THE BEST PLACE TO START IN ANY STORY IS THE BEGINNING … SCROLL DOWN TO THE BOTTOM TO BEGIN THE GULUDU STORY.
July 28, 2024
Finally got to get back to Kunjurra to see what’s happened to the land over the past year. Overgrown in parts, but the main area is just asking for a beautiful home to be built on it and the view is just as beautiful as ever. There’s road stabilising going on, housing nearby is home to many but not stable for the cyclone season. I’d so love to get something safe on the land for Julia and her family. It’s getting close …
July 15, 2024
Being recognised for the Yidinji’s culture of over thousands of years, Julia’s brother Yasserie, a Park Ranger at the Babinda National Park, has been asked to talk about and perform with Julia and their family on a regular basis to educate university students who will be taking their new learned knowledge of Australia’s indigenous overseas to cultural exchanges. Babinda National Park, The Boulders here in particular is where the Yidinji mob originated.
July 13, 2024
Taking time out and having a bit of relax, Julia’s rugby league team play the quarter finals for the season at nearby Gordonvale, with he family tagging along to support.
July 12, 2024
NAIDOC Day, The whole town was buzzing from the gathering of culture groups early in the morning up one end of town, as they finished getting ready, to the march up the road to the other end of town to Bishop Malcolm Park where the day ended up in festivities of smoking ceremony, dancing, culture exchanges and judging of the Kind & Queen of NAIDOC Day. Julia’s family boat, Tilly, won the prize for best dressed float, proudly displaying all the beautiful colours of the country’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island people.
July 12, 2024
Naidoc Day is the most exciting and happiest day of the year for all in Yarrabah, the town stops, it’s their own public holiday, everyone gets ready for the big march through town, not least Julia and her family, still, at 7am, getting their dresses and skirts ready and flags for their float painted up.
July 12, 2024
Driving over the hill before you get to Yarrabah, seeing the dawn view and hearing the stillness, and sometimes the distant music as the town wakes up is always a moment I love to sit with before I get to the town and what the day’s about to bring.
October 7, 2023
Finally, four years since the last one, the Yarrabah Band Festival 2023 had arrived, everybody was pumped. The day started hot and everyone super excited for all the performances, from the local cultural groups dance, to Normie J, to the electric Electric Fields and their hero, Jessica Mauboy who had the fans screaming for more and sticking by their idols even through the late night downpour.
July 16 & 17, 2023
It’s been another year and my first time back and it rains for days, finally drying up but the temporary tent residence on the land at Budabadoo is holding a lake of rain. Good to see the site again, it’s looking great and one of the easements to get on to Julia’s family land has been surveyed and named Carsons Lane after Julia’s late cousin who lived on the block next door. This place certainly fills my cup full.
July 8, 2022
Stoked I could be here for NAIDOC Day 2022, one of the biggest, if not THE biggest indigenous event of the year, a time to celebrate their culture and what better place to do that for me than be here in Yarrabah when the town closes down for the day and everybody comes together for the march through the streets from the church to the new cemetery a couple of kilometres away. From the Elders to the little kids and babies, everybody was dressed and pumped for it, with even the bigger kids helping the little kids get painted, passing tradition along and dancing up a storm at the end. This is my absolute favourite day with Julia and her mob and as I see the pride in all the families it just instills in me an even greater need to get Guludu built for Julia so she can continue her amazing work with the kids.
July 4, 2022
Back on country, back on the land. We’re still waiting for DATSIP to finalise the surveying certification, giving Julia and her family the “legal” right to build on their land. The long, intricate and difficult process the government have placed on this is frustrating beyond words and it’s hard to believe these regulations exist on indigenous families. But we are garnering support to help the Smith’s, there’s much compassion and understanding for the need to get Julia teaching the kids again, to get them back on the land.
May 4, 5 & 6, 2022
Lockdowns and border restrictions have yet again kept us from visiting Yarrabah and being able to work on Guludu for way too long but finally after more than a year, yet again I was on a plane to far North Queensland to spend a few days with Julia and her family. A few changes in the area, a jetty has been built in the bay of Yarrabah, hopefully to help connect the community more easily with the nearby city of Cairns. The land at Kunjurra is overgrown, a lot still needs to be done. Land surveying is not through yet and could take even longer but Julia, nor I, have given up the idea of having a solid and stable dwelling on the land, the children need this more than ever.
