Ghungalu and Duaringa CommunityKeeping Place and Cultural Centre

Presentation for the Small Museums Conference

23 October 2004

Introductions Nghally Ghungalu Thoonieda

Aboriginal Corporation Organisation set up by

Ghungalu people in 1994 to manage cultural heritage and Native Title activities

Future Dreaming Community development and

capacity building organisation Created in 2003 by Ghungalu

people in partnership with trusted professionals.

Support for individuals and groups to develop their own projects and build their skills, to achieve their goals

Ghungalu people’s traditional estate,

Central Queensland

Today’s presentation How the project began Our vision for the cultural centre and what

it means for the Ghungalu Aboriginal community

The processes we’ve been using to develop the project

Where we’re up to The challenges ahead

The history of the project Mid 2003 - Ghungalu identified need for a

permanent keeping place Coal mining activity and other developments in

the Bowen Basin are disturbing artifacts Ghungalu secured in-principle support from

three mining companies, to support the development of a permanent keeping place

Ghungalu people decided they wanted more than just a place to put artifacts – wanted to create a living cultural and economic hub, to help protect culture and create community development opportunities

History of the project continued

Late 2003 – Ghungalu invited Future Dreaming to assist with developing the project

Early 2004 – discussions between Duaringa Shire Council, Ghungalu and Future Dreaming

Late 2004 - Ghungalu approached Duaringa community to discuss ideas – Duaringa Historical Society

Dec 04 to July 05 – community meetings Also during 2004/2005 Ghungalu and Future

Dreaming initial discussions with interested mining companies

Vision

“Living cultural heritage – helping people connect with the past, understand the present and take part in creating the future”

A working cultural heritage & education centre A tourism destination – the centre itself, and local tours An economic and administrative base for Ghungalu

people on their traditional country A community resource - for local people to meet, have a

coffee and promote local and visiting arts and cultural activities

A sustainable income, to create jobs and keep growing opportunities for members of the community

What it means for Ghungalu people Our community creating our own project, shaping our

own future Control over our own cultural heritage A chance to share our culture, our stories with other

people – recognition on our own land A chance to work more closely with

non-indigenous people in our region and beyond Working partnerships with Duaringa Historical Society,

Duaringa Shire Council, mining companies, others This project has broadened our world, linked us up with

groups we’ve never worked with before We feel now that we’re true partners in the development

of our place, our region Where we’ve never been part of that before – we’ve always

been on the fringes

Future Dreaming’s role

Processes so far Challenges and

opportunities Next steps

Processes so far

Community meetings & newsletters Research and networking Information and capacity building for

community working group Developing our ‘Business Proposal’ NEXT: fundraising for our Feasibility Study

Community meetings January 05 - Ghungalu and

Duaringa community agreed to work together

Working Group created: Ghungalu community Duaringa Historical Society Duaringa Shire Council Future Dreaming

Held meetings every 6 weeks or so, to discuss ideas and ways forward

Draft floor plans to stimulate community discussion Acumen Design, Melbourne

Research and networking Future Dreaming has

been researching information about museums, galleries, tourism, relevant business processes

Discussions with: Museum and Gallery

Services Queensland Museum Koori Heritage Trust Oz Experience backpackers Tourism Queensland Capricorn Tourism Local tour operators Acumen Design (Melbourne) Gall & Medek (Brisbane)

Information and capacity building for the community

Capacity building information sessions Zoe Scott, CQ Museum

Resource Centre – info about other regional museums, study tour opportunities

Tourism Queensland ‘Product Review’ workshop & advice

Capricorn Tourism & local Backpacker hotel (Ascot Hotel)

‘Study tour’ and discussions with Bob Blair, Dreamtime Centre

Ghungalu ‘trial tour’ Working with local businesses

and tour operators – Ascot Hotel/backpackers, Dreamtime Centre, ‘Capricorn Dave’s tours’

Where are we up to?

