The papers in this series relate to Kath Walker's involvement in North Stradbroke Island issues in general, and also more specifically to Moongalba on North Stradbroke Island.

Stradbroke island was a large sand island that formed in Moreton Bay, off the coast of Brisbane, Queensland, that split into two islands in the late 19th century: North Stradbroke Island and South Stradbroke Island. The Quandamooka people are the traditional custodians of North Stradbroke Island. North Stradbroke Island, also known as Straddie or Minjerribah, is where Kath Walker spent much of her life. It has been home for many years to the Noonuccal (or Nunukul), Nughi and Goenpul people. The papers relating to North Stradbroke Island reflect Kath's involvement in issues such as opposition to sand-mining on the island, and opposition to a proposed bridge connecting North Stradbroke Island with the mainland.

Moongalba was established by Kath Walker as a cultural education centre in 1971. It was visited extensively by school children, as well as teachers, students, academics, writers and others. Kath Walker was initially granted a twenty-five year lease to the land by the Redland Shire Council; this was later extended to her lifetime. However, she was never granted legal title to the land, despite the support of many influential people. In 1979 Kath Walker prepared a submission to the federal Department of Aboriginal Affairs, requesting financial assistance and support in obtaining title to the land. Her application was never answered.

The original folder was titled 'Manuscripts submitted to A&R' and contains short stories and poems submitted to Angus and Robertson. Some have corrections and annotations. Indicated in square brackets after the tile are handwritten notes that appear on the first page. Some may also have corrections. This file contains:
‘Beginning of Life’ (published as ‘The Beginning of Life’) [submitted to A&R. Accepted];
‘Biami and Bunyip’ [submitted to A&R. Accepted];
‘Burr+Nong (Bora Ring)’ [submitted to A&R. Accepted];
Boonah (Bloodwood Gum)' [submitted to A&R.];
‘The Carpet Snake’ (published as Carpet Snake) [submitted to A&R. Accepted];
‘Curlew’ [submitted to A&R. Accepted];
‘Dear Boys and Girls’ (letter) [submitted to A&R. Accepted];
‘The Dugong Hunt’ (published as Dugong Coming!) [submitted to A&R. Accepted];
‘Dunwich Stradbroke Island Assimilation of Aborigines’ (2 drafts);
‘Edward Ruska’;
'The Exercise Book' [submitted to A&R.];
‘The Fisherman’ [? submitted to A&R.];
‘Going Crabbing’ [original had not submitted to A&R but the not has been crossed out. Accepted];
‘The Hunter’ (published as The Shark) [submitted to A&R. Accepted];
‘Interlude’ [submitted to A&R. Accepted];
'Joshua and Roo-Roo';
'Kill to eat' [submitted to A&R. Accepted];
'Mai (Black Bean)';
‘Midden’ (published as ‘The Midden’) [submitted to A&R. Accepted];
‘Mirrabooka (Southern Cross)’ [submitted to A&R. Accepted];
‘Muma's Pet’ [submitted to A&R.];
‘Not Our Day’ [submitted to A&R.];
‘Pomera (Banksia)’ [submitted to A&R. Accepted];
‘Racism’ (3 copies);
‘School Days’ [submitted to A&R. Accepted];
‘Stradbroke’ [submitted to A&R. Accepted];
‘Talwalpin (Cotton Tree) and Kowinka (Red Mangrove)' [submitted to A&R. Accepted];
'Tia Gam (Lawyer Vine)' [submitted to A&R. Accepted];
'Tuggan-Tuggan (Silky Oak)' [submitted to A&R. Accepted];
‘We three’ (poem) [submitted to A&R.];
'Wher's Mother (published as Where's Mother) [submitted to A&R. Accepted];
'Wonga and Nudu' [submitted to A&R. Accepted].

Bound typescript draft (70 leaves ; 30 cm) with annotations, layout notes and edits of 'Stories from Australia' (Stradbroke dreamtime), published in 1971 by Angus and Robertson in folder with title on cover: 'Kath Walker MS.' Included in folder are 25 line drawings by Dennis Schapel for the book.

This folder contains:
2 play scripts. -- 'Manhunt' (handwritten in a notebook, dated 1968) and 'The play that never was' (cover title), 'Patience required for the problemental pass' (title on contents page) (stapled typescript booklet);
1 script for a radio program titled 'An Aboriginal Legend' which was part of the Australian Broadcasting Commission (Queensland Branch) series 'Grade 3 Social Studies' aired on 6 Apr 1973;
1 script for a film broadcast of 'Stradbroke dreamtime' starring Kath Walker, produced by Val Hartigan - includes a shooting schedule, timings and footage estimates (13 leaves; handwritten annotations);
1 [radio] script titled 'Kath Walker : Story teller' (which includes the story 'Biami and Bunyip);

Handwritten histories written by Paul Tripcony and photographs relating to Moongalba and the people who lived there. Mostly undated; date range of Paul Tripcony's life has been used.