June 19, 2021
It’s now three months since any of us can get up to Yarrabah, locked down again in Sydney. In the meantime, DATSIP (Department of Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander Projects) has been terrific in getting the land and access road surveying process started. Julia’s just sent me these photos of where the land at Kunjurra has been marked for border certification. She’s so excited, it feels like things are moving forward and only a few more months before this process will be completed.
March 15, 2021
Just up the hill from Jilgi is Kunjurra, and one last reccy before we fly out tomorrow, and while Scott and Julia have this time to go over land issues again. Gotta say we’re pumped that Martin loved the land and understands it, and Julia is happy to guide us with whatever help we need, we have to figure out access, clearance, surveying, engineering and the list goes on.
March 15, 2021
Back in Yarrabah with Julia, we’re scouting around for a bit of land that would make a good campsite for workers and builders for Guludu. Jigli is looking good but there’s lots to consider.
March 14, 2021
Not a bad place for a meeting. From Townsville looking at Magnetic Island, after a big night, a great meeing with the JCU team. We’re going to work together one way or another, but for now Martin’s heading home and Scott and I back to Cairns.
March 13, 2021
We’re heading to Townsville today to meet with John Doolan and Patrick Driscoll from James Cook University’s Cyclone Testing Station, they’re helping, they’re backing us so we’re going to see what we can do together. In the meantime, on the way to the highway, we had a look at some pods built at Trinity Beach sometime ago. While Julia may not get the pool, or the resort setting, we’re thinking the pod style would work great, with newer technology, in this cyclone ridden area. And the idea is to get her some safer accomodation so this could be the solution.
March 12, 2021
So great to be out here again on this land and so great to have the whole Guludu team together, Martin finally at Kunjurra, happy days!
March 12, 2021
I can’t believe we’re finally back again. And I can’t believe how much the kids have grown. We’ve been locked down and locked out of Queensland and we don’t know how long til the next time we’re here so we’re super excited to make it finally and with Martin in tow. Martin’s been designing Guludu since 2019 and this is the first time we’ve been able to get him up here and for him and Julia to meet face to face and for him to see the land first hand.
November 19, 2020
So disappointed I couldn’t get to Cairns for beautiful Mishaela’s special graduation, lockdown has kept me away, but so grateful for good friend, photographer legend Brian Cassey, to help out on the big night, taking such gorgeous photos of Julia’s niece, one she helped raise from a baby. The family couldn’t be any prouder and Mishaela couldn’t be any happier right now, and she deserves all the accolades this night sent her way.
August 4, 2020
Flying out again over Yarrabah Peninsula, it’s clear to see this town tucked away and almost hidden by the bush. Kunjurra and Budabadoo, except for the estuary and rugged beach lines, completely covered.
August 2, 2020
Just had the best few days with this mob, unfortunately have to get back to Sydney but not without being shown where the best oysters are, right on their front door! I never see this family shine so much as when they’re out on this land of theirs.
August 1, 2020
Gotta love the positive message, street-art painted toilet blocks around Yarrabah town.
Somebody missed the memo …
July 31, 2020
And to the site itself, Julia’s kept it tidy while waiting for progress on the land surveying. I can see red markers around the place, finally something here is beginning.
July 31, 2020
Julia’s at work at the police station so I took a drive up to Kunjurra, the coastline and of course it’s as beautiful as ever. I’ve missed this so much.
July 31, 2020
There’s a new kid in town! Reemus, a new nephew for Julia who can’t wait to bring him into her performance group.
July 31, 2020
After months of being in covid lockdown, finally, we’re able to travel to Queensland again, I am so excited to get back up to Yarrabah, I haven’t been here for nearly 12 months. Stayed in Cairns the first night but up before dawn to make the sunrise drive to see Julia and her mob. It was stunning, a heck of a welcome back. Now I can’t wait to see Julia and the family.
March 6, 2020
There’ve been no trips to Yarrabah the past five months, the Guludu team has been busy getting on with the business of perfecting the house design and fundraising through our gofundme link. But now it’s time for Womadelaide where I’m working, giving me a great chance to catch up with Martin, who is based in Adelaide. Nice to see he’s spreading the word with the Guludu t-shirt.
