1Rg-yA/s1600/Bottlebrush.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OUneO4G4emo/THs-1Wa9ehI/AAAAAAAABU8/CUN-S1Rg-yA/s320/Bottlebrush.jpg" /></a></div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The environment gives us all sorts of signals and messages which help us to survive in the bush. This is the beautiful Bottlebrush flower which comes out in winter, telling us that the mussels are ready to eat. Once we see the flower we know that <i>thuinga </i>are out of the river banks, crawling around, eating food in the mud or the sand, and laying their eggs before the Big Wet comes. This is when <i>thuinga</i> are at their plumpest and easily collected. Once the rains start they're back in the river banks, anchored firmly to the rocks or in the root systems to stop themselves being washed away in the floods.</span></div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The red leaves of <i>guraarr, </i>the Cocky Apple, tell us that summer is on its way. We use this tree for fishing in freshwater ponds or billabongs, putting the whole tree in the water after scoring the bark with a rock to let the sap out. Once in the water we stir it around a bit, then wait for a while. The sap has a toxin which stops the fish breathing, so it doesn't take long for them to come to the surface to gulp for fresh air. Once on the surface we can spear them easily. If you try this you must remember to remove the tree afterwards so the water can purify itself again. </span></div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The <i>guraarr</i> is found across northern Australia to SE Queensland, and in other areas is used for treating burns, wounds, stone fish stings and headaches. But in the Nugal lands there are other plants for these purposes and we just use the <i>guraarr </i>for fishing.</span></div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OUneO4G4emo/THs-38oPUUI/AAAAAAAABVE/-eYQKZCOQew/s1600/Cocky+apple.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OUneO4G4emo/THs-38oPUUI/AAAAAAAABVE/-eYQKZCOQew/s320/Cocky+apple.JPG" /></a></div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://guurrbitours.blogspot.com/2009/09/summer-is-coming-to-guurrbi.html"><span style="color: #b45f06;">More bush signs that summer is coming</span></a></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://guurrbitours.blogspot.com/2010/06/bush-insect-repellent-cooking-in-rain.html"><span style="color: #b45f06;">Bush insect repellent & cooking in the rain </span></a></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://guurrbitours.blogspot.com/2010/12/bush-soap-antiseptics-cure-for.html" style="color: #b45f06;">Bush antiseptics & a cure for toothache!</a><br /></span></div><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.guurrbitours.com/site/tours" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">Our tours</span></a></span><br /><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_258767287"><br /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.guurrbitours.com/"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">www.guurrbitours.com</span></span></a></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/7463787440510594250-7996606365666319055?l=guurrbitours.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Magical, award-winning Aboriginal rock art tours with Nugal-warra Elder, Willie Gordonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01162672320351952897noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7463787440510594250.post-71903496099099236142010-08-20T09:05:00.011+10:002011-07-02T08:19:20.726+10:00Warra & The Circle of Life<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_OUneO4G4emo/TG2qV0Fa7cI/AAAAAAAABUk/ZtOv0plN0bs/s1600/B-Birth+pic+JOhn+Felan+adj2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="261" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_OUneO4G4emo/TG2qV0Fa7cI/AAAAAAAABUk/ZtOv0plN0bs/s400/B-Birth+pic+JOhn+Felan+adj2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">In traditional Aboriginal society the Birth Place was a very important site as it marks the beginning of the Circle of Life and gives us our <i>warra</i> or spiritual identity. To give you an example, I describe myself as <i>Nugal-warra, </i>meaning 'I am Nugal, I belong to Nugal lands', just as you might describe yourself as Australian or English or German. We all need <i>warra</i> as it provides us with the strength we need for our journey through life.</span></div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></div><span style="color: #444444; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">In this region, when life ended in the practical sense, <a href="http://guurrbitours.blogspot.com/2011/06/aboriginal-family-growing-up.html" style="color: #b45f06;">the family</a> would first bury the body in the ground so that it could decay and give food to the living plants. After several weeks they would return to collect the bones, washing them carefully, embalming them with ochre, then wrapping them with bark. This wrapping is called </span><i style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">dubal</i><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> and you can see one drawn over the hand stencil below. </span></span><br /><br /><span style="color: #444444; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">The </span><i style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">dubal</i><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> was placed in a cave adjacent to the deceased's birthplace. This showed the Great Creator where the deceased came from, so that when the Circle of Life was completed his spirit would remain in the most wonderful place he knew: the place where his journey started and which gave him his spiritual identity.</span></span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_OUneO4G4emo/TG23_5uKi0I/AAAAAAAABUs/d5JDyego7jU/s1600/17-Dubal+1a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="261" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_OUneO4G4emo/TG23_5uKi0I/AAAAAAAABUs/d5JDyego7jU/s400/17-Dubal+1a.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"></div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">You can see the Birth Site and the painting of the <i>dubal</i> on our <a href="http://www.guurrbitours.com/site/tours" style="color: #b45f06;">Rainbow Serpent Tour</a></div><br /><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">This post is in memory of a friend who recently passed away.</span><br /><div style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></div><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"></span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"> <a href="http://www.guurrbitours.com/"><span style="color: #990000; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">www.guurrbitours.com </span></span></a></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/7463787440510594250-7190349609909923614?l=guurrbitours.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Magical, award-winning Aboriginal rock art tours with Nugal-warra Elder, Willie Gordonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01162672320351952897noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7463787440510594250.post-90144661878014748202010-07-30T11:07:00.015+10:002011-07-18T08:25:35.421+10:00Yangga - the amazing Green Ant<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OUneO4G4emo/TFIhZ_7rIfI/AAAAAAAABT8/zqhVc7gdl3I/s1600/Twitter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OUneO4G4emo/TFIhZ_7rIfI/AAAAAAAABT8/zqhVc7gdl3I/s400/Twitter.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><div style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></div><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Yangga</i>, green ants, have many medicinal uses and are still widely </span><span style="font-size: small;">used to combat coughs and colds. They are either eaten alive, or crushed and inhaled like a vapour rub to open up the sinuses. They can also be rubbed into the skin, or taken as a drink with water.</span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_OUneO4G4emo/TFIoOWyztXI/AAAAAAAABUU/6QXtRy3Ehjs/s1600/Bush+medicine+2+low-res.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_OUneO4G4emo/TFIoOWyztXI/AAAAAAAABUU/6QXtRy3Ehjs/s200/Bush+medicine+2+low-res.JPG" width="158" /></a></div><span style="font-size: small;">Mothers with infants rub green ants on their breasts to make the milk flow, and many believe that, taken in high concentrations, green ants act as a contraceptive. </span></div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span><br /><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"></span></span></div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"></div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The ants make their nests - <i>Gambul yangga</i> - by folding up leaves and fixing them together. The picture (right) shows a nest in the early stages, but if you look up when you're in the bush you can usually spot their nests in the trees, like large balls of leaves.</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_OUneO4G4emo/TFIpda5_JmI/AAAAAAAABUc/aI-IpO5RY_c/s1600/Queen+%26+worker+ant+%282%29+l-r.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="136" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_OUneO4G4emo/TFIpda5_JmI/AAAAAAAABUc/aI-IpO5RY_c/s200/Queen+%26+worker+ant+%282%29+l-r.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Each nest has several queens, which are many times larger than the worker ants. You can see the difference in sizes in the photo. </span></span><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="http://guurrbitours.blogspot.com/2010/12/bush-soap-antiseptics-cure-for.html"><span style="color: #b45f06;">Bush antiseptics, soap & a toothache cure</span> </a></span></span><br /><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="http://guurrbitours.blogspot.com/2008/07/blog-post.html" style="color: #b45f06;">Guurrbi Picture Gallery</a></span></span><br /><div style="color: #990000; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://guurrbitours.blogspot.com/2010/08/warra-journey-of-life.html" style="color: #b45f06;">Warra & the Circle of Life</a></span><br /><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.guurrbitours.com/"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">www.guurrbitours.com</span></span></a></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/7463787440510594250-9014466187801474820?l=guurrbitours.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Magical, award-winning Aboriginal rock art tours with Nugal-warra Elder, Willie Gordonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01162672320351952897noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7463787440510594250.post-59722566138715302362010-07-13T11:29:00.010+10:002011-07-06T09:07:25.513+10:00Yirmbal - The Rainbow Serpent<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OUneO4G4emo/TDuxcGkVboI/AAAAAAAABTk/9FtOLFtqrfE/s1600/Rainbow+Serpent+art.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OUneO4G4emo/TDuxcGkVboI/AAAAAAAABTk/9FtOLFtqrfE/s320/Rainbow+Serpent+art.jpg" /></a></div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">In one of the rock art sites we visit on tour is a beautiful painting of <i>Yirmbal, </i>the Rainbow Serpent. In fact there are two paintings here, and you can see a second, older serpent below the more prominent one. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: small;">This is a very special place for us, as for the Nugal-warra the Rainbow Serpent is the symbol of the Creator. This is because it brings together the two vital elements which sustain life on earth: water and light. The shape of the serpent is the same as a flowing river as it meanders its way through the landscape carrying life-giving water; and a rainbow is what happens when this water comes together with light. </span></div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">In Aboriginal legend, the Rainbow Serpent lives at a waterfall, as shown by the rainbow you always see there. For this reason Aboriginal people regard waterfalls as sacred places which should be treated with great respect.</span></div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The Nugal-warra people also have a special place which is a spiritual reminder to us - a bit like a temple or a church. This is <i>Gubal da Gathay</i>, or Connor's Knob, which we can see from many miles away. This was believed to have been formed when the Rainbow Serpent curled up and went to sleep at the top of the hill; and when it awoke and left, the shape of the sleeping snake remained.</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OUneO4G4emo/TDu72g3HMOI/AAAAAAAABT0/rty0VUHYsbo/s1600/Gubal+da+Gathay+%282%29lr.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OUneO4G4emo/TDu72g3HMOI/AAAAAAAABT0/rty0VUHYsbo/s320/Gubal+da+Gathay+%282%29lr.JPG" /></a></div><br /><div style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://guurrbitours.blogspot.com/2010/04/yirmbal-creation-story.html"></a></b></div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">You can see the rock painting of the Rainbow Serpent on both our <a href="http://www.guurrbitours.com/site/tours" style="color: #b45f06;">Great Emu and Rainbow Serpent Tours</a><span style="color: #b45f06;">.</span></span></div><br /><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">More rock art stories...</span><span style="color: #b45f06;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><br /><a href="http://guurrbitours.blogspot.com/2010/04/yirmbal-creation-story.html"><span style="color: #b45f06;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Yirmbal - The Creation Story</span></span></span></a><br /><span style="color: #b45f06;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://guurrbitours.blogspot.com/2010/08/warra-journey-of-life.html"><span style="color: #b45f06;">Warra & the Circle of Life</span> </a></span></span></span><br /><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: small;"><a href="http://guurrbitours.blogspot.com/2010/05/guurrbi-and-guurrbi-man.html">Guurrbi & Ngamu the Guurrbi Man</a></span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #990000; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">www.guurrbitours.com</span></span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/7463787440510594250-5972256613871530236?l=guurrbitours.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Magical, award-winning Aboriginal rock art tours with Nugal-warra Elder, Willie Gordonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01162672320351952897noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7463787440510594250.post-59904627865437648712010-07-06T09:17:00.018+10:002011-07-02T09:00:16.653+10:00Some lovely messages left on Facebook<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #444444; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Thank you so much to our new Facebook friends who have left us these lovely messages recently. </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OUneO4G4emo/TDJioNaFG_I/AAAAAAAABTE/QAAFW0kgb2k/s1600/Francesca+Muir+%28sm%29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OUneO4G4emo/TDJioNaFG_I/AAAAAAAABTE/QAAFW0kgb2k/s320/Francesca+Muir+%28sm%29.jpg" /></a></div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">"Willie - thank you for your wonderful tour last week - you are an inspiration and so generous with your wisdom and spirit. Everyone (young and old) should make the effort to do your tour - it's extraordinary - and I found it profoundly moving. Thank you."</div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Francesca and Alexandra 22 June 2010</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OUneO4G4emo/TDJl80x47mI/AAAAAAAABTc/Ys56GHVJTOw/s1600/Shayne+Southall+%28sm%29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OUneO4G4emo/TDJl80x47mI/AAAAAAAABTc/Ys56GHVJTOw/s320/Shayne+Southall+%28sm%29.jpg" /></a>"FINALLY, have had time to put pen to paper. It may be belated, but we THANKYOU Willie for sharing the amazing journey of your family and helping us to understand just a VERY small part of your cultures. I implore EVERYONE who has the chance to meet Willie and listen to what he has to share with us. What a gentle soul..."</div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Shayne Southall 6 July 2010</div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OUneO4G4emo/TDJlIN7ziWI/AAAAAAAABTM/42U-Cqco3EQ/s1600/Robyn+Ryan+%28sm%29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OUneO4G4emo/TDJlIN7ziWI/AAAAAAAABTM/42U-Cqco3EQ/s320/Robyn+Ryan+%28sm%29.jpg" /></a></div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">"Thanks Willie for an amazing tour! My daughter Makenzie and i learned so much and will share our experience with others. As a teacher of history it is a privilege to be able to gain a greater understanding of indigenous culture. Hope we get to come back and do it again!" </span></div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Robyn Ryan 3 July 2010</span></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OUneO4G4emo/TDJlT5zghaI/AAAAAAAABTU/HgS4am4zDlM/s1600/Josie+Kennedy+%28sm%29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OUneO4G4emo/TDJlT5zghaI/AAAAAAAABTU/HgS4am4zDlM/s320/Josie+Kennedy+%28sm%29.jpg" /></a></div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">"(It) does not matter who you are Willie Gordon talks sense and made a huge impact on me. Thank you for your wisdom, it should be made compulsory for every Australian."