Doomadgee Linguistics Project

Fast Facts:

Duration: 12 weeks (including 3 days of Orientation); Start date in July 2011

Location: Doomadgee – 100 km west of Burketown, Queensland (Remote location)

Arrival Airport: Brisbane International Airport

Working Hours: approx. 38/ week

Accommodation: Homestay

Transport:

Brisbane/Cairns approx $200 one way – may vary depending on season. Travel via Qantas or Virgin Airlines. Approximate travel time 2 hours. Cairns/Doomadgee approx $440 one way – may vary depending on season. Travel via Skytrans Airlines (Regional Airlines). Approximate travel time 40 minutes.

Requirements:

• Minimum age 18
• Ability to assist in developing language resources
• Good Oral and Written English skills

Cultural Orientation

All volunteers are required to attend a 3-day Cultural Orientation prior to visiting their allocated community. This may include:

Day One (Monday)

• Introduction to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander History
• Explanation of Social Issues within the community
• What is culture…explanation of the elements of culture
• Men’s/ Women’s Business
• Didgeridoo demonstration
• Family Structure

Day Two (Tuesday)

• Body Language
• Protocol and Cultural Values and Obligations
• Totems
• Bush Tucker/Medicine (Bush Tucker Morning Tea)
• Introduction to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Art
• Visit to Indigenous Organisations

Day Three (Wednesday)

• Visit to Qld Art Gallery and or Eumundi (several Art Galleries)
• Introduction to the community specific to selected Volunteer Project

Note: Volunteers will be guided by local Indigenous and Non–Indigenous people living in the Community regarding cultural sensitivities.

Itinerary

Project Details: The project is an effort to revitalise the local Waanyi language. Language resource material and programs are being developed so that the language can be taught at local schools and the community centre. This is an urgent project, which promises positive outcomes for current and future Waanyi people by maintaining and revitalising the culture through language.

Volunteer Requirements/Skills: Volunteers should have an interest in languages and possess an ability to assist in developing language resource materials.

Your role as a volunteer: As a volunteer you will be assisting the local Community Language Team in developing a range of language resources that can later be used for teaching purposes in schools and community centres.

Where the project is based: The project is based in Doomadgee, an Aboriginal community of about 1200 people. It is located in the Gulf country, 100 km west of Burketown. The community was named after Dumaji, a sandy coastal mound in the land held by the Gananggalinda and the Waanyi people.

In 1930 a mission was established at Burketown by Len and Dorothy Akehurst, members of the Christian Brethren Assembly. Two years later, mainly at the prompting of the Aborigines, the mission was transferred to Dumaji (Doomadgee), 100 km north-west of Burketown, opposite Mornington Island. Within two years the administration officials proposed another move to a site on the Nicholson River, west of Burketown. When a cyclone severely damaged coastal Doomadgee in 1936, the transfer to Nicholson River (New Doomadgee) followed. There was a hospital, a school (1933), cattle run (1200 head and 60 horses), a 65 acre garden, some cottages, but a general shortage of vehicles and equipment (1953).

New Doomadgee’s population increased markedly during the 1950–60s and the township’s facilities increased: a store, bank, post office, rodeo ground and a bakery. Doomadgee has a retail store, preschool, primary and secondary education, a hospital, and accommodation facilities for which bookings and permits are required.

NOTE: Important restrictions on the type and quantity of liquor that can be brought into various remote Indigenous communities have been gradually implemented in Queensland. Alcohol Management Plans have been developed by Community Justice Groups and contain recommendations for declaring all or part of a community area either a ‘Restricted Area’ and/or a ‘Dry Place’. People who live in, or are planning to visit, travel through or pass near a community which they feel may have restrictions should ensure they are aware of the laws. Bag checks can and will happen and severe fines apply if people are caught.

For detailed information by community visit the Queensland Government Office of Liquor and Gaming Regulation website.

Weather & Clothing:

Extreme heat is a serious issue in this location. The climate records for Burketown show that on average (over 112 years of records) the area experiences 86 days a year with temperatures over 35°C and 4.3 days a year with temperatures over 40°C. Such extreme temperatures can cause heat stroke and death if appropriate measures are not taken such as avoiding strenuous physical effort, keeping as cool as possible and drinking lots of water, and also using appropriate sun protection. Heat waves kill more people in Australia than all other natural hazards combined. This region is also prone to cyclones from December to March.

As temperatures in Doomadgee are high all year round, appropriate summer clothing is suggested. When selecting footwear please note that this is a very arid area with the majority of the community consisting of red desert dust. If volunteers wish to go bush walking then appropriate footwear such as boots or sneakers would be suggested.

What’s included