October 8, 2019
Like Cinderallas at the ball, Julia and Zipphora got gussied up for tonight’s big awards show. Thank you to the wonderful Vicky Gordon, the creator and head of the AWMA’s, for having them dressed and fully turned out for their big red carpet debut, they looked spectacular. After a day of mixing it with the legend that is opera singer Deborah Cheetham, Vicky Gordon and the girls they’d met yesterday, tonight’s show was awards and music by legendary Renee Geyer and beautiful songbird, Katie Noonan.
October 8, 2019
A far cry from the bush at Budabadoo and Kunjurra, Julia and her niece Zipphora and I have been invited to Brisbane to the AWMAs, the Australian Women In Music Awards to be held in Brisbane as guests. So well deserved for Julia and she’s stoked, both the girls are wide-eyed and super excited. Right off the plane at Brisbane Airport they bump into one of their big heroes, Jonathan Thurston. Then onto the first day of the AWMA seminars and straight up meet more of their heroes, Dizzy Doolan, Queen G and Kaylah Truth.
August 16, 2019
Scotty and I are back for a week to do some work around funding and sourcing people and materials for the house build for Guludu, to house Julia and her parents in a stable and hopefully weather resilient building and we need to check some things on the land. In the meantime, on a day off, we go with Julia into Budabadoo, the ancestral land not far from Kunjurra where permission is needed to enter, or, as we have been, taken into this area by Julia. She entered not feeling great, she’d had a rough week, was almost reluctant to go. On leaving, she was the most relaxed we’d ever seen her and glowing from the natural remedy of the bush and of course didn’t want to leave. It’s certainly made me realise how important land, sea, sky and spirit are to Julia and her family, how it is essential to their health, critical to their well-being.
August 16, 2019
Back up again with Scotty, doing a reccy on the land at Kunjurra, seeing what’s happened since we were up here last month and since there’s been some hectic weather. The land shifts, the weeds grow, but Julia and her mob have been keeping the grass short. The toilet block is still there, just, and the sink is still working, so big thumbs up for these small but important blessings. And the ocean is as beautiful as ever.
July 13, 2019
And it never surprises me when flying out of Cairns and over the Yarrabah region, how close Yarrabah is to the Far North Queensland city, yet has been quietly tucked away behind the mountains that divide the two towns. When in either, you’d think you’re a million miles away from the other. The first image shows where Kunjurra is, also not far from Yarrabah but when you’re there, you’re in the bush, surrounded by everything nature could provide that you would ever need to survive.
July 13, 2019
It always saddens me to leave every single time. But I know I’ll be back. This morning I crept out of bed at Julia’s place before dawn and drove off, but not before I could see the sunrise around Yarrabah Bay and on the hour long drive back to Cairns catch the different hues as the sun rose along the way. Nature in this area never ceases to amaze, surprise and delight me.
July 12, 2019
NAIDOC Day, Yarrabah. Celebration day of indigenous culture and Yarrabah is in full swing. Julia’s group performed, winning Best Performance trophy, the kids are chuffed. This year Julia’s out of uniform for the day and helping the kids work their dancing magic.
July 12, 2019
I’ve just flown up for a quick trip back to Yarrabah - after Scott and I met Melissa, ANZ Cairns Bank Manager, back in June, she’s become super supportive and is trying to see how she can help with the Guludu project, so today, through NAIDOC Week, Julia and I are showing her around Yarrabah and in particular, Kunjurra, to see where Julia’s family land is, where they once had their house before storms destroyed it.
June 20, 2019
A big honour for Julia today, not only in her capacity as a Police Liaison Officer but as the leader of her indigenous performance group, she’s been asked to have the group perform at the Australasian Indigenous Domestic Violence Police Conference at the Cairns Convention Centre. Julia invited Scott and myself to document this and more of her world, which is a privilege we will honour.
And the big bonus for Julia … she got to meet her idol, Christine Anu, who MC’d the event.
June 18, 2019
We have a documentary in the making, starting from a year ago and now we have a design in the works for a building Julia’s worked with us on. We now have a name for our project - Guludu. Chosen by Julia, Guludu means Peaceful Dove in Julia’s ancestral Yidinji language which is from this beautiful land around Kunjurra and Yarrabah. And we now have a logo.
