NAIDOC Project Symphony Orchestra
The “Kookaburra” Symphony Orchestra extravaganza was held on Monday July 1, 2019. Audience were treated to a delight of orchestral music and the narration of the Aboriginal story of 'How the Kookaburra got its laugh', with the seamless additional ethereal tones of the Digeridoo played by Olman Wally. This was accompanied by a visual interpretation of the story by Nyungar artist Jade Dolman. An enthralling experience watching the brush strokes timed to the rhythm of the music and seeing the story unfold before your eyes. It was a moving experience and from Welcome to Country by Nyungar Elder: Freda Ogilvie to the brave words of Year 7 Alya Hunter, who shared her story of being a proud Aboriginal Muslim at CSHS.
We would like acknowledge the Orchestra, Jade, Alya, Olman, Freda and the many staff who were involved in putting this event together, but in particular Kristel Hawksworth who was the coordinator of this event. This event birthed out of a desire to promote Aboriginal Culture and build relationship with our Aboriginal community. The excellence of the performance was witnessed by The Hon Lisa Harvey and Sean L’Estrange.
The Story - Kookaburra
The Cooloola Community Orchestra acknowledges the assistance of Nai Nai Bird and Ronda Kirby, elders of the Butchulla Ntion for giving permission for the legend “Why the Kookaburra Laughs” as retold by Auntie Olga Miller, the last matriarch of the Butchulla Nation, to be used as the basis for creating this original composition by Stephen Chin.
When Yindingie was making the birds, his task had not been an easy one. The animals and fish and insects had been very obedient and willing to learn, but the birds seem very hard to please. Some were content to practise their new songs while building their nests, but others quarrelled with their neighbours over any little thing at all.
Some of the birds were just very rude and unfriendly. One of these was Kookaburra. Although he was a good-looking bird with a very strong beak and wonderful eyesight, he was not happy. What had upset him was the fact that when Yindingie had taken Jabiru’s fine voice away from him, he had given the laughter to Kookaburra. Kookaburra was not pleased at all, for as he said, “What have I got to laugh about? I would rather have a song like Butcherbird’s or Magpie’s”. So he flew off by himself and moped all day long, for he was feeling very sorry for himself.
Now this was the time when Yindingie had gone back to the sky, and already some of the bush creatures were beginning to misbehave. Snake for instance, had decided that a frog would be good to eat! He set off to look for one, and found little green Tree Frog sitting on a log in the shade. Tree Frog could not believe it when snake said he was going to eat him. Poor little Tree Frog hopped away as fast as he could, but he knew that Snake would soon catch him.
“Please help me someone! Snake is going to eat me!”
Tree Frog hopped into the clearing where Kookaburra was sitting in a tree. As he watched, Kookaburra could see that Snake really meant to eat the little Tree Frog, and he was wondering what he could do to help. Then he saw Tree Frog hop towards a big stump and disappear behind it. Snake saw this and said, “Ah! Now I’ve got you!” Stealthily, he slid through the grass and circled the base of the stump. Seeing a movement in the grass in front of him, Snake pounced and held on!
And that was when Kookaburra burst out laughing! He laughed and laughed, and soon the bushland was filled with the merry sound. The rest of his family flew up, and when they heard the tale they too burst into laughter. For Kookaburra had seen the little Tree Frog hop up on top of the stump and then down a hole in it. ALL SNAKE HAD CAUGHT WAS HIS OWN TAIL!
AND ALL SNAKE HAD CAUGHT WAS HIS OWN TAIL! (narrator starts to laugh heartily)
