Nugal-warra Elder’s Award Winning Tour Company

Nugal-warra elder, Willie Gordon, has an award-winning passion for story-telling.

In a special Autumn 2008 Tropical North Queensland Report Willie is interviewed about his company Guurrbi Tours, winner of the 2007 Gnukai Indigenous Tour Guide Award.

Guurrbi Tours operates two tours about 40 minutes out of Cooktown: The Great Emu Tour to three Aboriginal rock art sites, and the Rainbow Serpent Tour to six rock art sites.

THE INTERVIEW

“Tell Us About Your Business?

My traditional lands lie between Cooktown and Hopevale. I started Guurbi Tours – which I now operate with my business partner Judy Bennett – in 2003. I take visitors to the rock art in my country, sharing the stories behind the art which were passed down to me by my father.

Describe An Average Day?

We operate two tours a day – Monday to Saturday – 50 weeks of the year. On the morning tour I take customers to six rock art sites, including an ancestral birth site where many of my ancestors were born, including my grandfather. We stop along the way to look at bush medicines and bush foods and any animals in the area. In the afternoon I run a shorter tour.

Why Did You Start This?

I wanted to tell people about the stories and show them the art. I wanted to share the culture and spirituality, which has been passed down from generation to generation. This is my responsibility as the Nugal-warra storyteller – and my passion.

What Is Your Point Of Difference?

I share the philosophies and lores of my people depicted in the art. On my tour, guests become part of the story, so no tours are ever the same.

What Are Some Of Your career Highlights

• In 2006, Judy and I developed ‘The Bama Way’ to help promote this region’s rich Aboriginal culture. This links Guurrbi Tours with other Aboriginal-owned businesses
• Winning the Gnukai Indigenous Tour Guide Award (2007)
• Being listed as one of Australia’s Ultimate Must-Do Experiences by ATS Pacific and American Express (2006)
• Being a finalist in the Reconciliation Awards for Business (2006)
• Seeing my book ‘Guurrrbi My Special Place’ in print (2007)
• This year being given the Australia Day Citizen of the Year Award in Cooktown

What Do You Love About Your Job?

Being out bush, sharing my culture, learning about business, working together with other businesses and meeting people from different parts of the world.

What Are Some Of The Challenges?

Starting a business with no funding, but we started small and grew slowly and steadily. Marketing is a non-stop challenge, especially as we are a bit off the beaten track, so we need to promote the Cooktown region as well as our own business.

What Is Your Advice To Other Tourism operators?

Do something you are passionate about, start small and work with others.

Short term Plans (5 Years)?

We have a meeting house near the sites which we are going to develop further. Our main direction is to grow Guurrbi Tours so we can employ others.

Long Term Plans (10 Years)?

My focus will always be helping other Aboriginal people to get interested in business.”

Sounds like a worthy award winner AND community member…