June 17, 2019
And that’s a wrap! Just had a great day on Kunjurra, Scotty making a great video clip of Julia’s group performing one of her songs. We will be putting it together down the track with other footage Scott’s taken over the past year and more will be shot on future trips, our aim … a documentary on Julia’s culturally rich life and how and why she teaches her culture to all the kids in her family group.
June 17, 2019
We’re about to film a video clip of the adults of Julia’s performance group here on Kunjurra. Before we start they need mugra, straight from the riverbeds. Julia, Yasserie and young Yasserie go searching for their colours to decorate themselves with.
June 16, 2019
Back on country, Kunjurra.
June 15, 2019
What a spectacular end to the day with Baker Boy and Yothu Yindi blasting out across this sleepy town their sounds of indigenous rock. With the band ending their show with Treaty, the screaming crowd was full of pride hearing the present day anthem of their people, nobody wanted this night to end, all hearts were so, so. full and ready to burst. As was Julia’s at the end of the night when she got to meet her heroes, Yothu Yindi, backstage.
June 15, 2019
Back up at Yarrabah! This time Scotty’s back as well to stay a few days with the family. We’re here to film and to sit with Julia to make plans. First up, Yarrabah Band Festival - it’s early this year but what a lineup. Yothu Yindi, Baker Boy, the Yarrabah Brass Band and a whole lot of fair fun. Scott’s found himself a new protege, Mary Smith, Julia’s niece, her brother Yasserie’s eldest daughter. She’s got a knack for the camera with a natural eye for it. Some of these images are hers. Thank you Mary!
May 24, 2019
It’s always hard to leave this place, especially after only a few days here. But looks like I’ll be back within a month, looks like we’ve finally been able to get things moving together with Julia, she told us and shown us what will work for her to be housed safely on the family’s ancestral land, we’re just about ready to start.
May 22, 2019
The reason for this particular journey is primarily to witness Julia being awarded by the Queensland Police Commissioner for Ten Years Service as a Police Liaison Officer at Yarrabah Police Station. She’s well regarded, well respected, well loved and now well commended by Queensland Police. Mum Sandra was so proud and happy for her girl Julia, I was very honoured to have been asked along, you couldn't have kept me away if you tried. Julia’s done her family and the force proud, she’s such an amazing woman, I’m constantly in awe of her.
May 21, 2019
I have no idea why it’s taken me so long to get back up here but so happy to be at the turnoff to Yarrabah Road, to see those familiar lush, green hills and now not far to get to Yarrabah and Kunjurra to see Julia, the family, the land. Glad to see there’s still a toilet block on it, nothing else though, not even tents. And super happy to see this one, “Dodo” Donita, Julia’s niece she helped bring up from a baby. This girl’s smile makes my heart melt every single time.
October 4, 2018
What a night to remember. After an amazing feast cooked up by all the family, and with only headlights to light the area, Julia spontaneously picked up her clap-sticks and with her brother Yasserie lead the kids in the dark and danced as Julia sang her stories, what an honour and utter privilege to be here. It was a rich farewell and one I’ll never forgot.
October 4, 2018
Who needs friends when you have so much family, the kids in this family are all friends, and all kids, cousins, whoever are welcome. Bryan’s and my last day before we head back to our respective cities in the morning. If I’ve learned anything on this trip, it’s how much these kids, and their folks love the land, they don’t have a solid dwelling on it right now but are happy with the tents and living off the bush and what they catch in the ocean just to be out here.
October 3, 2018
And the highlight of the day, Paul Kelly with Vika & Linda. One of the best gigs I’ve ever shot, by far, it was a brilliant night, it was warm, it rained gently, the music rocked, and the mood of love of all in the crowd for this place was palpable, what an extraordinary event to have on country.
October 3, 2018
And now for a highlight of this week, the Yarrabah Band Festival. This festival started many years ago and now has the attention of the likes of Paul Kelly and Vika & Linda Bull and Katie Noonan. It’s was incredible fun, a beautiful afternoon with the township of Yarrabah pretty much all flocking to the local oval for the fun of the fair and the concert which includes the Yarrabah Brass Band, which in itself has such a great history. All of Julia’s family were there, sisters, brothers, aunties, uncles, the kids running free all over the place. What a treat for Bryan and myself to be able to be up there at this time. A perfect day for a perfect festival!