Item 1: History of the Aboriginal peoples "who inhabited Moreton Island (Moolgunpin)", 2 pages, 15 x 20 cm, undated. Written in pencil with envelope attached; on the envelope, written in blue biro is 'History of Moongalba Papers'. Undated.

Item 2: Envelope, 10 x 23 cm; with handwritten pencil notes - on the front 'Jebellum and Coonoongar'; on the reverse 'Flaked stone implements and Goondoo aboriginal magic stone'. Undated.

Item 3: 'Moongalba : birth place of a Great Chief'. Handwritten, in blue biro, 9 leaves (8 with handwritten numbers). Undated. This is an account of the history of Moongalba and it's inhabitants with hand drawn map on the reverse of page one showing the forteen locations from North Hill to Capembah or Big Hill:

1. Mook-kin or Charles Moreton ;
2. Gurriwirribah and Maudie ;
3. John Lifou and his wife Dungo-lee-bah [sic. Aggie Dung-lee-bah] ;
4. Nungelly ;
5. Eendelly or Mary Compiegne ;
6. Jack Nufong and wife Maggie ;
7. George Finnock and wife Kindarra ;
8. Sydney Rollands ;
9. Peter Graham ;
10. Rose Martin or Nuningha ;
11. Moongalba School ;
12. Teachers Residence ;
13. Moongalba Cemetry ;
14. Sam Rollands and wife Miboo.
    Detailed accounts of: what was grown, what was caught and eaten from the ocean which includes the skills of Sam Rollands in netting dugong; information about Nook-kin including his request to be transferred to Barambah (Cherbourg); the sort of artifacts collected by Paul Tripcony ; letter sticks ; tribal ceremonies ; and the arts of net making and basket making. People mentioned include: Nu-ah-ju (Billy Cassin), Willie McKenzie, Nungellie (sister to Eendellie), Grannie Finnock (Kindarra), Rose Martin (Nuningha), Granny Sydney Rollands.

Item 4: 'Australian Aboriginal Legend of the Lightnings Playground on Moreton Island (Moolgumpin). Handwritten in pencil; 4 leaves, 25 cm.

Item 5: 'Australian Aboriginal Legend of the Lightnings Playground on Moreton Island'. Handwritten in pencil, 5 pages, 25 cm.

Item 6: 'Grannies Moongalba History'. Handwritten, in pencil. List of fourteen 'grannies'.

Item 7: Handwritten, in pencil, account of Koureyabba or whispering sands. 1 leaf, 28 cm ; on the back of a Golden Circle juice label. Attached to this are two slips of paper with handwritten notes.

Item 8: Newspaper cutting of article 'Popular native personality : Sam Rollands, of Muyora, Dead : Dugong fishing expert' by Tom Welsby, extracted from The Telegraph, 28 Feb 1936. 1 leaf ; 25 cm

Item 9: Photograph, black and white, 20.5 x 13.5 cm, undated, of Paul Tripcony, aged about 22, inscribed to 'Dear Vince with best wishes from Paul'. In brown presentation folder, 30 x 19.5 cm, with name of photographer on front cover: Sidney Riley, Queen Street Brisbane.

Item 10: Photograph, black and white, 13 x 8 cm, undated, of Sydney Rollands. Written in blue biro on reverse: "Paul Tripcony's Grandmother - Sydney Rollands, mother of Sam Rollands last of the Dugong hunters of Stradbroke Island. Sydney, daughter of Nughie tribe - last of the full bloods born on Moreton Islands (no record of birth)".

Item 11: Photograph, black and white, 10 x 8 cm, undated, of Sydney Rollands. Written in blue biro on reverse: "Sydney Rollands - last full blood aborigine born on Moreton Island - mother of Sam Rollands last of Dugong hunters on Stradbroke Island".

Item 12: Photograph, black and white, 9 x 16 cm, of 'Early Amity'. Beneath photograph, on right-hand side, handwritten in pencil is: Ruddle- Foster Studio Valley Brisbane -copy. In light brown presentation folder, 19 x 23 cm.

Item 13: Photograph, black and white, 9 x 16 cm. Handwritten in pen below photograph: 'Fernandez Gonzales and family. Gonzales on left with walking stick. Dugon fillets in foreground'. Beneath photograph, handwritten in pencil is: Ruddle- Foster Studio Valley Brisbane -copy. In light brown presentation folder, 19 x 23 cm.

Content advice: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are warned that this resource may contain images, transcripts or names of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples now deceased. It may also contain historically and culturally sensitive words, terms, and descriptions.

Sound recording from 1973 or 1974 by Oodgeroo Noonuccal, and others, interviewing Paul Tripcony while he was on a visit to Minjerribah.

Content advice: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are warned that this resource may contain voices, images, transcripts or names of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples now deceased. It may also contain historically and culturally sensitive words, terms, and descriptions.