Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Service
The Sunshine Coast Hospital and Health Service acknowledges and pays respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander elders past and present, people, consumers and staff, on whose land we provide health service.
Legend of Maroochy
Long ago in the dreamtime a young warrior named Coolum was in love with a beautiful woman named Maroochy but a warrior named Ninderry came and stole her. A fierce battle broke out between them and Ninderry hurled his boomerang and beheaded Coolum. His head rolled into the ocean and became Mudjimba Island (Old Women Island). The creator Baime punished Ninderry and his body was turned into stone.
The 2 warriors are now known as Mt Ninderry and Mt Coolum. Maroochy fled to the Blackall Ranges where her salty tears rolled down to become the Maroochy River. Maroochy, meaning red nose, transformed into the black swan and forever swims the river in search of Coolum's spirit.
The painting represents the legend of Maroochy. The circular dot formations are Mt Ninderry and Mt Coolum and Mudjimba Island and the swan is Maroochy. The traditional shield designs from this area represent the 2 warriors, the midjim bush in the sea with the white berry is Mudjimba Island meaning place of midjim. The hand prints are those of local Indigenous Community and represent the new generation of the Aboriginal people living here on the Sunshine Coast.
The artist is Gubbi Gubbi Man and Traditional Owner Lyndon Davis gubbimob@hotmail.com.
Links and other Resources
- State Library of Queensland
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Patient care guidelines (PDF, 8817 kB)
- Communicating Effectively with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people (PDF, 341 kB)
- Sad News, Sorry Business - Guidelines for caring for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander through death and dying (PDF, 453 kB)
- Guidelines for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Terminology (PDF, 207 kB)
- Reconciliation (Queensland Government)
- Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet
- Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies
- Reconciliation Australia: Beyond the myths
Local stories
The information below is what has been researched and identified as local history of the Sunshine Coast area. The information is well documented that the area from the Pine River in the south to Maryborough in the north was the Gubbi Gubbi language group.
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