Ray Kerkhove
Bio
Ray Kerkhove is an independent consultant who specialises in reconstructing Indigenous site histories across southern Queensland. His work embraces Indigenous resource use, social history and conflict sites. He also occasionally writes on religious history. He is currently working with the Aboriginal Environments Research Centre (Dept of Architecture, University of Queensland) on aspects of frontier fortification and Aboriginal involvement in early architecture. As visiting Fellow at Griffith University (2017-2018), he designed the first website on SE Queensland Aboriginal resistance.
https://harrygentle.com.au/projects/mapping-frontier-conflict-in-south-east-queensland/

Between 2007 and 2011 Ray was Project Manager of the organisation he Co-founded, ICP Aust Inc, which developed dozens of Aboriginal projects across Queensland: events (e.g. Bringing Kitchener Home, Bunya Dreaming), monuments, language revival, books (e.g. Bury Me at Tartulla Hill), educational DVDs and art exhibitions (e.g. Heart of Earth, Quilpie).

Since 2013, Ray has provided key research towards education kits (Sunshine Coast DETE and Toowoomba high schools); cultural revitalisation projects (Maroochy Gunyah; Women’s Hands basketry; Julara fishnet reconstruction; the nationally touring Gubbi Gubbi canoe); Master Plans (e.g. Nambour, South Bank Community Space), historic signage (e.g. Beerburrum walking trail, One Tree Hill - Duggan Park; Redcliffe Museum; Judy Watson’s 'Women’s Walk' - Kingsford Smith Drive artworks), maps (Museum of Brisbane’s interactive Indigenous map of Brisbane CBD) and development projects including Toowoomba Bypass, Queen’s Wharf, Sunshine Coast Plaza, Sunshine Coast Airport and Victoria Park. He regularly contributes research towards the nation-wide digital mapping projects conducted by the Indigenous-owned 'Virtual Songlines'.
Skills and Services Offered
Historical reports on local (SE Qld) Indigenous histories & site-use
Historical mapping of Indigenous sites
Significance assessments of archival & artefact collections
Connection Reports (Native Title)
Biographical research on early Aboriginal figures
Research for reconstruction of items of Aboriginal material culture
Texts and panels for public exhibitions
Education kits
Tours
Public talks
Research on Aboriginal resource use
Project management
Qualifications
2002 Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) University of Queensland, St. Lucia
1994 Master of Arts (History & Indigenous Religions) University of Queensland, St.Lucia
1984 Post graduate Honours (1st Semester), University of Queensland, St.Lucia
1982 Bachelor of Arts, University of Queensland, St. Lucia

Non-university qualifications
2010 Beyond Awareness – Indigenous Cultural Competency Training (WMP)
2007 Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Cultural Awareness (HACC)
2004 Certificate IV in Workplace Training & Assessment (Marc Radcliffe)
Professional Interests
SE Queensland Aboriginal history
Frontier Wars and Aboriginal resistance
Aboriginal Material Culture
Mapping Aboriginal history
Indigenous cultures (globally)
Religious arts
Publications and Experience

