Mundara
Encyclopedia
Mundara Koorang is an Australian Aboriginal
artist, designer, teacher, elder, actor, and author.
) NSW area and is a descendant of the Gamilaroi people. Mundara’s grandmother, great grandmother and great-great grandmother was all born in the Barwon River
, Brewarrina area.
In 1992 Mundara owned and operated ‘Jay’s Auto Stables’ and was recognized as one of the best spray painters in the vehicle industry. Due to illness he had to close the business and hence began his education. His first introduction to education began with a short security license course at Naamoro in Sydney where he also ran panel beating and spray courses for young Indigenous men. Shortly afterwards Mundara completed a media course at Naamoro and won a scholarship to the Center of Photography, to undertake a course in black-and-white photography. In 1993 Mundara completed a CABE course at the Eora
College in Chippendale, Sydney, a CGE course in 1994 and a Fine Arts Course in 1995. In 1995 he won the Faculty Award for Aboriginal studies, being the first Indigenous person to do so as well as the Qantas
Encouragement Award at the AJC.
In 1996 Mundara began his Bachelors Degree in Adult Education which he completed in 1998 at the University of Technology in Sydney
. Mundara was chosen in 1998 to represent the University at the International First Nations Indigenous Youth Education Conference in Wellington, New Zealand
. He went on to become a founding member of its alumni organization. Mundara also taught several TAFE classes during that year.
In 1999 Mundara began a Masters Degree, discovering after one year that he was an insulin
-dependent diabetic. He took 2000 off to recover and returned to the University of Technology in 2001 to restart from the beginning a Masters Degree in Indigenous Social Policy, which he has completed. Mundara is on sabbatical from a Doctorate of Education.
Mundara is the Managing Director of the House of Koorang Pty Ltd, a wholly owned and operated Indigenous art and design wholesale and manufacturing Company, the largest Aboriginal owned wholesale and manufacturing company. He was also a director of NIAAA at the request of the Late Dr Charles Perkins. The first product in the market place to contain the ‘Label of Authenticity’ was Mundara’s.
He taught literacy & numeracy, science, cultural studies, legislation, art & drawing and history at TAFE and outreach schools. Mundara is currently the only known male Aboriginal educator in a correctional facility, where he teaches literacy & numeracy and cultural studies.
The 'Indigenous Cultural Protocol Request Form' was created by Mundara for all Indigenous organisations and communities to use when approached for photographs,items,interviews,dance,songs and images.
’ Poster competition, the 1999 David O’Chin Photographic Award and a commendation from the David Unaipon
Writers Award for a book of poetry entitled ‘Say You're Sorry’.
In 1995 he was invited by the Australian Ambassador in Bonn, Germany
to hold a major exhibition in Cologne, Germany
as part of ‘Experience 95’. This exhibition opened the door for future Indigenous contemporary artists to exhibit in Europe. His artwork was exhibited at one of the first Australian Indigenous exhibitions in Moscow, Russia. On his return to Sydney NSW he held the largest sole artist exhibition in Australia at the Woolloomooloo Gallery.
The cover and illustrations for the widely used law book Indigenous People and the Law in Australia were created by Mundara, as well as the illustrations for the ‘Mabo Land Rights’ Packages for law students and the community.
‘Alcheringa Spirit’ an Australian Limestone sculpture displayed in the foyer of the ATSIC
Commission in Sydney was sculpted by Mundara.
Indigenous Sports Awards, respite centres, the Beenleigh, Beaudesert
and Logan Combined Housing, children's hospitals,Link-up, Juvenile Justice and state primary and high schools. Mundara sponsorsed a boxer competing in an overseas tournament,an athlete attending the Canberra
Sports Clinic, and an Illawarra Indigenous rugby team, just to name a few.
One of Mundara’s primary passions is copyright
law and justice for Indigenous contemporary visual and performing artists, and changes to the legislation that permits the importation of imported products from Asia that are passed off as authentic Aboriginal products. His work in this area consists of sharing information on copyright law, contract building and negotiation, and all facets of beginning and operating Indigenous businesses.
As an actor Mundara has appeared in the ABC’s mini series ‘Heartlands’, GP, Water Rats, Police Rescue, Wildside and a feature film called Race the Sun
starring James Belushi.
In 2005 Mundara published a Dreamtime
story entitled The Little Platypus and the Fire Spirit.