‘Steps’ we’ve been discussing at community meetings:

Creation of ‘linked’ businessesLocal people develop their ideas for businesses linked to the Cultural Centre

Develop ideas, market research, business plans etc

Develop skills, training

Training for local peopleLocal people develop skills to manage museum/gallery

STUDY TOURSLocal/regional museumsTrip to Sth East Qld

TRAINING

Business Plan, Building,FundraisingCommunity agrees on what we want in the CentreProduct Review WorkshopConsolidate ideas into Business Proposal Feasibility study to assess potential financial returns of chosen venture/approachBUSINESS PLAN

design, costings, legalFUNDRAISING

mining co.s, govt, otherCONSTRUCTION

CENTRE OPENS

Possible involvement of mining companies Three companies have an ‘in-principle’

commitment to a permanent keeping place BHP/BMA, Xstrata, Curragh Other mines may become involved too

Presentation of our ‘Business Proposal’ to mining reps last Monday was positive Interested in contributing to Feasibility Study Interested in seeing the centre offer induction

training for mine staff, also offer training in cultural heritage surveys and processes for other indigenous groups in the region

The big issue …

How can the centre sustain itself? With no Council $ for long term running costs Small local population Need a realistic, commercial focus

Feasibility Study important to identify income generating opportunities

Tourism – cultural, educational, ecotourism Cultural heritage training for mining companies Cultural heritage training for other indigenous groups

Our ideas so far – ‘Business Proposal’

Community Vision Benefits for community and

supporters Elements of the centre - multi

purpose site Proposed site – Mackenzie

Park New building to house the

centre Possible management

structures Legal matters + insurance Funding issues – budget and

income sources Opportunities and Risks Professional supporters Next steps

Elements of multi-purpose site Collection, storage and work areas for two groups

(Ghungalu and DHS) Shared museum and interpretive centre

Telling the shared story of cultural heritage for this region Space for permanent and visiting exhibitions

Tourism information and hub for local tours To Blackdown, Mackenzie River, around town etc

Art gallery for local artists Coffee shop Gift shop Bush foods and bush medicines garden/trail Community resources – gallery, meeting place, small

cinema Office, administration and training space

Proposed siteMackenzie Park, Duaringa1.5 hours west RockhamptonOn the Capricorn Highway

New building to house cultural centre

Community agreed a new building would be the best way to combine all elements of the cultural centre

Early ‘floor plans’ from Acumen Design helped us talk about what we might want

Gall and Medek have drafted revised drawings, helping us to refine what we want, what it’ll cost

Management of the proposed Centre New legal entity would best meet the community’s needs

Will need to incorporate Ghungalu, Duaringa community and Duaringa Shire Council interests. No existing entity/organisation can do this.

Board structure – needs to be created to ensure community control and corporate stability Reps on Board from Ghungalu and Duaringa community,

Council, corporate interests – all to be discussed Staffing

Will need key staff to run the centre (eg General Manager, others)

Will aim to include salaries in any up-front grant funding Will need Cultural Advisory Groups/committees – to ensure each

group’s cultural heritage is protected the way they want it to be Feasibility Study can advise best way forward on staffing issues

Challenges

Funding is obviously going to be a HUGE issue Will need ‘up front’ grant funding for capital costs+

design and fit out + salary start up Or we may scale it down and use existing buildings

Ongoing running costs – electricity, salaries, stock etc This is where the Feasibility Study is essential Need to identify how the Centre might make an

income, and might sustain itself over time for the good of the community

Maintaining local enthusiasm Attracting good management, staff

Opportunities

The strength of a project created 100% by the community, in partnership with committed stakeholders

Only indigenous tourism venue in Duaringa Shire and in that ‘patch’ of the Capricorn

Location – right on highway Develop markets with educational tourism and eco-

tourism Develop markets for selling local arts/crafts (shop front,

internet) Only ‘real’ coffee shop on the highway between

Blackwater and Rocky!

What’s next? Finalise Terms of Reference

for Feasibility Study ‘Formally’ invite mining

companies and government agencies to help us fund the Feasibility Study

Conduct Feasibility Study to explore ways the centre might earn an income to sustain itself

Hopefully begin the study first quarter of next year

Then? We’ll see what we can grow…