</div><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Josie Kennedy 17 June 2010</span><br /><br /><a href="http://guurrbitours.blogspot.com/2008/10/quotes-of-week.html"><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">More customer reviews...</span></a><br /><a href="http://www.guurrbitours.com/site/tours" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">About our tours...</span></a><br /><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=722859827" style="color: #b45f06;"><span style="font-size: small;">Find us on Facebook </span></a></span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">www.guurrbitours.com</span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/7463787440510594250-5990462786543764871?l=guurrbitours.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Magical, award-winning Aboriginal rock art tours with Nugal-warra Elder, Willie Gordonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01162672320351952897noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7463787440510594250.post-26585991703512728222010-06-28T19:18:00.003+10:002012-01-09T12:52:25.111+10:00Cooktown - the small town whose history changed the world<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OUneO4G4emo/TMk7Y3IOt0I/AAAAAAAABYc/bnxJa32pcJc/s1600/Grassy+Hill.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OUneO4G4emo/TMk7Y3IOt0I/AAAAAAAABYc/bnxJa32pcJc/s400/Grassy+Hill.JPG" width="400" /> </a></div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="color: #444444;">When Lt Cook and his ship the Endeavour first landed on our shores, Cooktown, of course, didn't exist. To our ancestors the place where Cooktown now stands was called </span></span><i><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="color: #444444;">Gungardie,</span></span></i><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="color: #444444;"> after the word </span></span><i><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="color: #444444;">gun-gaar </span></span></i><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="color: #444444;">which is a type of white crystal quartz found in the area.</span></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="color: #444444;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="color: #444444;"><br /></span></span><br /><i><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="color: #444444;">Gun-gaar</span></span></i><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="color: #444444;"> was very important to Aboriginal people as it was used to cut chest skin during our initiation ceremonies. (You can see these chest cuts on the rock painting of an Elder below.) Because of this </span></span><i><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="color: #444444;">Gungardie </span></span></i><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="color: #444444;">was a neutral area where our own people and the neighbouring Kuku Yalanji tribe could have safe, unhindered access to collect the quartz stones.</span></span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_OUneO4G4emo/TMlFJ3gONkI/AAAAAAAABYo/B0LY_-6Y7B4/s1600/Man+with+big+hair+jpeg+%28mr%29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_OUneO4G4emo/TMlFJ3gONkI/AAAAAAAABYo/B0LY_-6Y7B4/s200/Man+with+big+hair+jpeg+%28mr%29.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="color: #444444;">This neutral strip of land lay between the Yuku Baja (River Annan) and Wahalumbaal Birri (Endeavour River), and in 1770, when Lt James Cook damaged his ship HMB Endeavour on the reef, this was where he eventually came ashore, remaining almost seven weeks whilst he repaired his ship. It was to be the longest and most significant of Cook's landings, and the first time Cook and his men had had any meaningful contact with Aboriginal people.</span></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="color: #444444;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="color: #444444;"><br /></span></span><br /><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="color: #444444;">For our ancestors the first sight of a white man was terrifying. They thought they were ghosts and called them </span></span><i><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="color: #444444;">wangaar</span></span></i><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="color: #444444;">, the white spirits of dead ancestors. But over the weeks that the Endeavour was being repaired, relations between them were largely friendly, and they spent sufficient time together for Cook, Banks and the Endeavour's team of naturalists to record more than 130 words of our language. One of the words recorded was </span></span><i><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="color: #444444;">gangurru, </span></span></i><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="color: #444444;">which was spelt 'kangaroo'.</span></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="color: #444444;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="color: #444444;"><br /></span></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OUneO4G4emo/TMk-fr0iuPI/AAAAAAAABYk/FVfXs4wpXeg/s1600/Confrontation+over+the+turtle+%282%29cr.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="160" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OUneO4G4emo/TMk-fr0iuPI/AAAAAAAABYk/FVfXs4wpXeg/s200/Confrontation+over+the+turtle+%282%29cr.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="color: #444444;">Then relations took a turn for the worse. The Endeavour crew captured a turtle and refused to share it with the local clan. This was a sign of great disrespect for the Guugu Yimithirr. The meat of </span></span><i><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="color: #444444;">ngawiya</span></span></i><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="color: #444444;"> was so highly valued that it would always be given first to the Elders, and only when they had finished would the remainder be eaten by the rest of the clan. </span></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="color: #444444;">Cook's men, of course, knew nothing of this and thought the turtle was rightfully theirs.</span></span><br /><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="color: #444444;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="color: #444444;"> </span></span><br /><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="color: #444444;">The Guugu Yimithirr were incensed, and the scuffle that followed could easily have led to bloodshed - the Guugu Yimithirr greatly outnumbered the Endeavour crew and there were numerous opportunities to spear them. But our ancestors took no further action - perhaps because they were on neutral ground - allowing Lt Cook and his men to leave unharmed.</span></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="color: #444444;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="color: #444444;"><br /></span></span><br /><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="color: #444444;">Had this not been the case, how different our history would be! The British Admiralty would not have been told of the discovery of a new land and, eighteen years later, the First Fleet would not have arrived at Sydney Cove to begin building the country we now call Australia.</span></span><br /><br /><a href="http://guurrbitours.blogspot.com/2011/11/first-reconciliation.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">The First Reconciliation - How Lt James Cook told the story</span></span></a><br /><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="http://guurrbitours.blogspot.com/2010/06/51st-re-enactment-of-cooks-landing.html"><span style="color: #b45f06;">51st Re-enactment of Cook's landing </span></a></span><br /><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="http://guurrbitours.blogspot.com/2009/03/whats-on-in-cooktown.html"><span style="color: #b45f06;">What's On in Cooktown</span></a></span><br /><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.guurrbitours.com/site/tours"><span style="color: #b45f06;">About our tours </span></a></span><br /><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="color: #444444;"></span></span><br /><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.guurrbitours.com/site/tours"><span style="color: #b45f06;"> </span></a></span><br /><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.guurrbitours.com/"><span style="color: #990000;">www.guurrbitours.com </span></a></span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/7463787440510594250-2658599170351272822?l=guurrbitours.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Magical, award-winning Aboriginal rock art tours with Nugal-warra Elder, Willie Gordonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01162672320351952897noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7463787440510594250.post-26426000941914444592010-06-28T12:51:00.004+10:002011-11-28T14:05:28.142+10:00Photo Gallery: Cooktown Discovery Festival 2010<object height="300" width="400"> <param name="flashvars" value="offsite=true&lang=en-us&page_show_url=%2Fphotos%2Fguurrbitours_cooktown%2Fsets%2F72157624176346183%2Fshow%2F&page_show_back_url=%2Fphotos%2Fguurrbitours_cooktown%2Fsets%2F72157624176346183%2F&set_id=72157624176346183&jump_to="></param><param name="movie" value="http://www.flickr.com/apps/slideshow/show.swf?v=109615"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" src="http://www.flickr.com/apps/slideshow/show.swf?v=109615" allowFullScreen="true" flashvars="offsite=true&lang=en-us&page_show_url=%2Fphotos%2Fguurrbitours_cooktown%2Fsets%2F72157624176346183%2Fshow%2F&page_show_back_url=%2Fphotos%2Fguurrbitours_cooktown%2Fsets%2F72157624176346183%2F&set_id=72157624176346183&jump_to=" width="400" height="300"></embed></object><br /><br /><div style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">More Picture Galleries...</div><div style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="http://guurrbitours.blogspot.com/2008/08/images-of-cooktown.html" target="_blank">Welcome to Cooktown!</a></div><div style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="http://guurrbitours.blogspot.com/2008/07/blog-post.html" target="_blank">Guurrbi Picture Gallery</a></div><div style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="http://guurrbitours.blogspot.com/2011/04/its-great-tour-for-kids.html" target="_blank">It's a great tour for kids!</a></div><div style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="http://guurrbitours.blogspot.com/2009/01/bush-creatures.html" target="_blank">Guurrbi's bush creatures</a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.guurrbitours.com/"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">www.guurrbitours.com</span></a></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/7463787440510594250-2642600094191444459?l=guurrbitours.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Magical, award-winning Aboriginal rock art tours with Nugal-warra Elder, Willie Gordonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01162672320351952897noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7463787440510594250.post-63562251936702746462010-06-25T10:05:00.012+10:002010-09-12T08:44:25.299+10:00Bush Insect Repellent & Cooking in the Rain<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">All over this part of Australia you see dozens of different types of termite mound, which in my language come under the name <i>bulgul.</i> Here are two which are very useful. </span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OUneO4G4emo/TCP1P9zpLNI/AAAAAAAABSU/K6v2UjSS6GE/s1600/47-Termite+mound+%28cooking%29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="186" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OUneO4G4emo/TCP1P9zpLNI/AAAAAAAABSU/K6v2UjSS6GE/s200/47-Termite+mound+%28cooking%29.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><span style="font-size: small;">The one on the left can be used as an oven during the wet season. You cut a portion of the outer layer, and light the flammable inner layer which is made up of natural materials such as grass and wood. Food is then placed in the hole to cook. Once lit the fire will burn for ten days or so.</span><br /><br /></div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OUneO4G4emo/TCPr5uwDwFI/AAAAAAAABSM/1U0YqZnSiTg/s1600/48-Termite+mound+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="181" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OUneO4G4emo/TCPr5uwDwFI/AAAAAAAABSM/1U0YqZnSiTg/s200/48-Termite+mound+2.jpg" width="200" /></a> <span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">The black termite mounds are found both on the ground and in trees. The ones in trees we still use as an insect repellent. When they're burned they smoulder slowly like a mosquito coil, giving off smoke and fumes which keep the insects away</span>.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">More bush tips... </span></div><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://guurrbitours.blogspot.com/2009/10/summer-in-coming-to-guurrbi-2.html" style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">The clever mulun tree & the sand goanna's secret</a></span><br /><br /><br /><div style="color: #660000; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #990000;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">www.guurrbitours.com</span></span></span><br /><br /></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/7463787440510594250-6356225193670274646?l=guurrbitours.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Magical, award-winning Aboriginal rock art tours with Nugal-warra Elder, Willie Gordonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01162672320351952897noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7463787440510594250.post-24487750921980043842010-06-15T11:56:00.021+10:002011-11-28T13:23:14.456+10:00The 51st Re-enactment of Cook's Landing<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OUneO4G4emo/TBbRISL1lMI/AAAAAAAABQ8/_deaFqbSTOg/s1600/P1040203.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OUneO4G4emo/TBbRISL1lMI/AAAAAAAABQ8/_deaFqbSTOg/s320/P1040203.JPG" /></a></div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">This weekend was the 51st Re-enactment of Cook's Landing, held every year during the Queen's birthday weekend in June. Although it has now been performed 51 times, only in the past two years has the story been told to include the perspective of the Guugu Yimithirr people, whose oral histories of the event have now been woven into the written account from Cook's Journals.</span></span><br /><div style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OUneO4G4emo/TBbaO_5L3mI/AAAAAAAABRs/l6XTh13vOsk/s1600/Picture1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="148" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OUneO4G4emo/TBbaO_5L3mI/AAAAAAAABRs/l6XTh13vOsk/s400/Picture1.png" width="400" /></a></div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span></div><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: small;">The input of Bama from Cooktown and Hope Vale has enriched the story beyond measure, as well as increasing the size of the cast! Instead of a mere handful participating, this year nearly forty Bama were involved in the Re-enactment and the sunset corroboree<i> </i>which followed<i>. </i>We are all very proud to have our story accurately portrayed in what is now acknowledged to be the First Reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people in Australia. And it took place here, on the banks on <i>Wahalumbaal Birri</i>, the Endeavour River, where Cooktown now stands.</span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OUneO4G4emo/TBbmN_CjtnI/AAAAAAAABR8/kTgEjVojXmI/s1600/P1040390+%28crop%29.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OUneO4G4emo/TBbmN_CjtnI/AAAAAAAABR8/kTgEjVojXmI/s320/P1040390+%28crop%29.JPG" /></a></div><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: small;"> </span> <br /><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="http://guurrbitours.blogspot.com/2009/04/cooktown-discovery-festival-2009.html" style="color: #b45f06;" target="_blank">Photo Gallery: Re-enactment of Cook's Landing</a> </span></span><br /><div style="color: #b45f06;"><a href="http://guurrbitours.blogspot.com/2010/06/photo-gallery-cooktown-discovery.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Photo Gallery: Grand Parade, Sunset Corroboree and more...