Latest news with #Kamilaroi
ABC News
08-07-2025
- General
- ABC News
A family secret unearths connection to country
Yvonne Orley grew up on Aboriginal missions in NSW as the child of the matron and manager, before the family moved to Brisbane where Yvonne became a nurse. Only much later did Yvonne learn that she had deep ties to the place and the people where she spent her childhood. Although her mother had tried to hide this part of the family story, it turned out that Yvonne herself was a Kamilaroi woman and this was her mother's traditional country. Yvonne's life took another unexpected turn 25 years ago when her sister asked if she would allow a group of high needs mentally disabled adults move into her home, and Yvonne said yes. Further information Find out more about the Conversations Live National Tour on the ABC website.
SBS Australia
04-07-2025
- Entertainment
- SBS Australia
Meet the Indigenous chef stirring change in Australia's $80 million native food industry
Standing at a small outdoor grill in Brisbane, Koori chef Chris Jordan is showing a group of trainees how to smoke sea mullet. It's all part of his broader purpose 'Really important to pass down this knowledge to a younger generation, especially working in the food industry as there isn't much of a representation of First Nations chefs using First Nations food.' Watching on, 19-year-old apprentice Kaylee Rose Tsoumbris Davies 'It makes me feel connected. It is just a really nice feeling to get to know something that I didn't know my whole life growing up, that was a big struggle for me.' For Mr Jordan, passing on knowledge is very personal. Growing up in Northern NSW, he learned little about his Aboriginal heritage or his connections to Kamilaroi country. 'Speaking to my grandmother, they were told if anyone asks 'tell someone that you're Italian'. And there was a lot of shame in the family. It is amazing in my lifetime to see that shift and my family, my extended family, um be proud of who they are.' Family means a lot to Mr Jordan, who named his catering business in memory of his father Joseph … a refugee from former-Yugoslavia, who died when he was a baby. 'I don't have any memories of him at all. And that's part of the reason why I named my business Three Little Birds was his favourite song by Bob Marley as a message of positivity in our family.' After a stint in London, Mr Jordan returned to Australia in 2017, determined to learn about his heritage. And he found an Aboriginal mentor who changed his life forever. 'The biggest part for me getting sober was meeting Auntie Dale. She has been in the bush food industry for 35 years now. She's an amazing chef, an amazing educator.' Born at Dirranbandi (Deer-an-bandy) in south-west Queensland Aunty Dale Chapman is well known for cooking with native foods. She is pleased to have supported Mr Jordan's progress. 'I'm extremely proud! He's taken Australian native ingredients to another level, and being able to share it with the young people is so important because they are ultimately our future.' For Mr Jordan, securing the future also means sourcing sustainable bush foods and supporting Indigenous growers. Australia's bush food industry is valued at more than 80 million dollars annually, according to Sydney University research. Yet few of the profits go back to Indigenous growers. 'Less than 3% of the Bush food industry is Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander owned, and I think that really needs to shift. Making sure that the money goes back to community and we've collaborated with a lot of different restaurants and cafes.' One supplier is the Food Connect Shed in Brisbane -a community-owned hub focusing on sustainable food systems. Its CEO is Robert Pekin ( PRON Peekin). 'it's owned by 540 odd people. Most of them are locals. One of our big long-term objectives is we need to get First Nations food into our diets in a mainstream way.' Teaching respect for native ingredients and their traditional uses is also a growing focus at universities across the country. Dr Frances Wyld teaches Aboriginal Studies at the University of South Australia. 'They are the foods that have sustained Aboriginal people for 60,000 years. They also require less care, such as more water, more pesticides, because they belong here, they grow here.' It's information that Mr Jordan shares in school classrooms and at cooking workshops in juvenile detention. He also supports young people who've had contact with the justice system. 'A huge percentage of our First Nations youth are incarcerated. It's really important to have that connection to culture and have the opportunity for employment. For me personally, leaving home at a young age and going down a path where I ended up having to get sober and really clean my life up, introducing native ingredients really helped me. Yeah it's really, really powerful.' Whether showcasing bush foods to the public or teaching young trainees, for Mr Jordan it's about inspiring change beyond the plate. 'So, passing it down through food and sharing my experience and how it saved my life, I think it's a really strong message.'
