Our Story — Gathangga Wakulda

01 — Our storyWalking in the footsteps of our Ancestors

Gathangga Wakulda was founded in 2024 by a collective of Gathang-speaking community members.

We exist to ensure that Gathang-speaking peoples have a thriving, sustainable future — where our language is embedded in everyday life, where our cultural knowledge is passed down through generations, and where our people can connect, learn and thrive.

Our organisation was established by community members who recognised the need for dedicated spaces to revitalise, teach and celebrate our language and culture. The work is driven by a commitment to self-determination, community empowerment and language continuation — ensuring that what we do is led by our people, for our people.

Through education, training, cultural initiatives and partnerships, we work to create meaningful opportunities for our community — whether through language teaching in schools, cultural workshops, resource development, or economic ventures yet to come.

As we grow, Gathangga Wakulda will continue to advocate for Gathang language and culture to be recognised, supported and present in all aspects of life. We are here to ensure that our language and identity remain strong, our knowledge continues to be shared, and our people have a place to connect and belong.

02 — Our purpose

To continue, strengthen and sustain the Gathang language and culture for future generations.

We empower Gathang-speaking people to revitalise their language and strengthen cultural practices — fostering connections between Elders, young people and the broader community, so that Gathang remains a living, thriving force.

03 — Our vision

Gathang, spoken, heard and lived in everyday life.

A thriving language embedded across generations, communities and Country — through self-determination, education and Birrbay, Warrimay and Guringay ways of knowing, being and doing.

Strong cultural role models, empowered community members leading the way
A deep sense of self, wellbeing and belonging through language and culture
Economic prosperity through participating in language and cultures

04 — Our values

Grounded in our identity as Gathang-speaking peoples.

These principles have sustained our communities for generations. They guide our work, our relationships, and our commitment to the continuation of Gathang.

Responsibility

Our mob, our people, our language and culture first.

We prioritise the needs of Gathang-speaking people and ensure that our work benefits our community first and foremost. We take responsibility for building up our own people through training, skills development and economic empowerment.

Nation-building is at the heart of what we do. We work to strengthen our community's capacity by supporting business, governance and leadership development. Responsibility also means having a shared vision — where we support each other and work together, ensuring that no one carries the burden alone.

Growth

We grow when our people grow.

Growth means being responsive to the changing needs of our community, ensuring that we adapt to the political environment and our people. It means economic prosperity, where our mob is thriving, not just surviving — and ensuring the wellbeing of our people so that their cultural, social and economic needs are met.

Growth is also about mentorship. Our role is to support and uplift the next generation — to train, guide and empower our people so they have the skills, knowledge and opportunities to take Gathang forward into the future.

Sustainability

We are stronger together.

Sustainability is about ensuring that what we build today lasts for generations. It means shared responsibility — where community, board, staff and partners all contribute to the success of our mission.

Economic sustainability is key. We will focus on building financial stability through good governance, transparent decision-making and sound financial management. Sustainability also means ensuring that the Gathang language, knowledge and culture remain strong — with the right structures and leadership in place to pass them down.

Respect

Respect is at the foundation of everything we do.

We respect our language, culture, Elders and each other. We create safe spaces where our people feel valued and respected — and where they have the freedom to contribute at any stage of their journey.

Respect means humility, listening and inclusion. It means respecting different perspectives and ensuring all voices are heard. It also means that when disagreements arise, we maintain dignity and handle them with care — always putting the strength of our community first.

Integrity

We hold ourselves to the highest standards.

Integrity means excellence in everything we do — from the quality of our language and cultural programs to the way we manage our organisation. We strive for high standards in our teaching, products, governance and services to honour the integrity of the Gathang language and culture.

Integrity is also about strong role models. Whether it's our board members, staff, parents, or young people, we lead by example. We want our young people to define their own version of success — where success is not just about money or jobs, but about being strong in culture and fulfilling our responsibilities as a father, mother, community leader and person.

05 — The way we work

Grounded in self-determination, cultural ways of being, and collective responsibility.

Our work is guided by responsibility to Country, community and the continuation of the Gathang language. We prioritise our mob, language speakers and young people — creating opportunities for learning and teaching.

Our approach is community-first. Governance is strong, decisions are transparent, our work is accountable. We provide high levels of communication back to members and community.

Language and culture are not static — they grow and evolve. We listen, learn and adapt to the needs of our people, making sure Gathang is not just spoken, but lived.

FirstMob, language speakers and young people

HowCommunity-first, transparent, accountable

ForFuture generations who carry Gathang forward

AlwaysWalking in the footsteps of our Ancestors

06 — Our Board

Three directors carrying generations of cultural authority.

Our Board reflects Birrbay, Warrimay, Guringay peoples — Elders, educators, advocates and community leaders.

Aunty Lynette Syron

Director · Respected Elder

Birrbay and Warrimay

Aunty Lynette is a proud Birrbay and Warrimay woman. Her grandmother was Eileen Cook; her grandfather was Robert Syron, whose mother was Susan Clarke. She is a grandmother of nine, a mother of five, and is raising her two cousins.

Aunty Lynette has spent her working life involved in working for and with community. She is passionate about her Aboriginal culture and feels privileged to be able to learn the local Gathang language our Ancestors spoke fluently to colonisation.

Kara Clements

Board Chair

Warrimay

Working as an Aboriginal Education Officer at Dungog High School for approximately 10 years, Kara joins our board after being nominated by the Southern Warrimay Community.

Over the past decade, Kara has developed a significant passion for language, having been actively involved in learning and sharing the Gathang language in her communities. A mother of three, deeply committed to preserving and sharing language — not only with her own children, but with students and young people across the Gathang footprint.

Kitana Paulson

Director

Warrimay and Bundjalung

Kitana Paulson is a Warrimay and Bundjalung woman, born on Birrbay Barray in Djarii and raised on Warrimay Barray in Wambuynbaa (Forster). Her family connections include the Simons in Forster and the Curries in Tweed Heads / Fingal, and on her grandfather's side the Averys from Baryulgil and Donnellys in Muli Muli. She grew up immersed in Culture, guided by strong matriarchal cultural leaders who mentored her from a young age.

Her passion for language was ignited in a Gathang class taught by one of her mentors, Aunty Mandy Davis. A Warrimay artist, Kitana gives back through commissioned works created at no cost, recognising art as a tool for learning through storytelling. She lives, learns and works on Warrimay Barray in the community services sector — educating, empowering and supporting her community through cultural activities, with a focus on social and emotional wellbeing.

07 — Message from the CEO

"Language and culture are not static — they grow and evolve. We listen, learn and adapt to the needs of our people, making sure Gathang is not just spoken, but lived."

Gulwanyang Moran, Birrbay & Dhanggati — Chief Executive Officer

A community-led corporation, carrying language forward.