October 3, 2018
After six weeks am back up here in this paradise. This time I’ve brought with me Bryan Carmen, a friend of Martin Freney’s, to help do a reccy on the land at Kunjurra and get a feel for the place while Martin can’t be here. Today was pretty extraordinary, Julia took us both, together with her Mum, brother Phillip and some of the kids, into Budabadoo, their pristine ancestral land. From plants, to freshwater prawns, berries and the bush and the yellow mud “mugra” which is used to paint their bodies for story telling, Julia was totally in her element and totally came alive in this natural habitat.
October 10, 2018
A little side-stepping but still with Julia in mind, I’m visiting Adelaide so went into the hills to catch up with Dr Martin Freney at his Earthship Ironbank property. It’s Martin that Scott and I think might be able to help Julia with a house design that blends into the environment, an off-grid, sustainable home, and hopefully one that will be stronger than the family home that was destroyed over time in the cyclones.
September 25, 2018
So now they’re all back, still no proper setup but the whole family’s turned out just to be on this land. Today was a day of everyone chipping in to do their bit, putting tents back together, finding what they can to help them to spend a few more days in the place they so obviously love, this little piece of paradise.
September 24, 2018
Julia just keeps getting on with it. She’s putting on the gloves, not messing about. This woman is strong and resilient and keeps going no matter what.
September 24, 2018
This weather’s crazy, tents smashed and the site quickly cleaned away but the toilet block is now damaged and barely there. Looks like there’s space for something solid for Julia to live in though, so we’re figuring out how to get our friend and Australia’s top earthship builder, Dr Martin Freney, involved.
September 24, 2018
Woke up to a sparkling morning which belied last night’s storm. Most of the family had bolted through the night back to town to safety. With very little sleep, if any, the few of us that were left started getting the damaged campsite cleaned up.
September 23, 2018
No power, one toilet, one kerosene lamp, 15 kids, grandparents, aunties, uncles, Julia, us and a handful of tents. We’re bunkering down for the night with family on the land at Kunjurra and there’s a storm a brewing!
September 23, 2018
On the Yarrabah Road to Yarrabah … hoping this is a good sign for good things to come.
September 22, 2018
The girl from the bush in the city. It’s been nearly a month since hanging out at Yarrabah but today we’re meeting in Brisbane. The story of Julia’s good work has reached a cousin’s cousin in Brisbane and we’ve all (me, Julia, Scotty) come together to work out a business plan with Ernst Young for Julia moving forward with her work with culture.
Afterwards the three of us were air bound for Cairns and then on to Yarrabah to camp out on country and talk to Julia about what help she needs with house building.
August 31, 2018
Just spent the week here in this paradise and now have to get back to Sydney. But before I go get to hang with the kids at the Yarrabah Primary School for their sports day and one last drive around town before I hit the road.
August 29, 2018
Six weeks later and I think we have a plan for Julia, if she’s keen. I’m up here to do a reccy on the land, reconnect with Julia and her family and to ask what they need. They have land but no house and crazy weather conditions in cyclone season. Let’s see if we can build her something resilient and safe. Checking surrounds, so far, there’s been some unfortunate buildings put up, we’re thinking of something stronger and more natural for Julia’s indigenous thinking.
July 17, 2018
Wowser of a day, and driving out at dusk I saw the best of the beauty of Yarrabah. Looks like there’s plans ahead to help Julia and work here, just got to put some ideas together and I’ll be coming back as soon as I can.
July 17, 2018
The last day in Yarrabah and Julia’s invited me to meet her mates at the Yarrabah Police Station where she works as a Police Liaison Officer. Part of the job is to teach newcomers about the indigenous land and indigenous ways, the best place to start was at the Menmuni Museum and Art Centre, set right in front of a lush rainforest. I’m totally in awe of Julia, there’s not one plant that she does now know the name of or how to use in any form for survival.
July 13 2018
After a big day it was a nice night of food and sitting by the the fire yarning with the girls. This day, this land, this sitting around talking with family means a lot to Julia, she’s feeling chilled and content.