Herald Sun
25-06-2025
- Herald Sun
Review of Wilderluxe Lake Keepit for glamping in NSW
Perched high on Kamilaroi Country between Tamworth and Gunnedah, Wilderluxe Lake Keepit is Reflections' newest reimagined retreat—where elevated camping meets country soul. Imagine sleeping under the vast expanse of the "Big Sky Country" in a climate-controlled Star Tent, complete with a skylight for stargazing, a king-sized bed, and an outdoor bathtub on a private deck. Wilderluxe Lake Keepit offers this dreamy escape, blending comfort with the raw beauty of nature. As the sun sets, indulge in complimentary drinks and nibbles, followed by the "Big Sky Dreaming" experience, a storytelling narration film by Kamilaroi Elder Uncle Len Waters, weaving together Indigenous and Western astronomy. Location Just 5.5 hours from Sydney or a breezy 40 minutes from Tamworth, Wilderluxe Lake Keepit came to life. As we took our first gaze at the lake, it felt like diving into an aquamarine daydream, where time slowed and nature stole the show. Sunlight danced on the lake as mountains stood proud, while pelicans glided, eagles soared, and kangaroos lounged like they'd read the script. Safari style I expected the eight Aussie-made glamping tents to be more basic, what I got was boutique luxury. Think solid walls, timber floors, a sleek kitchenette, and oversized lounge chairs made for serious relaxing. Each tent features a retractable skylight, outdoor tub, and a Weber Q for golden-hour grilling. Inside, ambient lighting warms the camel-toned walls, while plush robes and a retro turntable with curated vinyl bring safari-boho charm. The compact bathroom is cleverly designed, with a roomy rain shower, there's even a hairdryer and steam iron stashed in the kitchenette. And that view? Lake Keepit, serene and sprawling—two-thirds the size of Sydney Harbour—stretches before you. From your tent or the Gilay Lounge, it's stargazing central: scan the Milky Way, track the moon, and play sky guide from your private celestial perch. The surrounds Wilderluxe Lake Keepit isn't just glamping, it's stargazing, storytelling, and soul-deep luxury under an endless sky. We roamed the lake on DiroDi bikes, but the real magic unfolded at sunrise and sunset, where design and Country blend in effortless harmony. Created with the Kamilaroi community and guided by Uncle Len Waters, every detail tells a story. Our tent, Dhirri Dhirri (named after the willy wagtail, a Kamilaroi messenger bird), was one thread in a tapestry of meaning. Curved paths echo river flow; sandstone by the firepit holds ancient gathering symbols. Drinking & dining Breakfast begins with a curated spread of cereals, sourdough, fruit, and yoghurt in the kitchenette. We lingered over ours on the deck, watching the land wake up. One morning, I lost track of how many coffees I downed at the Gilay Lounge—free-flow and free of charge. Lunch was a graze of dips, cheese, crackers, and cured meats from our hamper, chased with kombucha by the lake. Come golden hour, we gathered around the firepit for sundowners and stories, swapping tales under a sky full of stars. For dinner, we grilled BBQ packs on the deck's Weber Q one night, then took a scenic drive to Carroll Gap Farmhouse the next for hearty, home-style fare. Nearby Gunnedah and Tamworth offer cafés and restaurants worth the detour, but for a local, laid-back bite, the Reflections Holiday Park café serves up classic burgers and fish and chips Friday to Sunday. Experiences Just five minutes down the road, the Lake Keepit Soaring Club delivers one of the ultimate big-sky experiences. I strapped myself into a two-seat glider with a seasoned pilot and took flight over 7,500 hectares of Crown land. It wasn't just a scenic tour, more a silent immersion above the vast beauty of the Liverpool Plains, offering a whole new perspective on Lake Keepit's sheer scale and I'm calling it, one of the best things I've ever done. While nearby Carroll Gap Farmhouse offers immersive workshops in cheesemaking, pasta crafting, preserving, and sourdough. What's hot An outdoor tub with lake views that's piping full in under eight minutes flat. This is your chance to slow down and soak up the stillness of the sky and water's restorative energy. What's not The in-tent food offerings are thoughtful but minimal, so come prepared with extra provisions to truly make it your own. A complementary pair of cosy slippers wouldn't hurt for those crisp early deck moments. The verdict: 9/10 Think this is rustic. Think again. Wilderluxe Lake Keepit is a unique wild heart with a five-star soul allowing guests to reconnect with the great outdoors. Stays at Wilderluxe Lake Keepit start at $1100 for a 2-night min stay for 2 people, including breakfast. The writer was a guest of Wilderluxe Lake Keepit. Originally published as Review: Wilderluxe Lake Keepit is changing the glamping game in NSW