Indigenous Australians
Indigenous Australians are the original inhabitants of the Australian continent and nearby islands. The Aboriginal Indigenous Australians migrated from the Indian continent around 75,000 to 100,000 years ago....
artist, designer, teacher, elder, actor, and author.
Biography
Mundara was born in 1952 in the Eora (SydneySydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
) NSW area and is a descendant of the Gamilaroi people. Mundara’s grandmother, great grandmother and great-great grandmother was all born in the Barwon River
Barwon River (New South Wales)
The Barwon River flows through New South Wales, virtually as a continuation of the Macintyre River / Border Rivers system, before joining with the Culgoa River to form the Darling River...
, Brewarrina area.
In 1992 Mundara owned and operated ‘Jay’s Auto Stables’ and was recognized as one of the best spray painters in the vehicle industry. Due to illness he had to close the business and hence began his education. His first introduction to education began with a short security license course at Naamoro in Sydney where he also ran panel beating and spray courses for young Indigenous men. Shortly afterwards Mundara completed a media course at Naamoro and won a scholarship to the Center of Photography, to undertake a course in black-and-white photography. In 1993 Mundara completed a CABE course at the Eora
Eora
The Eora are the Aboriginal people of the Sydney area, south to the Georges River, north to the Hawkesbury River, and west to Parramatta. The indigenous people used this word to describe where they came from to the British. "Eora" was then used by the British to refer to those Aboriginal people...
College in Chippendale, Sydney, a CGE course in 1994 and a Fine Arts Course in 1995. In 1995 he won the Faculty Award for Aboriginal studies, being the first Indigenous person to do so as well as the Qantas
Qantas
Qantas Airways Limited is the flag carrier of Australia. The name was originally "QANTAS", an initialism for "Queensland and Northern Territory Aerial Services". Nicknamed "The Flying Kangaroo", the airline is based in Sydney, with its main hub at Sydney Airport...
Encouragement Award at the AJC.
In 1996 Mundara began his Bachelors Degree in Adult Education which he completed in 1998 at the University of Technology in Sydney
University of Technology, Sydney
The University of Technology Sydney is a university in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. The university was founded in its current form in 1981, although its origins trace back to the 1870s. UTS is notable for its central location as the only university with its main campuses within the Sydney CBD...
. Mundara was chosen in 1998 to represent the University at the International First Nations Indigenous Youth Education Conference in Wellington, New Zealand
Wellington
Wellington is the capital city and third most populous urban area of New Zealand, although it is likely to have surpassed Christchurch due to the exodus following the Canterbury Earthquake. It is at the southwestern tip of the North Island, between Cook Strait and the Rimutaka Range...
. He went on to become a founding member of its alumni organization. Mundara also taught several TAFE classes during that year.
In 1999 Mundara began a Masters Degree, discovering after one year that he was an insulin
Insulin
Insulin is a hormone central to regulating carbohydrate and fat metabolism in the body. Insulin causes cells in the liver, muscle, and fat tissue to take up glucose from the blood, storing it as glycogen in the liver and muscle....
-dependent diabetic. He took 2000 off to recover and returned to the University of Technology in 2001 to restart from the beginning a Masters Degree in Indigenous Social Policy, which he has completed. Mundara is on sabbatical from a Doctorate of Education.
Mundara is the Managing Director of the House of Koorang Pty Ltd, a wholly owned and operated Indigenous art and design wholesale and manufacturing Company, the largest Aboriginal owned wholesale and manufacturing company. He was also a director of NIAAA at the request of the Late Dr Charles Perkins. The first product in the market place to contain the ‘Label of Authenticity’ was Mundara’s.
He taught literacy & numeracy, science, cultural studies, legislation, art & drawing and history at TAFE and outreach schools. Mundara is currently the only known male Aboriginal educator in a correctional facility, where he teaches literacy & numeracy and cultural studies.
The 'Indigenous Cultural Protocol Request Form' was created by Mundara for all Indigenous organisations and communities to use when approached for photographs,items,interviews,dance,songs and images.
Exhibitions
Mundara has had numerous major and collective exhibitions internationally and nationally and has won many art, photographic, and sculpture awards. These include the inaugural ‘Sorry DayNational Sorry Day
The National Sorry Day is an Australian event, held each year on 26 May since 1998, to express regret over the historical mistreatment of Aboriginal peoples. The day was chosen in commemoration of the Bringing Them Home report being handed to the federal government on 26 May 1997. It is not an...