</span></span></a></div><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="http://guurrbitours.blogspot.com/2010/10/cooktown-small-town-whose-history.html"><span style="color: #b45f06;">Cooktown - the small town whose history changed the world</span></a></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="http://guurrbitours.blogspot.com/2010/10/cooktown-small-town-whose-history.html"><span style="color: #b45f06;"><b> </b></span></a></span></span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><a href="http://www.guurrbitours.com/"><span style="color: #990000; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">www.guurrbitours.com</span></span></a><br /><div style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-size: small;">15 June 2010</span></span></span></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/7463787440510594250-2448775092198004384?l=guurrbitours.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Magical, award-winning Aboriginal rock art tours with Nugal-warra Elder, Willie Gordonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01162672320351952897noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7463787440510594250.post-17278985380670874072010-05-31T16:41:00.015+10:002011-08-15T09:01:34.930+10:00What Guurrbi means, & Ngamu the Guurrbi man<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OUneO4G4emo/TANVKpbSlYI/AAAAAAAABQs/RRlqHtSUxqg/s1600/Guurrbi+man+ADJ.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OUneO4G4emo/TANVKpbSlYI/AAAAAAAABQs/RRlqHtSUxqg/s200/Guurrbi+man+ADJ.jpg" width="150" /></a></div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">A lot of people ask us what Guurrbi means and why we have a little man for our logo.</span></div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Well, Guurrbi can be a time, a place, or a space - or all of these! It's a personal sanctuary or dwelling place made sacred by Yirmbal, the Rainbow Serpent. A place for reflection and for the quiet time spent before <i>bora</i> when important decisions had to be made. Because Guurrbi is sacred it must not be entered or accessed without permission or without due acknowledgement of Aboriginal lore and law.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: small;">We all need Guurrbi time - whether it's walking alone on the beach, or sitting under a favourite tree. For me my Guurrbi is at <a href="http://www.guurrbitours.com/site/conservation"><span style="color: #b45f06;">Wangaar-Wuri</span></a>, where I take people to see the rock art. This place is special to me because it holds a lot of history and cultural values which are irreplaceable.</span></div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Our logo is a drawing of <i>Ngamu</i>, the Guurrbi man, shown here in a cave painting. (There is another representation of <i>Ngamu </i><a href="http://guurrbitours.blogspot.com/2010/10/galin-galin-and-other-totems.html" style="color: #b45f06;">here</a>).<i> </i>The Guurrbi man is like an estate manager as he looks after the area, and the welfare of the people who enter that area. It's a position of great responsibility and authority and the title of <i>Ngamu</i> commands great respect. </span></div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /><a href="http://guurrbitours.blogspot.com/2010/05/willie-talking-about-meaning-of-wawu.html" style="color: #b45f06;">Willie explaining Wawu & Guurrbi (short video)</a><br /><a href="http://guurrbitours.blogspot.com/2011/01/jiliburu-law-enforcement-bogey-man.html" style="color: #b45f06;">Jiliburu, the Bogey Man </a></div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.guurrbitours.com/site/tours" style="color: #b45f06;">About our tours... </a></span></div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"></div><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.guurrbitours.com/"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">www.guurrbitours.com</span></span></a></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/7463787440510594250-1727898538067087407?l=guurrbitours.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Magical, award-winning Aboriginal rock art tours with Nugal-warra Elder, Willie Gordonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01162672320351952897noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7463787440510594250.post-48787053060972764402010-05-15T09:48:00.014+10:002010-10-19T14:54:22.255+10:00The meaning of Wawu and Guurrbi<object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/MKpgXbWO5K4&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/MKpgXbWO5K4&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br /><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">This was taken by a lovely customer, Ilan Shamir, whilst on tour with Willie earlier this year. Thank you for sharing it, Ilan.</span></span><br /><br /><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="color: #444444;">More short videos...</span><br /><a href="http://guurrbitours.blogspot.com/2008/05/on-tour-with-willie.html" style="color: #b45f06;">On tour with Willie</a><br /><a href="http://guurrbitours.blogspot.com/2008/10/filmed-by-imparja-tv-for-footprints.html" style="color: #b45f06;">About Willie & Guurrbi Tours</a> <span style="color: #444444;">from Imparja TV's 'Footprints'</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="http://guurrbitours.blogspot.com/2009/10/auf-tour-mit-willie-gordon-von-guurrbi.html"><span style="color: #b45f06;">Auf Tour mit Willie</span></a><span style="color: #b45f06;"> </span><span style="color: #444444;">from ARD TV, Germany</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></div><div align="center" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="color: #990000;">www.guurrbitours.com </span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/7463787440510594250-4878705306097276440?l=guurrbitours.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Magical, award-winning Aboriginal rock art tours with Nugal-warra Elder, Willie Gordonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01162672320351952897noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7463787440510594250.post-28262357239403351852010-04-26T12:48:00.007+10:002011-07-02T07:49:01.047+10:00Yirmbal - The Creation Story<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_OUneO4G4emo/S9T9kIpKn9I/AAAAAAAABQQ/WoQMEszFksc/s1600/18-Creation+story.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #444444;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_OUneO4G4emo/S9T9kIpKn9I/AAAAAAAABQQ/WoQMEszFksc/s200/18-Creation+story.jpg" tt="true" width="130" /></span></a></div><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">This painting is in the Rainbow Serpent cave, and it tells us about Yirmbal, the Creation Story.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">We all want to know how things are made. Most people look at it in one of two ways - practical and scientific, or spiritual. Is there a Creator? Is there a spirit that gives life? Or is creation just a practical thing that has evolved over millions of years.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Aboriginal people believed there was a Spirit Giver for all living things. Because life comes to us all from the Spirit Giver, Aboriginal people believe that we are all created equal. The differences between people only occur with religion, culture and environment, but spiritually we are all the same.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="color: #444444;">You visit the Rainbow Serpent Cave on our </span></span><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.guurrbitours.com/site/tours"><span style="color: #b45f06;">Rainbow Serpent</span></a> <span style="color: #444444;">and</span> <a href="http://www.guurrbitours.com/site/tours"><span style="color: #b45f06;">Great Emu</span></a> <span style="color: #444444;">Tours.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="color: #444444;"><a href="http://guurrbitours.blogspot.com/2011/06/aboriginal-family-growing-up.html%20" style="color: #b45f06;">The Aboriginal family: Growing Up </a></span></span><br /><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="color: #444444;"><a href="http://guurrbitours.blogspot.com/2010/05/guurrbi-and-guurrbi-man.html"><span style="color: #b45f06;">Guurrbi & Ngamu, the Guurrbi Man</span> </a></span></span><br /><a href="http://guurrbitours.blogspot.com/2010/10/galin-galin-and-other-totems.html"><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: small;">Galin-Galin and Other Totems</span></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.guurrbitours.com/"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">www.guurrbitours.com</span></a></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/7463787440510594250-2826235723940335185?l=guurrbitours.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Magical, award-winning Aboriginal rock art tours with Nugal-warra Elder, Willie Gordonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01162672320351952897noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7463787440510594250.post-90592283346373321972010-04-22T11:26:00.003+10:002011-07-08T07:36:04.178+10:00Guurrbi named "One of the Highlights of Oz"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OUneO4G4emo/S7VPo-VUDXI/AAAAAAAABN4/a9A_924sGbI/s1600/Australien.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OUneO4G4emo/S7VPo-VUDXI/AAAAAAAABN4/a9A_924sGbI/s320/Australien.jpg" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">Guurrbi has been named </span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">An Oz Highlight</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"> in two German travel guides published by Stefan Loose. In</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><a href="http://www.stefan-loose.de/buecher/australien-neuseeland/australien/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;"><b>Australien</b></span></a></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">we're one of 16 highlights, and in</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"> </span><a href="http://www.stefan-loose.de/buecher/australien-neuseeland/australien-der-osten/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;"><b>Australian-Der Osten</b></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">one of 13.</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><br /></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">The chosen highlights represent a selection of sights which visitors to Australia should not miss. Guurrbi is the only 'event' listed there.</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"> Other highlights include Sydney, Blue Mountains, Great Barrier Reef, Uluru/Ayers Rock, and the Great Ocean Road.</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><br /></span><br /><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">Author, Anne Dehne, says:</span></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #134f5c;">"I was very happy to direct visitors to you because I was deeply moved by the tour that I took part in, quite a few years back. I truly felt Guurrbi Tours is one of the highlights of Oz. And judging by all the awards and prizes that you have won in the meantime, the magic and power of Willie's guiding and teaching must have become even stronger. Congratulations!"</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"> (28 March 2010, by e-mail)</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><br /></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">Needless to say, we're over the moon to be mentioned alongside such icons as Uluru and the Great Ocean Road. Pretty cool, eh!</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"> </span></span></span></span></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"></span></span><br /><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">Anne came on our</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"> </span><a href="http://www.guurrbitours.com/site/tours"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;"><b>Rainbow Serpent tour</b></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">, </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">and an extract of what she wrote in our Visitors' Book is on our website's</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> <a href="http://www.guurrbitours.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;"><b>home page</b></span></a></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">. </span></span><br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://guurrbitours.blogspot.com/2009/10/auf-tour-mit-willie-gordon-von-guurrbi.html" style="color: #b45f06;">Auf Tour mit Willie (short video)</a></span></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://guurrbitours.blogspot.com/2008/07/blog-post.html" style="color: #b45f06;">Guurrbi Picture Gallery </a></span></span><br /><div style="text-align: right;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;"></span><br /><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.guurrbitours.com/"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #990000;">www.guurrbitours.com </span></span></a></span><br /><div align="right"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #999999;">29.3.10</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #990000;"> </span></span></span></div></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/7463787440510594250-9059228334637332197?l=guurrbitours.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Magical, award-winning Aboriginal rock art tours with Nugal-warra Elder, Willie Gordonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01162672320351952897noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7463787440510594250.post-44338837532342362112010-03-20T10:17:00.018+10:002011-08-05T20:08:40.431+10:00Karanji - The strange-looking Cassowary<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OUneO4G4emo/S7U4p0zcP2I/AAAAAAAABNw/yAtO3UEXLU0/s1600/Cassowary.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OUneO4G4emo/S7U4p0zcP2I/AAAAAAAABNw/yAtO3UEXLU0/s320/Cassowary.JPG" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">T</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">his is the strange-looking Cassowary, a shy, flightless bird which can be found in the rainforests south of Cooktown in Kuku Yalanji country. They call it </span></span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">karanji, </span></span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">and it's the world's third tallest living bird after the ostrich and the emu. Now an endangered species, the cassowary helps to distribute over 150 species of plants, so is vital to the health of our forests. The horn-like crest on its head is called a </span></span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">casque</span></span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">, and is thought to protect its skull when running head-down full tilt through vegetation.</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span> <br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Look out for them if you are travelling the coast road to Cooktown from Cairns or Port Douglas. But please don't feed them as this encourages them to come to the road where they are in danger of being run over. And they can be very aggressive, so it's best to stay in your vehicle</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">.</span></span><br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><b></b></span></span><a href="http://guurrbitours.blogspot.com/2011/07/return-of-burriwi-emu.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The return of Burriwi, the emu </span></span></a><b><a href="http://www.guurrbitours.com/site/conservation"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"></span></span></a></b></span><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><br /><div style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://guurrbitours.blogspot.com/2009/11/summer-is-coming-to-guurrbi-3.html">Bunyjul - the bush weather-forecaster</a></span><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div><a href="http://guurrbitours.blogspot.com/2010/07/yangga-amazing-green-ant.html"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Yangga - the amazing green ant</span></span></a><br /><div align="center"><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.guurrbitours.com/"><span style="color: #990000;">www.guurrbitours.com</span></a></span></span><span style="color: #990000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/7463787440510594250-4433883753234236211?l=guurrbitours.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Magical, award-winning Aboriginal rock art tours with Nugal-warra Elder, Willie Gordonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01162672320351952897noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7463787440510594250.post-84679314716232777462010-03-19T08:11:00.040+10:002010-09-12T08:56:49.371+10:00Peter finds his power in the bush<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OUneO4G4emo/S6KiMV2pvnI/AAAAAAAABLw/jXHfS-a8dSY/s1600-h/Willie+%28Peter+Calder%29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><img border="0" height="179" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OUneO4G4emo/S6KiMV2pvnI/AAAAAAAABLw/jXHfS-a8dSY/s320/Willie+%28Peter+Calder%29.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">Here's a really lovely article by Peter Calder which appeared in the New Zealand Herald this week. Peter was a bit upset that they didn't use his photo (above) of Willie at the Birth Site (he thinks they lost it!), so here it is.