BOROBI’S NEW JOB IS SAVING THE LOCAL LANGUAGE
THE Glitter Strip’s iconic Commonwealth Games mascot Borobi will step into the national limelight today at Parliament House.
Borobi has been recruited by Yugambeh Museum to help preserve Aboriginal language, which is in a worrying state across the country.
Of more than 250 indigenous languages, 90 per cent are now considered “endangered”, said museum grant manager Jenna Williamson.
The blue marsupial, “koala” in the Yugambeh language, will accompany museum CEO Rory O’Connor to Canberra to present the book Back from the Lost – Against the Odds to members of Parliament.
It details the “David and Goliath” struggle over more than three decades to resurrect the lost Yugambeh language.
Ms Williamson said the language was essentially non-existent before indigenous elder and museum founder Patricia O’Connor sprung into action.
“Throughout the 35year journey, when Patricia O’Connor started the museum she was told the Yugambeh language was lost – to go and learn some other language, because you’ll never get their language back,” she said.
“Her and her sister, they researched and they created a community space to share their language, and that’s how the museum was started.”
Ms Williamson said it was invaluable to have Borobi backing the revival of indigenous language due to his widespread recognition.
The museum believes Borobi’s role as an indigenous language champion has “resulted in a skyrocketing uptake of language programs and the use of Yugambeh language”.
The Yugambeh language people are traditional custodians of land at Logan, Gold Coast, the Scenic Rim and Tweed.