July 13, 2018
What better way to celebrate NAIDOC Day than being in a community of people for whom this day is celebrated and to witness this group paying homage to their ancestors and to their life today in this town. Staying with Julia and her family, being part of the celebrations was such a great joy and privilege. Watching Julia work with pride as she prepares costumes for her group to parade through Yarrabah Streets, to seeing her in police uniform in an official capacity as she talks to the crowd and then guides her group onto the oval to perform for the town’s people on the local grounds by the church by the sea, meeting with Auntys and Elders, what a special day. The kids are still pumped from their Cape York adventure, their pride is full when dancing on this day.
July 12, 2018
Missing these people already as soon as I left, so after flying back home to Sydney I found myself coming back to Yarrabah within days. NAIDOC Week is happening, what better way for me to be able to respect it.
July 9, 2018
So hard to leave Bamaga, I fell in love with area and the people. But we have to head home to figure out the next step in this journey. First stop Yarrabah. Scott has yet to visit the place he has just heard so much about, to see where all my stories and passion has been coming from. We’re pretty pumped on what we’ve experienced and learnt this past week, we’re excited and already coming up with ideas on how to help Julia if she wants us to.
July 8, 2018
Sadly the final day, this trip has been so enriching for everyone, an extraordinary experience for both myself and Scotty and what it’s done for Julia and her family is beyond words. No performing today but before we all fly out Scotty and I take the chance to do some last minute recording with Julia so she could tell her story on film.
July 7, 2018
Perfect end to the day … a road trip to Punsand Bay to explore a bit of the countryside and catch a sunset.
July 7, 2018
Final day for performing, again on Bamaga Oval with all clans gathering. The kids are exhausted but happy and still excited to keep the dancing going, they’ve absolutely loved this week. They all got a surprise when the local army guys joined in to dance at the end, there’s been a lot of great support from everyone in this region, it’s pretty overwhelming.
July 6, 2018
The perfect end to a brilliant, packed day. Christine Anu performed on stage at the Bamaga Oval to a full crowd, this being the first time she has performed up there on the land she comes from. Julia was tired, but in awe.
July 6, 2018
The day kept getting bigger. Today was the first time when all the area’s clans were gathered at Bamaga Oval to perform. Julia and her group certainly held their own. With Julia singing and on clap-sticks and brother Yasserie on didg, the kids happily and proudly danced their hearts out.
July 6, 2018
This was so special. What a huge day. Part one. The aim was to travel with Julia and her family to The Tip, Cape York, the most northern part of Australia but more importantly the land, the area where Julia’s ancestors came from. This was like a dream for Julia and her Mum, Sandra, and the rest of the family were pretty chuffed to be there and see this all together as a family. Driving through outback scrub and magical tropical paradise on rough dirt roads sometimes flooded by overnight rains, Julia and Sandra and grand-daughter Donita talked non stop with excitement and stories of why this was so important to them. This trip so momentous and how lucky Scott and I were to be asked along to witness this moment of family history, to share and document what this great experience meant to them. To see the heartfelt and spiritual reverence for this land has left me speechless.
July 6, 2018
Heading north to The Tip you can’t go past the iconic Croc Tent. A must see, must stop and shop. No crocs but lots of merch!
July 5, 2018
Finally at New Mapoon for Julia’s group’s first performance at the Northern Peninsula Area Regional Council Festival (NPARC). Everyone’s nervous but so excited to show what they can do, knowing they’ve been especially invited to this event with other performers from different regions is a dream for them, but one they’ve all worked for, especially Julia. Julia’s got most of the organising covered but along with the kids are some of the parents, Julia’s siblings and their partners, to help get the kids ready. Mugra is hand-painted on to the kid’s bodies, it represents the earth, their green outfits represent the rainforest area from which they as Yidinji come from. Girls’ hair done, head-dresses on, Yasserie on didgeridoo, Julia’s mic’d up for Scott to record her songs, cameras are ready to roll. Let’s dance!
5 July 2018
What an absolute treat, what a surprise, we were running late but drove to Seisia to find the Saibai dancers in all their glory, what a gorgeous display, what amazing dress and cultures that are coming down from the Torres Straight region.
