Nungabana

Nungabana, also known as George Gilbert Davis (died 2002), was the last elder of the Mullanburra people of Queensland, Australia.

Traditional name: Nungabana coauthor of Mullanburra: People of the Mulgrave River', .http://users.qld.chariot.net.au/~rigel/people.html George has made an outstanding contribution to the survival and enhancement of tropical rainforest Aboriginal culture and heritage. George is from the Malanbarra-Yidinjy clan group and grew up in the traditional way under the guidance of his grandfather. He went on to spend the next 49 years working in the north Queensland’s rainforests cutting timber. Since retiring in Atherton he has dedicated his time to his cultural heritage as both an artist and educator. He is widely respected in the Aboriginal community for his skill in making traditional artefacts such as shields, swords,dilly bags and boomerangs. He’s also widely respected in the wider community as a true gentleman and a valued elder of the Atherton community. George is committed to community education and visits local schools and other centres to talk about his culture.

George was the last elder who held the knowledge of the Mullanburra People, with his passing, much knowledge was lost. He died in 2002. Two web site holds much information on his skills of rainforest aboriginal artifacts making. http://earthsci.org/aboriginal/Ngadjonji%20History/food/weapons/Making%20a%20Shield.htm http://earthsci.org/aboriginal/index.html Some of these Photos were taken by historian Duncan Ray who worked for many years documenting Georges skills for the Eacham Historical Society.

George Davis (Nungabana)http://www.wettropics.gov.au/wwc/wwc_casawards01.html was a Mullunburra Yidinji Edler who was a living encyclopaedia on the Aboriginal culture of his tribal land - the World Heritage listed Wet Tropics Area of the Mulgrave Valley and up onto the Atherton Tableland in north Queensland. George wanted to pass his traditional knowledge on to younger people, and actively did so. Duncan Ray is a non-Indigenous historian and artist who has been recording the skills and techniques George uses to make traditional swords and shields. (Each tribe has different patterns). The men were good mates and were members of the Tableland Reconciliation Group. George and Duncan worked together creating several swords and shields. see http://gallery.discoverymedia.com.au/ahc/award/artist/Fr_5096.htm George's shield pattern depicts the Bora ground. The diamonds represent different tribal groups surrounding the Bora ground.

George said "These shield patterns are like European Coats of Arms and show who you are, and where you are from".

George passed down his knowledge to Lorraine Lewis and her close family, who grew up with him and Ngadjon Jii Elder Tom Gertz Snr.