</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><br /></span> <br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">"To tell you the truth, I hadn't been expecting to eat the green ants. The first time I'd seen them was the previous day, when I discovered a couple of dozen having a party around a drip of juice on the sill of the rental car..</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">.</span></span><a href="http://www.docstoc.com/docs/document-preview.aspx?doc_id=30290330"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;">Read on</span></span></a><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;"> </span></span></span></span><br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">Peter went on our</span> <a href="http://www.guurrbitours.com/site/tours"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;"><b>Rainbow Serpent Tour</b></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;"><b>.</b></span></span></span></span><br /><div align="right"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #134f5c;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;"> </span></span></div><div style="text-align: right;"><div align="center"><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.guurrbitours.com/"><span style="color: #990000;">www.guurrbitours.com</span></a></span><br /><div align="right"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="color: #999999;">18.3.10 </span></span></div></div></div><div style="text-align: right;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/7463787440510594250-8467931471623277746?l=guurrbitours.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Magical, award-winning Aboriginal rock art tours with Nugal-warra Elder, Willie Gordonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01162672320351952897noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7463787440510594250.post-39859980192598730952010-02-27T12:55:00.008+10:002010-09-12T09:01:31.655+10:00Hissing Dragons & Scary Spiders<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425660842717912338" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OUneO4G4emo/S0vRykHynRI/AAAAAAAABFA/QlT5rp9XQ08/s400/Frill-necked+lizard+Blog.gif" style="display: block; height: 149px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /><br /><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">When we get more rain we see </span></span><i><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">Bunyjul, </span></span></i><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">the frill-necked lizard, nearly every day. When he feels threatened he opens his frill to make himself appear bigger than he really is. He does this by opening his mouth very wide, and makes a hissing sound at the same time. You can see now why he's also called the frill-necked dragon, but despite his scary looks he's harmless and people even have them as pets.</span></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><br /></span> </span><br /><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">We also see this beautiful hairy spider regularly as he lives in a burrow not far from the Birth Site. The circular part of his body is about the size of a 20 cent piece. In the picture on the right you can see the remains of his old skin after moulting. He's an Australian Tarantula, also known as a whistling or barking spider because of the noise he makes when he feels threatened. He's not usually aggressive, but if provoked will rear up and look menacing, and he does have a painful bite. Despite this there are a growing number of people who keep them as pets, and there are fears that this may be having a negative impact on their populations in North Queensland. We're happy just admiring him - from a distance!</span></span><br /><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> </span> <br /><div><div align="center"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OUneO4G4emo/S0vmdinnPJI/AAAAAAAABFQ/sWu54pUgzOM/s1600-h/Spider+Blog.gif"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425683571281443986" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OUneO4G4emo/S0vmdinnPJI/AAAAAAAABFQ/sWu54pUgzOM/s400/Spider+Blog.gif" style="height: 150px; width: 400px;" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #444444;">See also</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #666666;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://guurrbitours.blogspot.com/2009/11/summer-is-coming-to-guurrbi-3.html"><span style="color: #b45f06;"><b>Bunyjul - the bush weather forecaster</b></span></a></span></span></div><div align="right"><br /><br /><div align="center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.guurrbitours.com/"><span style="color: #990000;">www.guurrbitours.com </span></a></span></span><br /><div align="right"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #999999;">12.1.10 </span></span></span></div></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/7463787440510594250-3985998019259873095?l=guurrbitours.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Magical, award-winning Aboriginal rock art tours with Nugal-warra Elder, Willie Gordonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01162672320351952897noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7463787440510594250.post-21584087238954049772010-02-27T12:50:00.019+10:002010-09-12T09:04:50.236+10:00An enchanted place<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OUneO4G4emo/S6KvyDRRpPI/AAAAAAAABL4/W-gILrwDPMA/s1600-h/WA+Willie+%28magazine%29l-r.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OUneO4G4emo/S6KvyDRRpPI/AAAAAAAABL4/W-gILrwDPMA/s320/WA+Willie+%28magazine%29l-r.JPG" /></a></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">Adam Knott, chief photographer for the Weekend Australian magazine, came on Willie's</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> </span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.guurrbitours.com/site/tours/"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">Rainbow Serpent tour</span></span></a></span></b><b><span style="color: #b45f06;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> </span></span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">earlier this month, and persuaded him to take his shirt off for his photo. (Not sure how you did that, Adam - that's definitely a first!)</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><br /></span> </span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">The photo, together with</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">a great article about Willie and Cooktown</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">, </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">appears in today's issue of the magazine and is well worth a read. Adam describes Cooktown as an "enchanted place" and says of Willie, "He is part sage, part guru and part friend. You can't help but feel at one with yourself and the Earth when you're in the presence of Willie Gordon."</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><a href="http://www.theaustralian.com.au/travel/australia/take-me-to-the-waters/story-fn3025ua-1225833842540"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="color: #b45f06;"><b>"Take me to the waters" - full article</b></span></span></span></a></div><div><div style="text-align: right;"><br /><br /><div align="center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.guurrbitours.com/"><span style="color: #990000;">www.guurrbitours.com</span></a></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></div><div align="right"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #999999;">27.2.10 </span></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999; font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"><br /></span></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/7463787440510594250-2158408723895404977?l=guurrbitours.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Magical, award-winning Aboriginal rock art tours with Nugal-warra Elder, Willie Gordonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01162672320351952897noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7463787440510594250.post-68683392666690116392010-01-10T09:12:00.005+10:002010-09-12T09:05:36.678+10:00The Australian Travel & Tourism Awards<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OUneO4G4emo/S4SQFyRBB5I/AAAAAAAABKI/3diwNdDVZGE/s1600-h/Carol+%26+Ian+l-r+2.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441632678837290898" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OUneO4G4emo/S4SQFyRBB5I/AAAAAAAABKI/3diwNdDVZGE/s200/Carol+%26+Ian+l-r+2.JPG" style="float: left; height: 137px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 200px;" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">We were very proud this year to be one of six finalists for </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">The Australian </span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">Travel & Tourism Awards in the Best Indigenous Tourism Experience category. The short-list was picked by an independent panel of travel media experts, and the winners then chosen by readers' votes.</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><br /></span> <br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">Once again we were bowled over by the support we received from our customers and people in Cooktown and Hope Vale. A very big 'thank you' to everyone who went to the trouble to send off the voucher voting for us; and a special mention to</span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"> Ian and Carol (pictured) at the Cooktown Newsagents</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">, who we later found out were telling everyone how to vote for Willie with every newspaper they sold! We might not have won, but it's wonderful to know what support is out there, and we're thrilled to have made the </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">top six.</span></span></span></span><br /><br /><div><div><div><div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"><a href="http://guurrbitours.blogspot.com/2008/10/quotes-of-week.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: #b45f06;">Read what our customers say...</span></b></span></a></span><br /><div align="right"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"></span></span></span><br /><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.guurrbitours.com/"><span style="color: #990000;">www.guurrbitours.com </span></a></span></span><br /><div align="right"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #999999;">24.2.10</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #990000;"> </span></span></span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/7463787440510594250-6868339266669011639?l=guurrbitours.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Magical, award-winning Aboriginal rock art tours with Nugal-warra Elder, Willie Gordonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01162672320351952897noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7463787440510594250.post-70093932856648908522010-01-10T09:04:00.006+10:002010-09-12T09:06:48.000+10:00Guurrbi & Cooktown feature in UK press<div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OUneO4G4emo/S7WtKXn3-2I/AAAAAAAABOA/hjZJUINvxJk/s1600/MoS+working+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="164" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OUneO4G4emo/S7WtKXn3-2I/AAAAAAAABOA/hjZJUINvxJk/s200/MoS+working+3.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">Guurrbi and Cooktown got rave reviews from Britain's travel writer and TV presenter, John Carter in this weekend's </span></span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">Mail on Sunday</span></span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">, the UK's most widely-read Sunday paper. </span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><br /></span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"> </span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">John described his time with Willie as 'a heartening and humbling experience', and his trip to Cooktown as 'a journey of overwhelmingly pleasant surprises'. (He also described Cooktown airport's 'terminal building' as 'a Portakabin with ambition'!)</span><span style="color: #444444;"> </span></span></span><a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/article-1245665/Im-A-Celebrity-detox-Queenslands-rainforest-Australias-ancient-tribes-reality-antidote.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"><span style="color: #b45f06;">Click here to read the full article.</span></span></span></a></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #336666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">John came on our</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #336666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"> </span></span></span></span><a href="http://www.guurrbitours.com/site/tours"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"><span style="color: #b45f06;">Rainbow Serpent Tour</span></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #336666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #336666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"> </span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #444444;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">with Adventure North's</span> </span></span></span><a href="http://www.bamaway.com.au/amazingBamaWay.aspx"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"><span style="color: #b45f06;">Amazing Bama Way Discovery Tour</span></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #336666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><a href="http://www.bamaway.com.au/amazingBamaWay.aspx"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #336666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">.</span></span></span></a></span></span></div><div align="right"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"></span></span></span><br /><br /><div align="center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.guurrbitours.com/"><span style="color: #990000;">www.guurrbitours.com </span></a></span></span><br /><div align="right"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #999999;">27.1.10 </span></span></span></div></div></div><div style="text-align: right;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/7463787440510594250-7009393285664890852?l=guurrbitours.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Magical, award-winning Aboriginal rock art tours with Nugal-warra Elder, Willie Gordonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01162672320351952897noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7463787440510594250.post-26852708510483053592009-12-29T08:17:00.012+10:002010-09-12T09:07:37.763+10:00Australian of the Year nomination<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_OUneO4G4emo/SzkwG8ySaGI/AAAAAAAABE4/0VZzOq6FfeI/s1600-h/Australian+of+the+Year+nomination+09.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420416522471499874" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_OUneO4G4emo/SzkwG8ySaGI/AAAAAAAABE4/0VZzOq6FfeI/s400/Australian+of+the+Year+nomination+09.JPG" style="float: left; height: 194px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 125px;" /></a><br /><div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">What a surprise! We came back from our annual 2-week break to find that Willie had been nominated for the Australian of the Year Awards 2010. What an honour! Our sincere thanks go to those responsible for the nomination.</span></span><br /><br /><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"><a href="http://www.guurrbitours.com/"><span style="color: #990000;"> www.guurrbitours.com</span></a></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"><br /></span></div></div><div style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">29.12.09</span></span></span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/7463787440510594250-2685270851048305359?l=guurrbitours.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Magical, award-winning Aboriginal rock art tours with Nugal-warra Elder, Willie Gordonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01162672320351952897noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7463787440510594250.post-74080944888480344672009-11-24T18:21:00.019+10:002011-10-05T10:15:40.126+10:00Bunyjul - The bush weather forecaster<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OUneO4G4emo/SwuYRoP8wZI/AAAAAAAABEA/lZZ6bIIu044/s1600/Blog+-+baby+bunyjul.gif"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407583206217925010" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OUneO4G4emo/SwuYRoP8wZI/AAAAAAAABEA/lZZ6bIIu044/s400/Blog+-+baby+bunyjul.gif" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 149px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="color: #444444;">This is</span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="color: #444444;"> Bunyjul</span></span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="color: #444444;">, the frill-necked lizard, who features in many of our stories and fables. He hibernates in winter until late September, coming out when the insects are stirred up, just before the rains come. You can see him sitting very still on the side of our roads with his nose in the air, trying to disguise himself as a stick. He's waiting for the insects, and when we see him like this we know that rain is on the way.