Gadhungal Murring group share culture on Survival Day

For many, including proud Bidjigal Dharawal man Raymond Timbery, the date marks Survival Day.

It's an heavy day of remembrance, but also a day of celebrating the next generation that will continue to pass down his people's stories.

"Today is a day of mourning," said Raymond, the founder of Gadhungal Murring. "It brings a spiritual feeling of sadness."

"We call it Survival Day because it's the day our people lived through the massacres with the intention of a race being wiped out completely.

"If we do celebrate, our intentions of celebration is not about our past and colonisation - our celebration is about a new generation of children, our babies that hold life and continue to care for our country.

"We celebrate as a nation and as one."

The Marine Rescue's annual Jervis Bay duck derby fundraiser has been running for over a decade, and this year was the first time the Gadhungal Murring group was invited to the event to do a Welcome to Country and share their culture on this significant date.

"We grew up here but running something like this with Marine Rescue is brand new," said Raymond.

"They approached us about being a part of the event and opening up. For us, its an honour when we get asked to do those things on our country, it's beautiful.

"Normally, we have to go to Sydney or down the coast (on January 26) because there's nothing really on that we're invited to."

Hundreds gathered at Moona Moona Creek in Huskisson on Wednesday to watch Gadhungal Murring dancers before the duck derby, where the crowd was invited to get involved.

The crowd walked through the Smoking Ceremony and engaged in cultural workshops, including boomerang painting.

"We're running workshops throughout the day for the kids," said Raymond. "Everything we do is inclusive, and that's very important."

"And it is inclusive because we don't like to separate through race or backgrounds, languages are spoken, it's all about sharing our own stories.

"And when someone has a platform to do that, the easiest thing to do is look, listen and learn. Today is about passing on those stories."

While calls to change the date have grown louder in recent years, Raymond said he would rather not "get into politics" and focus on coming together if the date is to remain.

"I'm all about coming together. We can celebrate a new future and that's what this date would be if it is to stay," he said.

"It's about working with the people not against the people.

"I focus on my circle, my little babies and growing up in a world where unity is of utmost importance."

Marine Rescue Jervis Bay unit commander Tony Dagger said inviting Gadhungal Murring to the event was "the obvious thing to do" on January 26.

"The (Jervis) Bay has such a strong Indigenous presence, some don't realise it," said Tony.

"We're going to continue this (at the event). We want the identity and the representation for all parts of the community."

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