July 5, 2018
Thanks to Joanne at the Bamaga Recreation Centre, the kids, and Julia, got to burn off some pent up energy before doing a local radio interview. Next stop, performing at New Mapoon.
July 4, 2018
Finally got an ETA for the Firestick Ceremony, late morning, so back to Injinoo. It was well worth the wait with mobs coming in from all over the Cape York/Torres Straight Island region to perform, watch, to gather and yarn. Great to see Julia catch up with her mates from Bamaga Police Station that she used to work with in Yarrabah. A homecoming in many ways for her and her Mum and family.
July 4, 2018
And a little detouring to Alau Beach didn’t hurt along the way …
July 4, 2018
Got up before dawn for the 6.30am Fire Stick Ceremony at Injinoo only to find everyone here is running on island time. There was no sign of a ceremony to be held or even preparation for it. So what does a good doco team do? Equipment out, take photos, explore, take more photos. This place is beautiful. Red earth, turquoise seas when the sun’s out, lush trees, dirt roads, wild animals.
July 3, 2018
Met up with the mob at Injinoo and went a few miles up the road to beautiful, pristine Seisia. I think Julia’s still numb knowing she’s finally come up the track this far to this paradise, if it wasn’t for her, these three generations of the family wouldn’t be here. From babies to grandparents, all in between, Julia’s love of her heritage and teaching these kids all about it is what’s got them here and the reason they have huge smiles on their faces. The glow and happiness in their spirits today just emanated across us all. What an absolute joy to be here. Documenting has started, video is rolling and photos galore are coming.
July 3, 2018
First day in! Happy beyond words to be here and to see Julia and her family up here on ancestors land, and of course when we found her and the family she was holding court with the Mayor of Bamaga, the man who made sure they could all make this journey. Everyone’s settled into their accommodation in Umagico and raring to go. Julia’s excited, the family’s so happy, I’m excited and cannot wait to get the coming week’s adventure started. So happy my buddy, documentary maker Scott Ferguson, could come along to film and help document and share this extraordinary opportunity to be part of the week of celebration ahead.
July 2, 2018
Hello Bamaga!
July 2, 2018
After six months of not being able to get back to Yarrabah, but still keeping a close and now trusted connection with Julia and her family, Julia has asked me to come to Bamaga, Cape York, with her and her mob of 25 to document their journey back to their ancestors land of Cape York where they’ve been asked to perform at the National Parks Cultural Festival. I’ve scraped together everything I can to make it, and have brought along with me documentary maker and friend, Scott Ferguson. Julia asked to be documented, I think she’s just kicked us off on a big journey.
December 4, 2017
After seeing the joy of the kids performing on the beach at Jilgi, Julia took me to her family’s land nearby at Kunjurra, where her parents had lost their home through years of harsh, cyclonic weather, finally causing trees to crash and destroy the house her Dad had built. This is the home where Julia twould teach the kids on weekends and school holidays about bush survival, story, dance, songs of culture and ancestors.
December 4, 2017
On the beach at Jilgi, on country. Performance is everything to these kids, these people. It embodies their culture and allows them to express their heritage. Julia has worked tirelessly to instil this knowledge to the younger generations. These are all kids in her extended family.
November 24, 2017
Pure joy in these kids faces as Julia prepares them for a practice run for their upcoming performance in town.
November 18, 2017
Falling in love with Yarrabah, the people and the surrounds. This town was set up for displaced indigenous groups and has a dark history when it was a mission town. But it also has thousands of years of rich, cultural history, which is being kept alive by the elders and a handful of people such as Julia. She’s educated in both white mans and black man’s world and is trying to bridge the gap, but uppermost is keeping her heritage alive and thriving.
November 17, 2017
Totally in awe of meeting Julia Smith in Yarrabah today. Julia is a proud Yidinji woman, a Police Liaison Officer in the town of Yarrabah, just south of Cairns, FNQ. There’s so much more to Julia’s story, but in a nutshell, she is teaching the kids in her extended family all about their ancestral culture, which has culminated into a performance group that Julia writes songs for and choreographs. Her parents, sisters and brothers, nieces and nephews help along the way.
Julia Smith at home with head-dresses she makes for her performance group.