Elle
05-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Elle
Tate McRae Gets Ultimate Compliment From The Kid Laroi
Every item on this page was chosen by an ELLE editor. We may earn commission on some of the items you choose to buy. First, there is the coolness of his name: 'Laroi' honors the Kamilaroi people, the indigenous Aboriginal nation from which he descends. And it gets better from there. The 21-year-old rapper—and singer and songwriter—is dating Tate McRae, has new music coming that you'll be listening to all summer, and doesn't forget his roots: A hardscrabble upbringing in Sydney, his devoted mother, and a dream realized through hard work, mix tapes, and talent. Oh, and he smiled for almost every second of this interview. You can do whatever you want to do, as long as you put your mind to it. And it sounds pretty cliché, but I really do believe that. Me believing that as a kid, even if it was semi-delusional, helped me do this. It's pretty crazy as a kid to believe, I'm gonna be a big musician one day! That's a bit of a delusional thought. But there's something about that thought, when you really believe that and come into it, and it was instilled in me by my mum 100 percent. Definitely my girlfriend. She's the hardest working artist I've ever met in my entire life. And I don't say that because she's my girlfriend. Seeing how hard she works inspires and encourages me to follow along and do the same. There's something really, really motivating about that—and really attractive as well. I think Ariana Grande is awesome on a pure, creative level. I love her music, I love her new album. I kind of love everything that she does. Like, she's got it. My girlfriend can never decide what she wants to eat. What do you want to eat? Oh, I don't know. Up to you. Okay, how about this? No. The obvious is to just say it. Which means dropping the pride—that's a big one. The biggest thing I'm learning is that it's not about who's right or wrong, because emotions are sometimes not logical. I think just understanding that feelings exist whether they're logical or not. But I'm also a big flower guy. That's easy. Every time she smiles, it makes me weak. I love to cook. I'm actually supposed to cook tonight. Chicken piccata. That's the request. So I'll do the whole thing—roasted vegetables, a little salad. I make everything, but sometimes I do get a salad from the store and put it in a bowl and make it look nice. Erykah Badu. That's good, chill music. I like a chill, good vibe around the house. I inherited that from my mum. We're homebodies. Sometimes it's nice to go out and do stuff like that, but most times, we'll just be like, 'Yo, should we go out for dinner? Let's just order something. Let's make something. Let's watch something.' The new Black Mirror just came out, so we've been watching that. The new Love on the Spectrum. That's one of the best shows ever—Connor is, like, my favorite person of all time. I like to think I have okay style. I definitely always ask my girlfriend for opinions. My friend Dev is like, probably one of the freshest people I know, so I ask him for advice. But I think over the years I've definitely got a lot better with my personal style. I think I figured out what I look good in and what I don't. I went through a phase when I just wanted to buy designer, with the biggest logos you could see. Once I got over that, I started figuring out what fits me a little better, what I look better in. I'm getting pretty dialed in. A version of this story appears in the Summer 2025 issue of ELLE. GET THE LATEST ISSUE OF ELLE
AU Financial Review
28-05-2025
- General
- AU Financial Review
The drover and the telephone operator who built a $1.4b fortune
'Work hard and they will respect us,' Henry 'Bunny' Allen used to preach to his kids. And nobody had a harder job than him. He toiled away, lathered in sweat and wool fat, as the sun bore down on the tin roof of a shearing shed. Bunny, a Kamilaroi man, lived his creed. He saved his shearing money and bought his family a house in Moree, in western NSW just below the Queensland border. In the 1960s, the Allens were one of the few Indigenous families living in town. Most lived in shanties, out on the mission. Bunny's daughter, Gail, was academically gifted and one of the few Indigenous kids in the A-class at Moree High. But she copped it from the whites, for being black, and from the blacks for being 'uptown'. She is forever grateful to Mrs Johnson, a teacher at her primary school, who held her hand in the playground and gave her the honour of cleaning the blackboard. Gail told a friend this simple act of kindness changed her life. A few years ago, she tracked her down to thank her.
