The Jumbun community is in high spirits this week, celebrating 45 years of Jumbun Limited during a commemorative Anniversary Ceremony, held on Girramay Country today.
Coinciding with NAIDOC Week, Jumbun Limited have organised days’ worth of celebrations including an opening ceremony, colour fun run community event, Elders dinner and Rainforest Cricket Cup games.
Jumbun has a population of approximately 140 people from the Girramay and Dyirbal Aboriginal Nations, with Jirrbal and Gulnay people also sharing the community. The 243-ha property consists of 26 residential houses, a Community Hall, medical centre and agricultural paddocks.
Jumbun’s history is proud and determined. Since its establishment on 6 June 1978, Jumbun Limited has worked hard, making it their mission to take control of their land, create meaningful employment, provide social housing and increase economic development for its members.
Nicole Huxley, Jumbun Limited Office Manager, shared Jumbun’s aspirations on behalf of the community, which include leading future decision-making without reliance on government, growing the local economy and retaining traditional ecological knowledge, to create resilient pathways for future generations.
“The Jumbun community recognise the best way to move forward is to explore ways in which we can build self-sustainability and use our natural resources to create economic opportunities that respect our land, culture and heritage,” said Ms Huxley.
The Indigenous Land and Sea Corporation (ILSC) is working with Jumbun to achieve this, by contributing funding towards the maintenance of the property’s facilities, residential housing and municipal services, as well as the opening of the café, Oom-Bul-Mun, which means ‘Gathering Place’.
ILSC funding will also update the community’s Keeping Place building, which is where the Digital Jobs Program – a recent initiative between the Queensland Government and Telstra – will be rolled out to Jumbun participants. The 12-week program will result in Certificate III Traineeships, helping expand career opportunities for the Jumbun community.
Joe Morrison, ILSC Group Chief Executive Officer, said he was proud of Jumbun’s achievements, dedicating their success to the community’s perseverance through the years.
“I congratulate Jumbun on their 45th anniversary, this is a significant and admirable milestone. We are proud to work in partnership with the community towards self-determination and are committed to supporting them through their journey, watching them prosper,” said Mr Morrison.
Jumbun’s spirit has also seen them prevail through some setbacks. One instance being in 1984, when over 110 acres of bananas that were planted on the property were destroyed entirely by cyclone Winifred. However, the one constant for Jumbun has been the community’s goal of self-determination.
The Jumbun community reside on 243 hectares of freehold land, situated between Cardwell and Tully, north of Murray Falls in the foothills of the Kirrama Range in Far North Queensland.