</span></span></span><br /><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="color: #444444;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="color: #444444;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="color: #444444;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="color: #444444;"> </span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="color: #444444;">You can see how tiny the lizards are when they're babies...and how big they can grow. The big fella Willie spotted on the roadside on the way back from the rock art sites a few weeks ago. One of our customers was really happy to hold him - but only after he'd been reassured that they were friendly!</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"><br /></span></div><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407585310205825570" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OUneO4G4emo/SwuaMGNwUiI/AAAAAAAABEI/sYxnCWUhsRM/s400/Blog+-+large+bunyjul.gif" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 170px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /><br /><div><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">More about the bush... </span><br /><a href="http://guurrbitours.blogspot.com/2011/05/how-bunyjul-lizard-got-its-frill.html" style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">How the lizard got its frill</a><br /><a href="http://guurrbitours.blogspot.com/2008/07/blog-post.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #b45f06;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Guurrbi Picture Gallery</span></span></span></a><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #b45f06;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.guurrbitours.com/site/tours" style="color: #b45f06;">About our tours </a></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #b45f06;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"><a href="http://www.guurrbitours.com/"><span style="color: #990000;">www.guurrbitours.com </span></a></span></span></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/7463787440510594250-7408094488848034467?l=guurrbitours.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Magical, award-winning Aboriginal rock art tours with Nugal-warra Elder, Willie Gordonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01162672320351952897noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7463787440510594250.post-46705108060443473612009-11-02T17:42:00.031+10:002011-08-05T19:01:25.188+10:00We've been blown away by your comments...<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OUneO4G4emo/S4SRKuEhbYI/AAAAAAAABKQ/eD_Sjp34smA/s1600-h/Feedback+2.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441633863122120066" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OUneO4G4emo/S4SRKuEhbYI/AAAAAAAABKQ/eD_Sjp34smA/s400/Feedback+2.jpg" style="display: block; height: 229px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a> <br /><div><div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span">Our customers left some wonderful comments about </span></span></span></span><span style="color: #b45f06; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><a href="http://www.guurrbitours.com/site/tours">our tours</a></span></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="color: #b45f06;"> </span>on the RACQ "<a href="http://www.150mustdos.com.au/must_dos/guurrbi_tours,_cooktown" style="color: #b45f06;">Queensland's 150 Must-Dos</a>" website. Here are some examples.</span></span></span></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="color: #b45f06; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="color: #b45f06;">"</span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="color: #b45f06;">This is the best trip I have done in Australia. I learnt more about the true Australia and its early peoples and way of life on this three hour trip, than I have living in this lovely land for the past 44 years" </span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #666666;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span">Rosemary Thomson</span></span></span></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #336666;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span">"It is 18 months since visiting Cape York and of all the great experiences on that trip and many others into remote parts of Australia in the past 20 years I will always rate my walk with Willie as one of the greatest, informative and enjoyable few hours of my life. The way he imparts the history, knowledge and culture of his ancestors and current family is absolutely beyond compare. My daughter, Alex, then aged 9 also enjoyed her time with Willie immens</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #336666;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span">el</span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #336666;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span">y.</span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #336666;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span">"</span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"> Murray Ravenhall</span></span></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="color: #b45f06;">"This is not just a tour or something to do and see but an experience that is fulfilling and thought provoking. This is not just Queensland's must do but Australia's. I cannot recommend it highly enough."</span></span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span">Tom Troup</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #336666;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span">"If you are looking for a mass produced choreographed product tailored to appeal to the lowest common denominator, avoid this tour. With Willie you will have a personal, intimate, entertaining experience with a traditional story keeper in his traditional land that will make you reflect on your own life and spirit. You will feel priveleged to be</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #336666;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"> the</span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #336666;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span">re</span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #336666;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span">.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #336666;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span">" </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span">Ann </span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span">Dark</span></span></span></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="color: #b45f06;">"Cannot rate it highly enough, I nominate Willie as a candidate for rating as a national treasure."</span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span">William Shaw</span></span></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #336666;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span">"Willie Gordon is a natural teacher and national treasure. I can't think of a more genuine Australian experience than to walk through the bush that Willie's people have been custodians of for more than 40,000 years and have its secrets explained - with themes of sustainability, family and community all inter-twined into his message. He's great company and a wonderful ambassador for Australia. This is a must-do tour." </span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span">Richard Hayward</span></span></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="color: #b45f06;">"Absolutely inspirational. One of the best things I've ever done."</span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span">Christina Katterfeld</span></span></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #336666;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span">"Sheila and I travelled by camper van from Perth, north and around to Brisbane - 10300 kilometers. 10 weeks having made a 6 week visit some years ago. We are in love with your wonderful country and people. When we met Willie we began to gain respect and some understanding for the culture, lore and pride of Australia's first people. His small tour and his questions, stories and dreams (past, present and future) was the most interesting and intriguing time of all - 2 hours." </span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span">Roger Bradshaw</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="color: #b45f06;">"What we, as high school students, learnt from Willie was absolutely invaluable. His way of teaching us about his world is unique and unforgettable. We will remember his tour and its positive message for the rest of our lives."</span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"> Anna Shaw</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #336666;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span">"This is not simply a tour. Willy takes you back to the common roots of all mankind, where things that really matter in life lie: the meaning of birth, death, manhood, motherhood, friendship...."</span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"> Maria De Nobili</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="color: #b45f06; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span">"The excursion was not only what we expected, a discovery of Queensland nature through the eyes of its first people, but also a great, exciting and human experience. We keep Willie alive in our memories.<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span">"</span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333399;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">Family </span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">Marique from Belgium</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"> </span></span></span></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #336666;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span">"I have travelled overseas to Europe and America and nothing actually reduced me to tears. I was in awe of the Acropolis in Greece and the Vatican in Rome but in Willie's tour when Willie took me to "the birthing cave" such emotion overcame me, I couldn't stop crying. I don't know why. I am a white Australian so to be so "moved" amazed me. To anyone reading this do not miss Willie's tour it is a "one in a million" experience. The real Australia. A tour that I hope many people have the privilege to share. Willie I wish you all the best you are a great ambassador for all Australians." </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span">Marion Raftery</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="color: #b45f06;">"Willie doesn't take his clothes off and dance. He is a true 21st century aboriginal and without being in the least bit confrontational, he will change the way you look at life, the universe and everything. If you do ONE tour in Oz, do this one" </span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #336666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span style="color: #666666;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span">Richard Lee</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #336666;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span">"Willy is one of the very few "genuine" and sincere people in the tour industry that I have encountered in my travels. He welcomes his guests and delights and involves them in his tour, his country and its stories. Our tour group left at the end of the day with long lasting memories and appreciation of the simple but wonderous places we visited and stories we heard. I had my own tour business from Brisbane from 1995 to 2006 (Rob's Rainforest Explorer) so I base my opinion of seeing many other operators and the tour guides they hired. A "150 Must Dos" list without the inclusion of Willie Gordon would be without credibility and lack the honesty and spirit that Willy gives to the people he meets." </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span">Rob Jimmieson</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="color: #b45f06;">"What our children learnt from Willie Gordon was worth more than we could ever teach them. His tour was the best educational experience we have ever had as a family. We'd go back tomorrow if we could!"</span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"> Jill Shaw</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #336666;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span">"I have never experienced such an amazing inspirational tour in all my life! Experiencing true culture first hand is something I will never forget. I was so moved by the stories told by Willy that I quietly shed a tear. What made the tour even more special was Willy's incredible natural ability to connect with everybody. Willy is a special man whose skills are second to none. DO NOT MISS THIS TOUR!!!!!!"</span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"> Sally Featherstone</span></span></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="color: #b45f06;">"We had 40 days to get to know Queensland. 40 days to absorb 40,000 years of Aboriginal culture; that adds up to 1,000 years per day; that's some itinerary; some history lesson! Our day with Willie gave us 40,000 living years in one day, and framed the rest of Queensland for us! That's some teaching; some teacher!"</span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span">Ian Berry</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #336666;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span">"Guurrbi tours is Incredible!!! Willy takes you on a special spiritual journey that had me laughing and crying and in awe of the wonderful place he is custodian to. A must-do tour for everyone, especially Queenslanders." </span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span">Barb Rose</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="color: #b45f06;">"I have been in tourism and a friend of the indigenous people for 20 years and this is THE !! must do. Not one of them. Willie thank you for showing me, and others the beauty of your land and people."</span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><b><span style="color: #3333ff;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></span></span></b><span style="color: #666666;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span">Robert Ryan</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></div><div style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">More reviews...</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></span></span></span></span></div><a href="http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g499647-d1185502-r112994574-Guurrbi_Tours-Cooktown_Queensland.html#REVIEWS" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="color: #b45f06;">TripAdvisor</span></span></span></span></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="color: #b45f06;"> </span></span></span></span></span></span><br /><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="http://guurrbitours.blogspot.com/2011/07/lets-hear-it-from-kids.html" style="color: #b45f06;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span">Let's hear it from the kids!</span></span></span></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #336666;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><b> </b></span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="color: #b45f06;"><a href="http://guurrbitours.blogspot.com/2010/07/some-lovely-messages-left-on-facebook.html" style="color: #b45f06;">Some lovely messages on Facebook</a> </span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /><div style="color: #444444;">More about our tours...<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="color: #b45f06;"> </span></span></span></span></span><br /><a href="http://guurrbitours.blogspot.com/2008/07/blog-post.html"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="color: #b45f06;">Guurrbi Picture Gallery</span></span></span></span></span></a></div></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="color: #b45f06;"><a href="http://guurrbitours.blogspot.com/2011/04/its-great-tour-for-kids.html">It's a great tour for kids!