Barunga, Northern Territory

Barunga Northern Territory
Barunga
Coordinates	14°31′15″S 132°51′54″E / 14.52083°S 132.86500°ECoordinates: 14°31′15″S 132°51′54″E / 14.52083°S 132.86500°E
Population	282 (2006 census)[1]
Postcode(s)	0852
LGA(s)	Roper Gulf Region
Federal Division(s)	Lingiari

Barunga is a small aboriginal community located approximately 80 kilometres (50 mi) southeast of Katherine, in the Northern Territory, Australia. Barunga is part of the Roper Gulf Region LGA. The community has a health clinic, camping grounds, sports oval, basketball courts, softball pitch, school, council office, a community store. At the 2006 census, Barunga had a population of 282.^[1]

Each year, the community holds the Barunga Festival which occurs in mid June.

History

In 1913, tin mines opened in a location known as Maranboy. Many prospectors (of European, Chinese and aboriginal background), who became the first settlers in the area worked at this mine. The mines at Maranboy closed in 1945 and the aboriginal people who serviced the mine returned to Beswick Creek. In 1948, the community moved on from Beswick to Tandangal, because of risk of flooding from recent heavy rains.

Bamyili Town Council

However, a few years later they returned, as Tandangal's creeks had dried up and they had problems with water.^[2]

There are also some reports that Tandangal was a sacred site, and the people were reluctant to settle there.^[3] In early 1951, the Northern Territory Government started to develop the community, then known as the Beswick community, building basic housing infrastructure and creating some minor employment opportunities. Local farmers also employed the aboriginal people, even running a peanut farm at Beswick Creek. The farm from accounts only lasted a few years.

As Beswick grew, new tribes came to settle in, and a camp formed on the other side of the river known as 'the Compound' where the people made humpies. In 1965, the elders changed the name of Compound to Bamyili in 1965.^[2] In 1984, it changed its name to Barunga.^[3]

The Barunga school was first opened in 1954 with 42 children enrolled. Today, Barunga has a dynamic school with students aged from 6 months to 19 years.

Australian cycling champion Cadel Evans spent his early childhood in Barunga.^[4]

Barunga Festival

Barunga Festival officially began in 1985 in the remote Aboriginal community of what was then known as Bamyilli. The Festival has been held every year since on the Queen’s Birthday long weekend in June. In 2013 Barunga Festival was held from June 7 to 10. In 1988 at the Barunga Festival, the then Prime Minister, Bob Hawke, who was attending the Festival, was presented with two paintings and a text calling for Indigenous rights. This has become known as the Barunga Statement. In his speech Bob Hawke said there would be a treaty within the life of the current Parliament. This never happened, but in the spirit of the original intention, people still gather annually at Barunga to celebrate indigenous culture. Ever since this much loved Territory event has seen people from all over the country descend upon the small indigenous community south of Katherine where they camp and take part in a program of workshops, dancing ceremonies, traditional bush tucker gathering, didgeridoo making, basket weaving and enjoy plenty of great music and sport from the region. Barunga Festival is an exciting time for the community as they reunite with family members and countrymen from all over the Top End, and welcome tourists from far and near to experience community life for the weekend.

The Barunga Statement

In June 1988, many aboriginal tribes gathered and a statement of national Aboriginal political objectives was issued to the federal government in June 1988. This became known as the ‘Barunga Statement’. It was written on bark and presented to Prime Minister Bob Hawke at that year’s Barunga festival. It called for Aboriginal self-management, a national system of land rights, compensation for loss of lands, respect for Aboriginal identity, an end to discrimination, and the granting of full civil, economic, social and cultural rights. Prime Minister Hawke responded by saying that he wished to conclude a treaty between Aboriginal and other Australians by 1990, but his wish was not fulfilled.^[3]

The Australian Aboriginal band, Yothu Yindi, wrote the song "Treaty" to commemorate the statement. The song became a worldwide success.

References

1. Australian Bureau of Statistics (25 October 2007). "Barunga (Bamyili) (L) (Urban Centre/Locality)". 2006 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 28 November 2011.
2. "About Barunga". Barunga Sports and Cultural Festival. Retrieved 29 July 2011.
3. "Barunga Statement". Treaty. Archived from the original on 17 July 2011. Retrieved 29 July 2011.
4. Kerry Sharp (2011-07-25). "Cadel fever takes over the Top End". Accidentally Outback.