kuril dhagun
by Kyra Mulvany-Stanley, Year 8 kuril dhagun is the State Library of Queensland’s welcoming place for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. ‘kuril’ is the name of a native marsupial that is found on the library’s site near the Brisbane River (kuril) and ‘dhagun’ means a place or the earth, which translates to kuril’s place. The space is a dedicated cultural and multi-purpose space to inspire community participation and engagement. The library also holds birth, death and marriage records and newspaper archives for people to read. It holds books and videos and paintings in a small gallery we visited. We had the chance to visit the computer room and search for our family members in the records. I found this was a very interesting exercise and gave me insight to my history. On our way there, we passed by boardroom spaces and benches and nooks to meet. Speaking of places to meet, we visited two community spaces. The first one was on the first level and near the gift shop/smaller library. The busking platform was empty that day but I saw a lady performing the last time I visited two years ago. The second place we visited was the talking circle. The sandstone circle was outside and surrounded by vines (native – Faradaya Spledida) and plants. There were also two water dragons that scuttled around, sun-baking. Unfortunately, they were scared away by others. A family of possums also live there, so don’t be afraid. At the library there are meetings, seminars and workshops all the time. We unfortunately couldn’t see or take part in any, but you can sign up for them on the website. One exhibit within kuril dhagun is Jarjum Stories and you can read children’s books from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples like the Rainbow Serpent. ‘Jarjum’ means children. Overall, this library is one of the nicest I’ve been too. It’s not just a library; this is a centre and place of learning about your own and other cultures and lives. I thank the teachers, Jennifer Jones and Christina Canendo, the staff who curated everything and most of all the traditional owners and elders of the land we met on that day.
22/Gidhal
