The Peacemaker Story

The “Peacemaker Story” is a traditional Dreamtime story owned and theologically interpreted by Pastor George Rosendale OAM of Hopevale FNQ. It tells a story of what happens when Emu makes peace between Brolga and Jabiru.

This production was originally intended to be a resource for our students in leading Religious Education classes for children in their communities. It is now capturing the hearts of both adults and children who have heard it, regardless of their background. The book is written in words spoken by Pastor George Rosendale and illustrated in traditional style by Aboriginal artist Zane Saunders. Published 2005.

How Kangaroo Found His Tail

How Kangaroo Found his Tail’ is a story from the Guugu Yimithirr people of Hopevale, near Cooktown. The book teaches words in their local language.  We already know one word, that is, ‘kangaroo.’  It was given to Captain Cook and his crew, while they were repairing the ship the Endeavour.  That one word is now known throughout the world, to describe this special animal that does not walk but hops.  This story points out to children that we are all different and special like the kangaroo and helps them to understand how to live as the special person they are.
Published 2005.

Triggerfish and Trevally - Nageg and Geigi

‘Trigger Fish and Trevally’– Nagag and Geiga, is an engaging story about a mother and the trouble her son gets into. It is suitable for primary school age children to read. The story concludes with a moral lesson, which draws comparison to Jesus’ parable about the Lost Sheep. The new children’s book based on a traditional Mer Island story from the Torres Strait Islands.  The story was told by the Anglican Priest, Rev. Stephen Tabo. Published 2006.

The Fishtrap Makers - Kos and Abob

The Fishtrap Makers is another story from Mer Island in the Torres Strait, given by the Rev. Dalton Cowley. He says:

“The story I am going to tell you comes from Murray Island. It is about my ancestors, the two brothers, Kos and Abob. My story tells of how they built all the fishtraps around Murray (Mer), Waier, Dauar, Darnley (Erub) and Stephen (Ugar) Islands, so that everyone could have enough fish to eat. It also tells how they cooperated with each other to fight evil. Kos in my language (Meriam) is the name of a type of sardine that lives in the shallow water around the islands. Abob is the name of a blowfly. You may ask why a sardine and a blowfly are brothers. This is to show us that no matter how different we look we are brothers and sisters in the eyes of God.” Published 2007.

Dhubbi's Mischievous Adventure

Kathi Gibson-Steffensen wrote this story for her own children and she is sharing it more widely through this publication. She a member of the Guugu Yimithirr people from Hope Vale in Far North Queensland. The story includes some words from the Guugu Yimithirr language.

Dhubbi was a mischievous little Aboriginal boy who lived in Hope Vale. He liked playing with his friends. He liked daydreaming. He didn’t like listening to the elders, like Old Man Jimmy, who talked about his great grandfather’s ways, and taught the old customs. He didn’t like listening to his schoolteacher, Miss Birri who taught him how to read and write. He didn’t like listening to his mother (ngamu) who always told him to get up and go to school. Dhubbi did not like to listen to his elders or follow their advice. He just liked to daydream. He dreamed about being a strong hunter like his grandfather. He dreamed about hunting kangaroo (gangurru) and emu (burriwi).

Published 2009.

Rainbow Spirit Theology - By Rainbow Spirit Elders

This small book, first published in 1997, has recently been reprinted in a second edition in 2008.
A Group of Aboriginal Christian leaders met in two workshops with facilitators Norman Habel and Robert Bos in an attempt to integrate the traditions of Aboriginal culture with the traditions of Christianity. The starting point for this theology is the land as the central spiritual reality for all the participants. The Rainbow Spirit or Rainbow Snake, is for many Aboriginal groups the eternal source of life and spiritual power and is here taken as a symbol of the Creator Spirit of Christian belief. One participant wrote in the Preface to the second edition:

“Rainbow Spirit Theology has been a major stepping stone in my spiritual growth. What it has done for me is that it has helped me to embrace my Aboriginal spirituality along with my Christian spirituality. It has also helped me to read the Scriptures from my Aboriginal identity. So I bring my Aboriginal spiritual and Christian spirituality together in the same understanding as the Old and New Testament.
Therefore Jesus came to set me free and draw me close to our Father, but not to take me away from my culture. I must take the goodness from my culture and bring it into my life, to worship him as the whole person who God has created in his image. This I claim.” (Evelyn Parkin)

The second edition includes comments from Indigenous Christians who took part, additional Reflections on the book and responses to it, and a Study Guide.

Milbi Dabaar - A Resource Book for Ministry

Milbi Dabaar gives theological foundations for 17 areas of practical pastoral ministry and teaching for teachers, leaders, pastors and students for use in Christian ministry among Aborigines of Australia in a wide range of urban to remote settings. The collection of stories and reflections was developed over a number of years through workshops that Wontulp-Bi-Buya College held in Queensland. This resource book may be a useful resource for those who wish to explore the many dimensions of Aboriginal Christian Theology. Milbi Dabaar means ‘good news’ in the Guugu Yimithirr language of Pastor George Rosendale. This Aboriginal language is spoken at Hopevale community in Far North Queensland. Published 2004.
Artwork by Zane Saunders, 8 in colour.