Bentley Park College is sited on the land of the Gimuy Walubarra Yidinji Clan Group.
The 'country' of this clan group extends from south of the Barron River (the northern most boundary) and the Freshwater Creek junction, from about east of Emerald Creek Falls, and runs south along the east top of the Lamb Ranges to just south of Mt Peter, to the head of Wrights Creek (the western most boundary). From the Lamb Ranges east along Wrights Creek (the southernmost boundary) to the western foothills of the Yarrabah Ranges and taking in Admiralty Island (the eastern most boundary), is Country of the Gimuy Walubarra Yidinji peoples, the local Aboriginal people of this area.
This area has now, except for the rainforests on our western ranges (Lamb) and eastern ranges (Yarrabah), been pretty much developed into the urban Cairns as we know and see today. Yet, if you stepped out onto the College's open grounds, you would quickly realise how the early look of this country was; from the rainforests starting in the west of the Lamb Ranges across the lowland forests into the mangroves to the east, with Trinity Inlet not far away. This was home to the Gimuy people, surviving from the plentiful bush tucker of the rainforest and near lands and the waterways; and with plenty of fresh water as well.
Of course our clan group was only just one of many clan groups that made up the Yidinji Tribe of the region. The Yidinji Tribal Nation extended from the Barron River west to some parts of the eastern Atherton Tablelands and south to the Russell River south of Babinda. To the east was also the Gungandji Tribe and to the north with the Djabaguai Tribe and Kuku Yalandji Tribe.
There are many families today who extend from these clan groups and tribes, who still live respect and care for this Country and especially the Gimuy Walubarra Yidinji Clan.
By Mr Kenny Reys (Rest in Peace) - Gimuy Walubarra Yindinji People, Traditional Owner
Snapshot from our Indigenous triptych mural created by the 2011 Year 11/12 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies class, in conjunction with local Aboriginal artist Shane Wallace, on display in our Secondary Canteen area