Andrew Kettle: Cunningham's Gap

Abstract

Cunningham's Gap explores Kettle's shared love for the landscape and its perceived spirit that moulded his childhood in Uragupul territory. The remnant language that was documented of the Uragupul people of Whinpullin died with Bunjoey. Most languages of South-East Oueensland were considered to be irreversibly destroyed by 1923. As a result, no fluent speaker of the language particular to this landscape survives. Thought of as a wind, the tones and rhythms of the words are part of the landscape themselves. As a child in Boonah, I enjoyed standing in strong wind and listening to the buffeting on my ear drums. I used to think that I might hear voices. Giberair bukhar kootchi murri dhago whinpullin. Yagari darum yummer. Oonar. Wallingera bung undin tandur. Denyarivar Murri buaraoa wiam. Murri bun gundin Gunool. Yagari Cappoong. Kootchi murri yugara wi repi.