</a></span><b><span style="color: #b45f06;"><a href="http://guurrbitours.blogspot.com/2011/04/its-great-tour-for-kids.html"> </a></span></b></span></span></span></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="color: #b45f06;"><a href="http://www.guurrbitours.com/site/tours">Tour rates & itineraries</a></span><b><span style="color: #b45f06;"><br /></span></b></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #b45f06;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><b></b></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="color: #b45f06;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><b> </b></span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><b><span style="color: #b45f06;"> </span></b></span></span></span></span></span></div><div align="center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><a href="http://www.guurrbitours.com/site/tours"><span style="color: #990000;">www.guurrbitours.com </span></a></span></span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/7463787440510594250-4670510806044347361?l=guurrbitours.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Magical, award-winning Aboriginal rock art tours with Nugal-warra Elder, Willie Gordonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01162672320351952897noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7463787440510594250.post-32096490945184537222009-10-26T15:04:00.025+10:002011-11-23T16:25:44.558+10:00The clever mulun tree & the sand goanna's secret<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OUneO4G4emo/SuVTcTOaXQI/AAAAAAAAA90/h3DcQc5VpEc/s1600-h/Quandong+tree+%26+leaf.gif"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5396811474135571714" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OUneO4G4emo/SuVTcTOaXQI/AAAAAAAAA90/h3DcQc5VpEc/s400/Quandong+tree+%26+leaf.gif" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 150px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">This is </span></span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">mulun</span></span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">, the quandong tree, which flowers around October. This clever tree sends off a single branch of bright red leaves to attract passing birds to eat its fruit and disperse its seeds. It helps us on the ground to find the fruit too! The blue plums are very sweet, but it's best not to eat too many as they can cause constipation.</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><br /></span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"> </span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">This is also when all the reptiles are mating and laying their eggs. The pictures below are of </span></span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">manuya,</span></span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"> the sand goanna, who stands on his back legs when he's searching for a mate. This is the goanna after which Lizard Island was named, and we believe its fat helps to prevent arthritis. The best time to extract the oil is just before the wet season when they hibernate. This is when they are at their plumpest.</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"><br /></span></div><div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5396776933159038866" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OUneO4G4emo/SuU0BwD3b5I/AAAAAAAAA9s/Y7-LCgtZE5A/s400/Sand+goanna.gif" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 211px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></span></span></div><div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #336666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://guurrbitours.blogspot.com/2008/10/filmed-by-imparja-tv-for-footprints.html"><span style="color: #b45f06;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">W</span></span></span><span style="color: #b45f06;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">illie on Imparja TV's 'Footprints' (short video</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">)</span></span></span></a></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #336666; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"> </span></span></div><div><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://guurrbitours.blogspot.com/2008/05/on-tour-with-willie.html"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"><span style="color: #b45f06;">On Tour with Willie (short video)</span></span></span></a></span><br /><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"><span style="color: #b45f06;"><a href="http://www.guurrbitours.com/site/conservation" style="color: #b45f06;" target="_blank">The story of Wangaar-Wuri</a></span></span></span></span><br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: right;"><br /><br /><div align="center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.guurrbitours.com/"><span style="color: #990000;">www.guurrbitours.com </span></a></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">26.10.09</span></span></span></div></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/7463787440510594250-3209649094518453722?l=guurrbitours.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Magical, award-winning Aboriginal rock art tours with Nugal-warra Elder, Willie Gordonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01162672320351952897noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7463787440510594250.post-73787538955393350522009-10-07T17:51:00.008+10:002011-07-08T07:33:22.313+10:00Auf Tour mit Willie Gordon von Guurrbi Tours<object height="350" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/szODktes6II?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/szODktes6II?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="350"></embed></object><br /><br /><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="color: #444444;">This is from a travel documentary by Carsten Heider shown in Germany on ARD TV in 2008 and 2010. We hope you enjoy it!</span></span><br /><br /><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">From the Stefan Loose guides...</span><br /><div style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="http://guurrbitours.blogspot.com/2010/03/guurrbi-oz-highlight-in-germany.html" style="color: #b45f06;">Guurrbi: One of the Highlights of Oz </a></div><br /><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="color: #444444;">More short videos...</span></span><br /><a href="http://guurrbitours.blogspot.com/2008/10/filmed-by-imparja-tv-for-footprints.html"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">About Willie and Guurrbi Tours</span></span></a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> <span style="color: #444444;">from Imparja TV's 'Footprints'</span></span><br /><a href="http://guurrbitours.blogspot.com/2008/05/on-tour-with-willie.html"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">On Tour with Willie</span></span></a><br /><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://guurrbitours.blogspot.com/2010/05/willie-talking-about-meaning-of-wawu.html"><span style="color: #b45f06;">The meaning of Wawu and Guurrbi</span></a></span></span><br /><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="color: #990000;">www.guurrbitours.com</span></span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/7463787440510594250-7378753895539335052?l=guurrbitours.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Magical, award-winning Aboriginal rock art tours with Nugal-warra Elder, Willie Gordonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01162672320351952897noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7463787440510594250.post-5923390692467100852009-09-18T18:22:00.021+10:002011-11-23T16:23:14.453+10:00Bush signs that summer is coming<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_OUneO4G4emo/SrNEbckqjpI/AAAAAAAAA88/XiDPXOkT7Uo/s1600-h/Death+adder+x+2.gif"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382721217955008146" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_OUneO4G4emo/SrNEbckqjpI/AAAAAAAAA88/XiDPXOkT7Uo/s400/Death+adder+x+2.gif" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 159px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><span style="line-height: 125%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #444444;">Here’s some pictures of </span></span></span></span><span style="font-style: italic; line-height: 125%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #444444;">walanggar</span></span></span></span><span style="line-height: 125%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #444444;">, the death adder, which were taken on tour last week. When we found him he was lying very still, trying to hide himself in the earth. As soon as we woke him </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #444444;">he showed off his bright colours. At this time of year the snakes have mated and there are young snakes about, so we keep an eye out for snake tracks.</span></span></span></span></span><br /><br /><span style="line-height: 125%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><span style="line-height: 125%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #444444;">This is an exciting time at Guurrbi, with the flowers beginning to bloom and attracting many birds and insects. The beautiful red flower of </span></span></span></span><span style="font-style: italic; line-height: 125%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #444444;">nanggaarr-buurra, </span></span></span></span><span style="line-height: 125%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #444444;">the kapok</span></span></span></span><span style="font-style: italic; line-height: 125%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #444444;">, </span></span></span></span><span style="line-height: 125%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #444444;">is out now, showing us the seasons are changing and summer is on its way. This is the time </span></span></span></span><span style="font-style: italic; line-height: 125%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #444444;">diwaan, </span></span></span></span><span style="line-height: 125%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #444444;">the brush turkey, lays its eggs in a leaf-mound scratched together to act as incubator. And recently we heard our first Torres Strait pigeon, the </span></span></span></span><span style="font-style: italic; line-height: 125%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #444444;">wabul, </span></span></span></span><span style="line-height: 125%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #444444;">so we know the migrating birds from Papua New Guinea are now nesting on the outer islands and coming in to feed.</span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 125%;"><br /></div><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382720887233983826" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OUneO4G4emo/SrNEIMioNVI/AAAAAAAAA80/vk52ARECIYI/s400/Kapok+%26+turkey.gif" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 157px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /> <br /><div class="MsoNormal"></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">More pictures from Guurrbi...</span></span></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> </span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="http://guurrbitours.blogspot.com/2009/01/bush-creatures.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;">Bush creatures</span></a></span></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;"> </span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://guurrbitours.blogspot.com/2011/11/bush-foods-medicines-crafts.html" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;">Bush foods and medicines</span></span></span></a><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://guurrbitours.blogspot.com/2008/07/blog-post.html"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">Rock art & Picture Gallery</span></span></a></span></span><br /><br /><a href="http://www.guurrbitours.com/site/tours" style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">About our tours</a><br /><br /><div align="center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.guurrbitours.com/"><span style="color: #990000;">www.guurrbitours.com</span></a></span></span></span><span style="color: #990000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> </span></span></span></span></div></div><div style="text-align: right;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/7463787440510594250-592339069246710085?l=guurrbitours.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Magical, award-winning Aboriginal rock art tours with Nugal-warra Elder, Willie Gordonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01162672320351952897noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7463787440510594250.post-46832618186828574232009-09-12T08:43:00.010+10:002010-09-12T09:19:15.132+10:00Seen in 'The Weekend Australian'<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"></span></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"></span></span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 13.5pt; margin-left: 2.25pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';">Michael Gebicki, in </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';">Travel & Indulgence</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';"> this weekend, describes Willie as "The exemplar of indigenous tourism in tropical north Queensland" and "an outstanding interpreter of Aboriginal culture, with the knowledge and the communication skills to make this a spiritual as well as a physical journey."</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';">Thank you Michae</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';">l! </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';"><b><span style="color: #b45f06;"> </span></b></span></span></span></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,26045071-5001000,00.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';"><b><span style="color: #b45f06;">Here's the link...</span></b></span></span></a></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 13.5pt; margin-left: 2.25pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';">Michael went on our </span></span></span><a href="http://www.guurrbitours.com/site/tours"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';"><b><span style="color: #b45f06;">Rainbow Serpent Tour</span></b></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';"> in October last year</span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span><br /><div align="center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.guurrbitours.com/"><span style="color: #990000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;">www.guurrbitours.com</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><i><br /></i></span></span></span></span></div></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"></span></span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/7463787440510594250-4683261818682857423?l=guurrbitours.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Magical, award-winning Aboriginal rock art tours with Nugal-warra Elder, Willie Gordonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01162672320351952897noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7463787440510594250.post-46446532480130322502009-09-09T12:27:00.014+10:002010-09-12T09:20:17.699+10:00A lovely 'thank you' from Spain<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OUneO4G4emo/SqcTvbF1HdI/AAAAAAAAA7s/pO_gYbSpOHE/s1600-h/Allue-Villena+family+Aug+09.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379289985364336082" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OUneO4G4emo/SqcTvbF1HdI/AAAAAAAAA7s/pO_gYbSpOHE/s400/Allue-Villena+family+Aug+09.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 324px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">Dear Willie (and Judy),</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><br /></span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"> </span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">Still trying to adapt to our daily routines after our amazing holiday in your country, here's a few lines to send you a big heartfelt thank you for a magical afternoon. The beauty of your land, your art, your mind and your heart will stay with us for the rest of our lives.</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><br /></span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"> </span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">Don't forget you have friends in Barcelona now: we'd be honored to be able to show you both a few of our Mediterranean Guurrbis too. Until then, here's a big fraternal hug from us all to you and yours.</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><br /></span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"> </span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">Isabel, Fernando, Marc, Roser and Hector.</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">9 September 2009 (</span></span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">by e-mail)</span></span></span></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><br /></span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"> </span></span></span></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">Isabel and family went on our</span></span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #336666;"><a href="http://www.guurrbitours.com/site/tours/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #336666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></a></span></i></span><a href="http://www.guurrbitours.com/site/tours/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #b45f06;"><b>Great Emu Tour</b></span></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #336666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></i></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">with Mason's Tours</span></span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://guurrbitours.blogspot.com/2008/10/quotes-of-week.