Currumbin Sanctuary launches a traditional yarning circle to celebrate NAIDOC Week

Indigenous Education Officer Ken Brown said, “Yarning Circles can feel like home, a place where we can find our true selves and connect with each other. The Yarning Circle is the platform from where I can express, translate and perform actions that connect what was displaced, but never lost.”

Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary shares the Indigenous caretaker spirit through its conservation projects and is proud to celebrate the culture of the Yugambeh language group, the Gold Coast’s traditional custodians.

Of the Yarning Circle, Ken said, “Yarning Circles are conscious, animated and engaged beings. They breathe life into all that come into contact with them. I guarantee that nobody leaves a good Yarning without a new perspective on being alive.”

Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary partners with Jellurgal Cultural Centre to provide visitors with an insight into the rich culture of Australia’s first people through dance, language, and stories.

Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary General Manager Michael Kelly said, “It’s important to give our guests more opportunities to experience local Indigenous language so they can better understand the deep ties between Aboriginal people and the Australian wildlife that we protect at Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary.”

The Sanctuary also named two of their new Koala joeys with Indigenous Australian names to celebrate NAIDOC week this July 4-11.

The joeys will be called Yalburru, which means Happy and Yalnun, which translates to Sunlight in the Yugambeh language.

Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary Koala Specialist Sarah Eccleston said, “Getting the chance to name our Koalas is very special. We often choose a theme as a team.”

The Sanctuary supports a healthy population of around 50 Koalas. You can see our Koala mums and bubs daily in our dedicated Koala Nursery.