Gimuy - Cairns City

September 25, 2018 David Taylor

Henrietta “Bukal” Marrie, née Fourmile

GIMUY WALUBARA YIDINJI PEOPLE The area of the foreshore of the City of Cairns was traditionally known as Gimuy- after the Slippery Blue Fig Tree. The traditional lands of the Gimuy Walubara Yidinji People extend south of the Barron River to Wrights Creek (south of Edmonton), west into the ranges behind Cairns, and east into Trinity Inlet, including Admiralty Island, to the adjacent waters of the outer Great Barrier Reef. The lands in the Cairns suburb of Woree, close to Admiralty Island and Trinity Inlet, were the principal traditional camping grounds of the Gimuy Walubara Yidinji people. In the early days of colonisation following the establishment of Cairns in 1876, it was referred to as the "Fourmile camp" - being located roughly four miles south of the Cairns Post Office. In 1905 Ye-i-nie, an Elder and leader of the Gimuy Walubara clan was recognised by the Queensland Government for his leadership and peace-making skills during a period of great conflict between the settlers of Cairns and the Gimuy Yidinji people. In 2005, the centenary of the recognition of Ye-i-nie's leadership was celebrated by his descendants and the Cairns City Council with the unveiling of his photographic portrait in the Cairns City Library in Abbott Street.

ntru.aiatsis.gov.au - Web archive https://bit.ly/2ztvCab

I was walking in Cairns City late this afternoon, something I do not do often, and noticed this huge mural of Henrietta Marrie down the side of the base of the National Mutual tower.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henrietta_Marrie

The mural was done by Claire Foxton as part of the Sea Walls: Artists for Oceans program.

I cannot do the size justice in the photo. It always amazes me as someone who works with minute objects how people can keep in touch with the piece as a whole when it is so large. Pretty impressive piece of art.