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;">More customer reviews...</span></a></span></b></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g499647-d1185502-r30477667-Guurrbi_Tours-Cooktown_Queensland.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;">Reviews on TripAdvisor...</span></a></span></b></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"><b><a href="http://guurrbitours.blogspot.com/2009/06/beautiful-thank-you-e-mail.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">Another lovely e-mail...</span></span></a></b></span></div><div><br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://www.guurrbitours.com/"><span style="color: #990000;">www.guurrbitours.com </span></a></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/7463787440510594250-4644653248013032250?l=guurrbitours.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Magical, award-winning Aboriginal rock art tours with Nugal-warra Elder, Willie Gordonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01162672320351952897noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7463787440510594250.post-65143370819389430012009-08-24T12:58:00.013+10:002010-09-12T09:21:43.009+10:00Australia's Best Indigenous Experience!<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OUneO4G4emo/SpIFo5i6ZRI/AAAAAAAAA7c/KiBPinIsYVM/s1600-h/TIAM+20+Best+logo.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373363505606583570" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OUneO4G4emo/SpIFo5i6ZRI/AAAAAAAAA7c/KiBPinIsYVM/s400/TIAM+20+Best+logo.jpg" style="float: left; height: 126px; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; width: 185px;" /></a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">Great news! </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">Guurrbi Tours has just been selected as Runner Up of </span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">Australia's Best Indigenous Experience</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"> in</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"> </span><a href="http://travellinginaustralia.com.au/cms/"><span style="color: #b45f06;"><b>Travelling in Australia</b></span></a> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">magazine's </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">20 Best Experiences Awards.</span></span></i></span><br /><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #444444;"><br /></span><span style="color: #444444;"> </span></span></i></div><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">This is an exciting award for us, as it's the first we've received from the tourism industry overseas. Our nomination was one of many presented to an international panel of Premier Aussie Specialists, who voted for the best of the best.</span></span></span></span></i><br /><br /><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><b><a href="http://www.guurrbitours.com/site/tours"><span style="color: #b45f06;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Our award-winning tours </span></span></a></b></span></span></i></div><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span></i></div><div style="text-align: right;"><br /><div align="center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.guurrbitours.com/"><span style="color: #990000;">www.guurrbitours.com </span></a></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">24.8.09</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/7463787440510594250-6514337081938943001?l=guurrbitours.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Magical, award-winning Aboriginal rock art tours with Nugal-warra Elder, Willie Gordonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01162672320351952897noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7463787440510594250.post-70961040566182625872009-07-01T01:15:00.021+10:002011-11-25T14:20:57.563+10:00Guurrbi Picture Gallery<div id="__ss_10316258" style="width: 425px;"> <iframe frameborder="0" height="355" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://www.slideshare.net/slideshow/embed_code/10316258" width="425"></iframe> <br /><div style="padding: 5px 0 12px;"><br /><div style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">More Picture Galleries...</div><div style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"></div><div style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://guurrbitours.blogspot.com/2011/04/its-great-tour-for-kids.html" target="_blank">It's a great tour for kids</a> </span></div><div style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://guurrbitours.blogspot.com/2009/01/bush-creatures.html" target="_blank">Guurrbi's Bush Creatures</a></span></div><div style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://guurrbitours.blogspot.com/2011/11/bush-foods-medicines-crafts.html" target="_blank">Bush foods, medicines & crafts</a></span></div><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: small;"><a href="http://guurrbitours.blogspot.com/2008/08/images-of-cooktown.html" target="_blank">Welcome to Cooktown</a></span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.guurrbitours.com/" style="color: #990000;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">www.guurrbitours.com</span></a></div></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/7463787440510594250-7096104056618262587?l=guurrbitours.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Magical, award-winning Aboriginal rock art tours with Nugal-warra Elder, Willie Gordonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01162672320351952897noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7463787440510594250.post-58036423212545858522009-06-01T14:55:00.026+10:002011-07-02T09:10:39.829+10:00A beautiful 'thank-you'<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"></span></span><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OUneO4G4emo/S8cAxPuNVEI/AAAAAAAABPg/9cCMcAULKqo/s1600/Thesinger+Family+30-5-09.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OUneO4G4emo/S8cAxPuNVEI/AAAAAAAABPg/9cCMcAULKqo/s320/Thesinger+Family+30-5-09.gif" /></a></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Hi Willie,</span> </span></span></span><br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I have just returned from a trip to Cooktown at the weekend and would like to thank you for your inspirational tour of your special place.<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></span><br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I had discussed with my children that morning what a wonderful adventure we were about to embark on but had no idea how true my words were. It was a very moving experience for all of us, in particular my sons, Dain (12) and Noah (7). They were captivated by the beauty of your land and have wanted to share their story many times since returning home. My daughter Maya (6) woke the next day and her first words were, "I love Willie. Can we go see him again?"</span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I thank you for sharing a part of your self, your family and your land.</span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Sincerely</span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Karen Thesinger</span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">(by e-mail 1-6-09)</span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></i></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The Thesinger family went on our </span></span><a href="http://www.guurrbitours.com/site/tours/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Rainbow Serpent Tour</span></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">.</span> </span></span></span></span><br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://guurrbitours.blogspot.com/2011/04/its-great-tour-for-kids.html" style="color: #b45f06;">It's a great tour for kids! </a></span></span></span></span></div><div><div style="color: #b45f06;"><a href="http://guurrbitours.blogspot.com/2008/07/blog-post.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Guurrbi Picture Gallery</span></span></span></span></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://guurrbitours.blogspot.com/2008/10/quotes-of-week.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">More customer reviews..</span></span></span></a><a href="http://guurrbitours.blogspot.com/2008/10/quotes-of-week.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">.</span></span></span></a></span></div><div><div align="center"><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.guurrbitours.com/"><span style="color: #990000;">www.guurrbitours.com</span></a></span></span></span></span></div></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #336666;"><br /></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"></span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/7463787440510594250-5803642321254585852?l=guurrbitours.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Magical, award-winning Aboriginal rock art tours with Nugal-warra Elder, Willie Gordonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01162672320351952897noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7463787440510594250.post-62605208607320408522009-05-28T00:17:00.020+10:002010-09-12T09:29:04.490+10:00Guurrbi in 20 TOP TOURS list !!<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OUneO4G4emo/SkgEC6Q2M2I/AAAAAAAAA2A/aylc6YN5IW4/s1600-h/20+Top+Australian+Tours%28sm%29.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5352532605176001378" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OUneO4G4emo/SkgEC6Q2M2I/AAAAAAAAA2A/aylc6YN5IW4/s200/20+Top+Australian+Tours%28sm%29.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 170px; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; width: 200px;" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;">Guurrbi's</span><a href="http://www.guurrbitours.com/site/tours/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #336666;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;"> </span></span></a></span><a href="http://www.guurrbitours.com/site/tours/"><span style="color: #b45f06;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;">Rainbow Serpent Tour </span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;">has been named </span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;">One of Australia's 20 Top Tours</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;"> by </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;">Australian Traveller</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;"> magazine!</span></span><br /><div><div><a href="http://www.australiantraveller.com/index.php?view=article&id=3949"><span style="color: #b45f06;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;">What they said about Guurrbi...</span></span></a></div><div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #336666;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;"> </span></span></div><div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;">And we were runner-up in the</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #336666;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;"> </span></span><a href="http://gourmettraveller.com.au/2009-gt-travel-awards-winners.htm"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;">Gourmet Traveller</span></span></a><a href="http://gourmettraveller.com.au/2009-gt-travel-awards-winners.htm"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;"> Travel Awards</span></span></a><a href="http://gourmettraveller.com.au/2009-gt-travel-awards-winners.htm"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;"></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #336666;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;">for Australia's Best Indigenous Tourism Experience as well!</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;"> </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;">More information about our </span></span><a href="http://www.guurrbitours.com/site/tours/"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">Aboriginal rock art tours</span></span></a><span style="color: #b45f06;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;">....</span></span><br /><br /><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.guurrbitours.com/"><span style="color: #990000;">www.guurrbitours.com</span></a></span></div></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: right;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">28.5.09</span></span></span></div></div></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/7463787440510594250-6260520860732040852?l=guurrbitours.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Magical, award-winning Aboriginal rock art tours with Nugal-warra Elder, Willie Gordonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01162672320351952897noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7463787440510594250.post-5537344092739120232009-05-24T11:59:00.020+10:002010-09-12T09:30:16.200+10:00Celebrating the new road from Cairns to Cooktown<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_OUneO4G4emo/Sh3xW_ly9xI/AAAAAAAAAvY/K8ZJtot-zi0/s1600-h/Ron+Veivers.gif" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340690110460655378" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_OUneO4G4emo/Sh3xW_ly9xI/AAAAAAAAAvY/K8ZJtot-zi0/s320/Ron+Veivers.gif" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 228px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.guurrbitours.com/"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">Guurrbi Tours</span></span></a></span></span><span style="color: #b45f06;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;"> </span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;">sends good wishes to Ron Veivers, a 63 year-old Cairns man who, 25 years ago in his local pub, made the rash statement that if the road to </span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.guurrbitours.com/site/location/"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">Cooktown</span></span></a></span></span><span style="color: #b45f06;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;"> </span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;">was ever sealed, then he'd walk the length of it. Today Ron sets off from Kuranda with 10 other walkers, all over 60, to fulfil his promise. Guurrbi is supporting Ron in his Charity Walk - and </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #336666;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;">Cooktown</span></span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;"> is looking forward to giving him a rousing welcome during our Discovery Festival in a couple of weeks time. (Photo of Ron courtesy www.cairns.com.au)</span></span></span></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></span></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;">I</span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;">f you would like to support</span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;"> Ron's charities go</span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;"> to</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #b45f06;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;"><a href="http://cairnstocooktownwalk.com/">http://cairnstocooktownwalk.com</a></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #b45f06;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br /><div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #336666;"><br /></span></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.guurrbitours.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">www.guurrbitours.com</span></a></span></div></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/7463787440510594250-553734409273912023?l=guurrbitours.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Magical, award-winning Aboriginal rock art tours with Nugal-warra Elder, Willie Gordonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01162672320351952897noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7463787440510594250.post-6405018781039053352009-05-04T12:39:00.026+10:002010-09-12T09:31:48.987+10:00Read about Willie's World<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_OUneO4G4emo/Sf6rA2A9LMI/AAAAAAAAAsw/ymcRrZmnS7U/s1600-h/guurbitours2%28cr%29.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331887039841119426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_OUneO4G4emo/Sf6rA2A9LMI/AAAAAAAAAsw/ymcRrZmnS7U/s200/guurbitours2%28cr%29.