’ Poster competition, the 1999 David O’Chin Photographic Award and a commendation from the David Unaipon
David Unaipon
David Unaipon was an Australian Aboriginal of the Ngarrindjeri people, a preacher, inventor and writer. He was the most widely known Aboriginal in Australia, and broke stereotypes of Aboriginals...
Writers Award for a book of poetry entitled ‘Say You're Sorry’.
In 1995 he was invited by the Australian Ambassador in Bonn, Germany
Bonn
Bonn is the 19th largest city in Germany. Located in the Cologne/Bonn Region, about 25 kilometres south of Cologne on the river Rhine in the State of North Rhine-Westphalia, it was the capital of West Germany from 1949 to 1990 and the official seat of government of united Germany from 1990 to 1999....
to hold a major exhibition in Cologne, Germany
Cologne
Cologne is Germany's fourth-largest city , and is the largest city both in the Germany Federal State of North Rhine-Westphalia and within the Rhine-Ruhr Metropolitan Area, one of the major European metropolitan areas with more than ten million inhabitants.Cologne is located on both sides of the...
as part of ‘Experience 95’. This exhibition opened the door for future Indigenous contemporary artists to exhibit in Europe. His artwork was exhibited at one of the first Australian Indigenous exhibitions in Moscow, Russia. On his return to Sydney NSW he held the largest sole artist exhibition in Australia at the Woolloomooloo Gallery.
The cover and illustrations for the widely used law book Indigenous People and the Law in Australia were created by Mundara, as well as the illustrations for the ‘Mabo Land Rights’ Packages for law students and the community.
‘Alcheringa Spirit’ an Australian Limestone sculpture displayed in the foyer of the ATSIC
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission
The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission was the Australian Government body through which Aboriginal Australians and Torres Strait Islanders were formally involved in the processes of government affecting their lives...
Commission in Sydney was sculpted by Mundara.
Other activities
Mundara has donated to and sponsored a multitude of Indigenous and non-Indigenous community organizations, such as the Bobby Goldsmith Foundation, and the Cancerian Foundation. His sponsorships include trophies for the South-east QueenslandQueensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
Indigenous Sports Awards, respite centres, the Beenleigh, Beaudesert
Beaudesert
Beaudesert could refer to:*Beaudesert, Queensland, a town in Australia*Electoral district of Beaudesert, an Australian electroral district, which includes the town of Beaudesert, Queensland*Beaudesert, Warwickshire, a village in Warwickshire, England...
and Logan Combined Housing, children's hospitals,Link-up, Juvenile Justice and state primary and high schools. Mundara sponsorsed a boxer competing in an overseas tournament,an athlete attending the Canberra
Canberra
Canberra is the capital city of Australia. With a population of over 345,000, it is Australia's largest inland city and the eighth-largest city overall. The city is located at the northern end of the Australian Capital Territory , south-west of Sydney, and north-east of Melbourne...
Sports Clinic, and an Illawarra Indigenous rugby team, just to name a few.
One of Mundara’s primary passions is copyright
Copyright
Copyright is a legal concept, enacted by most governments, giving the creator of an original work exclusive rights to it, usually for a limited time...
law and justice for Indigenous contemporary visual and performing artists, and changes to the legislation that permits the importation of imported products from Asia that are passed off as authentic Aboriginal products. His work in this area consists of sharing information on copyright law, contract building and negotiation, and all facets of beginning and operating Indigenous businesses.
As an actor Mundara has appeared in the ABC’s mini series ‘Heartlands’, GP, Water Rats, Police Rescue, Wildside and a feature film called Race the Sun
Race the Sun
Race the Sun is a 1996 comedy-drama movie starring Halle Berry and James Belushi. The plot is loosely based on the true story of the Konawaena High School Solar Car Team, which finished 18th in the 1990 World Solar Challenge and first place among high school entries.-Plot:A new science teacher at...
starring James Belushi.
In 2005 Mundara published a Dreamtime
Dreamtime
In the animist framework of Australian Aboriginal mythology, The Dreaming is a sacred era in which ancestral Totemic Spirit Beings formed The Creation.-The Dreaming of the Aboriginal times:...
story entitled The Little Platypus and the Fire Spirit.