Gumbi Gumbi Gardens
The Gumbi Gumbi Gardens were established through a partnership between the local community and UniSQ as a place for learning and the sharing of ideas. The Gardens form part of the University’s commitment to developing a better understanding of local Indigenous heritage, and acknowledging the culture and contribution they have continued to make to their region.
The symbol of these gardens, the gumbi gumbi (also known as a pittosporum angustifolium) was introduced to Toowoomba as a multi-purpose medicine by Joyce and Walter McCarthy. It represents knowledge, growth and healing. The Gardens were designed in close partnership with respected Historical Elders from Toowoomba and Elders of the Jarowair people.
With more than 100 plant species over approximately 2.2 hectares, the gardens display an extensive array of Indigenous flora used by the local Aboriginal communities for a range of purposes, including food and medicine. Located on the northern side of the UniSQ Toowoomba campus main entrance, the Gumbi Gumbi gardens is also used for teaching purposes, featuring both small and large teaching spaces.
Our inspiration
"Tell me a story looking at a picture of old man on wall".
by Herb Wharton
Old man from the dreamtime
tell me a story
of your legends and lores
or tell me of nature
and a mother called earth.
Who taught you medicine
how to make fire
who was builder taught you to fish
with traps made of stone.
Genetics you knew of
controlling of birthbreeding and marriage
what was right meat,
what was taboo,
who was doctor made all these rules.
The shaping of grindstone
for milling of flour
designing of boomerang
woomerra and spear
who hold the patient
old man from the past.
When lacking in calories
dirt rich in vitamins
from anthill you ate
who was dietician told you do that
de-toxin the poison
from berries and roots
who was the chemist
taught you do that.
The corroborees you dance
movements and step
who wrote the script,
the drumming and clacking of sticks
the sounds of horn made from wood
who was musician
old man on the wall.
The painting in caves
and peckings on stone
who was historian
recorded all that.
Alas only silence
from old man on the wall
his secrets (old dreamtime)
lay hiddenin depth of the soil.
Old tribal man from dreamtime past
you knew of nature’s secrets
you worshipped mother earth
men trying to learn today
things you knew ten thousand years ago.
With rocket ships now aimed at Mars
men have walked upon the moon
yet still secrets of your dreamtime
and hope of future races
all lie in mother earth.
In the Spirit of Reconciliation
Our paths have crossed this land for
countless generations.
Our camping grounds and ritual sites
inhabit this landscape.
The earth is our mother, we feed from her
breast. It is our responsibility to respect
and care for her.
We are never far from water and the land is
rich with food to sustain us and medicines
to heal us.
Our children and babies are our life blood.
As we are future ancestors, they are our
reason for being.
We are dependent on each other.
Our culture, our totems and our kinship
enrich us and make us strong.
Through our stories and rituals we connect
with knowledge ancient and proven.
Through our resilience we have adapted,
survived and now flourish to share our
stories with you.
All are connected. Come, walk beside us.
We came in ships.
Our ways were strange.
We were not receptive to the lessons this
land could teach us and we thought ourselves
superior to the people who were here before
us.
While our hearts were elsewhere, we were
hungry for land and our arrogance made us
cruel.
Our biased laws let us believe that our actions
were just.
We were ignorant that what we sought to
destroy was precious and sacred.
But time has slowly changed us. Our
weaknesses are many but our virtues include
our capacity to learn, to admit our mistakes
and to finally come to understand.
We express our regret and remorse with
sincerity. We are sorry.
Circumstances have brought us all together
within the bosom of this special land.
We seek to listen and to share your caring.
All are connected. We walk beside you.