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 149px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 200px;" /></a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">We were very happy to welcome members of the Mitchell family from </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Cairns Family Holida</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">ys</span></span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> on one of our tours over Easter.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #336666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #336666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Click here for P</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">eace Mitchell's</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><a href="http://cairnsfamilyholidays.blogspot.com/2009/04/aboriginal-australia-guurrbi-tours.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #336666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></a></span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://cairnsfamilyholidays.blogspot.com/search/label/cooktown"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">online review</span></span></span></a></span></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #336666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">of Cooktown and Guurrbi Tours.</span></span></span></span></span></span><br /><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span><br /><div><div><div><div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OUneO4G4emo/Sf6xC_1WAXI/AAAAAAAAAtA/4xA5XD-I6eQ/s1600-h/0,,6473421,00.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="text-decoration: none;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331893673906274674" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OUneO4G4emo/Sf6xC_1WAXI/AAAAAAAAAtA/4xA5XD-I6eQ/s320/0,,6473421,00.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 156px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; width: 232px;" /></a></span></span><br /><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">This great picture of Willie comes from Michael Gebicki's article</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> </span></span></span></span><a href="http://www.docstoc.com/docs/45029964/Willies-World---%28Weekend-Australian%29"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">"Willie's World"</span></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">in </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">The Weekend Australian. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Both P</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">eace and Michael went on our </span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><a href="http://www.guurrbitours.com/site/tours"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">Rainbow Serpent tour</span></span></span></a></span></span></span><span style="color: #b45f06;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">.</span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> </span></span></span></div><div><a href="http://guurrbitours.blogspot.com/2008/10/quotes-of-week.html"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">What our customers said on the RACQ 'Must Do' website...</span></span></span></b></a></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="color: #b45f06;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="color: #b45f06;"> </span></span></span></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g499647-d1185502-r36856330-Guurrbi_Tours-Cooktown_Queensland.html"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">Reviews on TripAdvisor...</span></span></a></span></b></div><div style="text-align: right;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;"><br /></span></span></span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"><a href="http://www.guurrbitours.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">www.guurrbitours.com</span></a></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">4.5.09</span></span></span></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #336666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></b></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/7463787440510594250-640501878103905335?l=guurrbitours.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Magical, award-winning Aboriginal rock art tours with Nugal-warra Elder, Willie Gordonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01162672320351952897noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7463787440510594250.post-59694029738834310532009-04-22T16:37:00.000+10:002010-04-22T17:11:46.387+10:00W2AGXWR4Z6PP<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/7463787440510594250-5969402973883431053?l=guurrbitours.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Magical, award-winning Aboriginal rock art tours with Nugal-warra Elder, Willie Gordonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01162672320351952897noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7463787440510594250.post-9378707818285618992009-04-02T08:50:00.006+10:002011-11-28T14:01:36.371+10:00Laura Dance Festival, June 2009<object height="300" width="400"> <param name="flashvars" value="offsite=true&lang=en-us&page_show_url=%2Fphotos%2Fguurrbitours_cooktown%2Fsets%2F72157623768092007%2Fshow%2F&page_show_back_url=%2Fphotos%2Fguurrbitours_cooktown%2Fsets%2F72157623768092007%2F&set_id=72157623768092007&jump_to="></param><param name="movie" value="http://www.flickr.com/apps/slideshow/show.swf?v=109615"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" src="http://www.flickr.com/apps/slideshow/show.swf?v=109615" allowFullScreen="true" flashvars="offsite=true&lang=en-us&page_show_url=%2Fphotos%2Fguurrbitours_cooktown%2Fsets%2F72157623768092007%2Fshow%2F&page_show_back_url=%2Fphotos%2Fguurrbitours_cooktown%2Fsets%2F72157623768092007%2F&set_id=72157623768092007&jump_to=" width="400" height="300"></embed></object><br /><div style="color: #b45f06;"><br /></div><div style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">More Picture Galleries...</div><div style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="http://guurrbitours.blogspot.com/2008/07/blog-post.html" target="_blank">On tour with Willie</a></div><div style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="http://guurrbitours.blogspot.com/2011/04/its-great-tour-for-kids.html" target="_blank">It's a great tour for kids!</a></div><div style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="http://guurrbitours.blogspot.com/2009/01/bush-creatures.html" target="_blank">Guurrbi's bush creatures</a></div><a href="http://guurrbitours.blogspot.com/2011/11/bush-foods-medicines-crafts.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Bush foods, medicines & crafts </span></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.guurrbitours.com/"><span style="color: #990000;">www.guurrbitours.com</span></a></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/7463787440510594250-937870781828561899?l=guurrbitours.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Magical, award-winning Aboriginal rock art tours with Nugal-warra Elder, Willie Gordonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01162672320351952897noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7463787440510594250.post-36644678145184088392009-04-02T07:37:00.009+10:002011-11-28T13:57:54.028+10:00Photo Gallery: 51st Re-enactment of Cook's Landing<object height="300" width="400"> <param name="flashvars" value="offsite=true&lang=en-us&page_show_url=%2Fphotos%2Fguurrbitours_cooktown%2Fsets%2F72157624301240954%2Fshow%2F&page_show_back_url=%2Fphotos%2Fguurrbitours_cooktown%2Fsets%2F72157624301240954%2F&set_id=72157624301240954&jump_to="></param><param name="movie" value="http://www.flickr.com/apps/slideshow/show.swf?v=109615"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" src="http://www.flickr.com/apps/slideshow/show.swf?v=109615" allowFullScreen="true" flashvars="offsite=true&lang=en-us&page_show_url=%2Fphotos%2Fguurrbitours_cooktown%2Fsets%2F72157624301240954%2Fshow%2F&page_show_back_url=%2Fphotos%2Fguurrbitours_cooktown%2Fsets%2F72157624301240954%2F&set_id=72157624301240954&jump_to=" width="400" height="300"></embed></object><br /><br /><div style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="http://guurrbitours.blogspot.com/2010/06/51st-re-enactment-of-cooks-landing.html" target="_blank">The story behind the pictures</a></div><div style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></div><div style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">More Picture Galleries...</div><div style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="http://guurrbitours.blogspot.com/2008/08/images-of-cooktown.html" target="_blank">Welcome to Cooktown!</a></div><div style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="http://guurrbitours.blogspot.com/2008/07/blog-post.html" target="_blank">On tour with Willie</a></div><div style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="http://guurrbitours.blogspot.com/2009/01/bush-creatures.html" target="_blank">Guurrbi's bush creatures</a></div><div style="color: #b45f06;"><a href="http://guurrbitours.blogspot.com/2011/04/its-great-tour-for-kids.html" style="color: #b45f06;" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">It's a great tour for kids!</span></a></div><div style="color: #b45f06;"></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.guurrbitours.com/"><span style="color: #990000;">www.guurrbitours.com</span></a></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/7463787440510594250-3664467814518408839?l=guurrbitours.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Magical, award-winning Aboriginal rock art tours with Nugal-warra Elder, Willie Gordonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01162672320351952897noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7463787440510594250.post-61622108272314401142009-03-29T14:44:00.442+10:002012-01-09T13:09:49.957+10:00What's On in and around Cooktown<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://anax5a.pressmart.com/cooktown/index.aspx"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OUneO4G4emo/TLI3gzgLMqI/AAAAAAAABX0/A4JnxlaIjmk/s1600/_DX15744-11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OUneO4G4emo/TLI3gzgLMqI/AAAAAAAABX0/A4JnxlaIjmk/s400/_DX15744-11.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">Did you know that</span> </span></span><a href="http://www.guurrbitours.com/site/location"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">Cooktown</span></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">has been named one of Australia's Top 100 Towns by </span></span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">Australian Traveller</span></span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"> magazine? (Our appearance at #44 disgusted some visitors who thought we should be in the Top 10, or even the Top 5, so you'll have to come and judge for yourselves!) </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.australiantraveller.com/index.php?view=article&id=1320"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;">Read what the judges say..</span></a></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.australiantraveller.com/index.php?view=article&id=1320"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;">..</span></a></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"> - and Guurrbi's</span> </span></span><a href="http://www.guurrbitours.com/site/tours"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">Aboriginal tours</span></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">get a mention too.</span> </span></span><br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">Also worth a read:</span> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;">"</span></span></span><a href="http://www.theaustralian.com.au/travel/australia/take-me-to-the-waters/story-fn3025ua-1225833842540"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;">Take me to the Waters</span></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;">"</span></span></span><span style="color: #b45f06;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">- A feature on Cooktown and Guurrbi in </span></span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">The Weekend Australian </span></span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">magazine (Feb 2010); <a href="http://guurrbitours.blogspot.com/2011/11/first-reconciliation.html" style="color: #b45f06;" target="_blank">"Cooktown & The First Reconciliation"</a><span style="color: #b45f06;"> </span>and </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://guurrbitours.blogspot.com/2010/10/cooktown-small-town-whose-history.html"><span style="color: #b45f06;">"Cooktown - the small town whose history changed the world"</span></a></span></span><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><br /><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #666666;">Events 2012</span></b></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div align="left" style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /></div><div align="left"><b><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">9-10 June 2012 - Discovery Festival - Two Cultures, One People</span></span></b><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xu6s9eKdfiA/Tr8H9R7kMcI/AAAAAAAABjc/zCSK9a0KYHM/s1600/Confrontation+over+the+turtle+%25282%2529cr.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="161" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xu6s9eKdfiA/Tr8H9R7kMcI/AAAAAAAABjc/zCSK9a0KYHM/s200/Confrontation+over+the+turtle+%25282%2529cr.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><div style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Cooktown's biggest weekend of the year so put the date in your diaries! This is when we celebrate the arrival of Lt James Cook in 1770 to <i>Gungardie</i> (now Cooktown) and the events during the seven weeks he spent on the banks of <i>Waalumbaal Birri</i> (the Endeavour River) whilst repairing the HMB Endeavour. There's plenty of fun, music and entertainment all weekend, culminating in a fully-costumed re-enactment of Cook's Landing, the meeting with the Guugu Yimithirr, and the nation's First Reconciliation. <a href="http://guurrbitours.blogspot.com/2010/06/51st-re-enactment-of-cooks-landing.html" style="color: #b45f06;" target="_blank">More...</a></div><br /><div style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><b>30 June - 1 July 2012 - Laura Races, Rodeo & Horsesports</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-y5hvupQLuNg/Tu8_3rkxuYI/AAAAAAAABoM/9kT-qJUEkSc/s1600/laurarodeo001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="134" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-y5hvupQLuNg/Tu8_3rkxuYI/AAAAAAAABoM/9kT-qJUEkSc/s200/laurarodeo001.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">People from all over Cape York and further afield gather at the Laura Rodeo ground for this great social weekend of competition and fun. There's always plenty of live music, food and refreshments, and free camping. More information from Quinkan & Regional Cultural Centre. Ph (07) 4060 3457.</div><br /></div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="color: #b45f06;"><b>24 August 2012 - Cooktown & District Country Show</b></span></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FZnKO7B6a9k/Tu9BPuuX_JI/AAAAAAAABoU/i9YU_P3JXG0/s1600/Ag+Show+%25281%2529+low+res.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FZnKO7B6a9k/Tu9BPuuX_JI/AAAAAAAABoU/i9YU_P3JXG0/s200/Ag+Show+%25281%2529+low+res.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="color: #b45f06;"><span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Known affectionately as the 'Ag Show', this is a great day out at the Cooktown Events Centre with plenty on offer for everyone - especially the kids. </span></span></span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="color: #b45f06;"><span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">There's competitions, live music, games, animal nursery, performances, rides, and loads of prizes. More information from Kimberley. Ph (07) 4069 5444.</span></span></span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="color: #b45f06;"><b style="color: #b45f06;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">28 - 30 September 2012 - Wallaby Creek Festival </span></b></span></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-G2ttJCuX0Qg/Tu9DaIntjRI/AAAAAAAABok/_MwCGgtDDJ0/s1600/Wallaby+Creek+2012+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="151" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-G2ttJCuX0Qg/Tu9DaIntjRI/AAAAAAAABok/_MwCGgtDDJ0/s200/Wallaby+Creek+2012+crop.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="color: #b45f06;"><span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">A celebration of music and art in the most beautiful of rainforest settings at Home Rule, Rossville. An amazing line-up of musicians, stalls, workshops and children's activities - this is a weekend not to be missed. <a href="http://www.wallabycreekfestival.org.au/" style="color: #b45f06;" target="_blank">More...</a><span style="color: #b45f06;"> </span></span></span></span></span><br /><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="color: #b45f06;"><span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> &