Korrawinga Aboriginal Corporation began in 1972, when a group of women led by Decima Angeles, established a housing co-operative to meet the needs of the local Aboriginal people in the Hervey Bay area. Over the years since then the organisation has grown in strength and diversified the services it offers to the community. The preservation of language and culture has been a strong focus of the Korrawinga Aboriginal Corporation, with activities such as traditional dance, fishing, horticulture, weaving, sewing, beading and woodwork being offered for young and old. The Butchulla Language Program has been a particularly successful outcome from Korrawinga’s work. This vibrant program owes much of its strength to the involvement of the younger members of the community, who use story telling, oral histories, games, song and dance to teach and keep their language alive. The Butchulla Language Program has also produced a set of bi-lingual language teaching books that you can read.
In 2006, Korrawinga invited local primary school students to take part in a project to write songs in the Butchulla language, through their language classes. A group of the students then travelled to Brisbane to record the eight songs, creating the CD, Gambay kalim baba-mi marigurim- Together as one standing strong. The project is being continued in 2007, this time with high school students who will be invited to compose and record in a style of their own choice, in groups, solo or as duets.
Languages that are spoken or have been spoken in the area covered by this centre:
• Butchulla
Contact Korrawinga Aboriginal Corporation
Address: 352 The Esplanade Scarness 4655
Phone: (07) 4124 4814
Email: korra@bigpond.net.au