Publications
2019, The Battle of One Tree Hill: the Aboriginal resistance that stunned Queensland, Tingalpa: Boolarong Press.
2019, & Catherine Keys, ‘Lighthouse Communities and Indigenous-settler cultural entanglements: the early history of southern Queensland’s lighthouses and pilot stations,’ Royal Historical Society of Queensland Journal, Vol.24, No.2, pp. 213-229.
2019, Indigenous Historical Context of Sunshine Coast Airport Extension: A Report for Kabi Kabi Corp (May).
2019, ‘Reconstructing the Battle of Narawai’, Queensland Review, Vol. 26, Issue 1, pp.3-31.
2019, & Serena Love & T Robins, Desktop study of aboriginal cultural heritage Dutton park, Brisbane, Queensland, Brisbane: Everick Heritage Pty Ltd (April).
2018, ‘Aboriginal camps as urban foundations? The evidence from southern Queensland,’ Aboriginal History Vol. 42, pp.144-172.
2018, ‘Brisbane’s Forgotten Standoff,’ in Meilssa Fagan, Caitlin Morgan & Matthew Wengert, eds., Within/ Without these Walls, Brisbane: andalsobooks publishers, pp. 98-103.
2018, & Simon Gall, The Kabi Kabi People since the 1790s: a draft Thematic History Pialba: Sunshine Coast Regional Council & Converge.
2018, Kabi Kabi sites and history of the legendary Mount Coolum (Sunshine Coast, Queensland)- for National Reconciliation Week, Coolum: Bunya Bunya Country Corp/ Coolum North Shore Coast Care.
2018 ‘Heinrich Keil and the Origins of Kiels Mountain and Diddillibah, Queensland, Australia’, The Australasian Journal of Salvation Army History, Vol.3, Issue 1.
2018, ‘Indigenous Historical Context of Bulimba Barracks and Surrounds,’ in Bulimba Barracks, Brisbane Heritage Assessment – Report prepared by Currie & Brown (Australia), Sydney: GML Heritage.
2018, & Charmaine Foley, Avatar’s Abode 1958-2018 – 60th Anniversary.
2017, The Identity of Jimmy Crow and Annie Crow, Keperra: Ray Kerkhove & Jagera Daran, (August).
2017, Maroochy Gunyah – Images of the Ngudur/Diura (gunyah) of south east Queensland and traditional domestic architecture across Australia, Exhibition (display board texts and images), Maroochydore: Maroochy Sailing Club Hall, (Sunshine Coast Horizons Festival).
2017, Report: King Sandy of Boonah. Keperra: Ray Kerkhove & Jagera Daran (May).
2017, The Pandanus: Historical Occurrence and Aboriginal Uses: Moreton to Wide Bay Districts Coolum: Unity Water, Coolum & North Shore Coast Care, Bunya Bunya Country
2016, ‘Enduring Presence: Aboriginal Landscape and History in Annerley Stephens,’ in Stephen Sheaffe, comp., Stories of Stephens: A History of Annerley and the Surrounding Suburbs Annerley: Annerley Stephens Historical Group & Royal Historical Society of Queensland.
2016, & Neville Buch & Michael Macklin, ‘Untangling Stories of Stephens Place Names’ in Stephen Sheaffe, comp., Stories of Stephens: A History of Annerley and the Surrounding Suburbs Annerley: Annerley Stephens Historical Group & Royal Historical Society of Queensland.
2016, ‘Milieu and context: towards a comprehensive history of religious change on the Sunshine Coast,’ The Australasian Journal of Salvation Army History, Vol.1, Issue 2, pp.111-129.
2016, Historical Context of Toowoomba Bypass from Main Range Escarpment to Helidon – a Report for the Department of Transport and Main Roads and Jagera Daran (Feburary).
2016, Multuggerah and Multuggerah Way, Brisbane: Jagera Daran & Toowoomba Catholic Justice Commission (June).
2016, Traditional Sunshine Coast & SE Queensland Aboriginal Uses of Mangroves/ Mangrove Areas Sippy Downs: USC & Bunya Bunya Country.
2016, Aboriginal Cultural Sites – Lower Maroochy & Mooloolah Rivers: Some Research Findings, Bunya Bunya Corp.
2015, Aboriginal Campsites of Greater Brisbane: An Historical Guide Salisbury: Boolarong.
2015, Aboriginal Cobra (Teredo or Shipworm) Use, Bli Bli: Bunya Bunya Country Corp.
2015, Report: Indigenous Use and Indigenous History of Rosewood Scrub – for Jagera Daran Keperra: Ray Kerkhove & Jagera Daran, (December).
2015, Indigenous Historical Context of Toowoomba Bypass: Lockyer Valley and Helidon with special attention to events surrounding the ‘Battle of One Tree Hill’ Enoggera: Ray Kerkhove/ Jagera Daran.
2015, ‘Aboriginal Boating in Southeast Queensland,’ Boat Gold Coast, May-July Issue, pp.48-49.
2014, ‘A Different Mode of War? Aboriginal Guerrilla Tactics in Defining the Black War of Southern Queensland 1843-1855,’ SSRN/ honesthistory.net.au
2014, ‘Aboriginal resistance war tactics: The Black War of Southern Queensland (Tribal Alliances with Broader Agendas?),’ Cosmopolitan Civil Societies: An Interdisciplinary Journal (University of Technology Sydney) Vol.6: No.4.
2014, (Indigenous & Multi-faith sites), Living Heritage (booklet) Brisbane: Brisbane City Council
2014, ‘Barriers and Bastions: The Fortified Frontier and Black and White Tactics,’ Our Shared History: Resistance and Reconciliation, CQU (Noosa) online.
2013, ‘Aboriginal trade in fish and sea foods in 19th century SE Queensland,’ Queensland Review Vol.20: Issue 2.
2013, ‘Gubbi Gubbi Gun’doo Yang’ga’man (constructing Gubbi Gubbi canoes): biomimicry in Indigenous art and craft,’ Balance Unbalance Conference, University of Central Queensland.
2013, ‘Unstructured networking in a charisma-based new religious movement: the ‘Baba lovers’, in Carol M Cusack & Danielle Kirby, Sects, Cults and New Religions: Critical Concepts in Sociology, London: Taylor & Francis Pty (Routledge).
2012, The Great Bunya Gathering: Early Sources, Maleny: Pemako.
2012, & Neil McGarvie, P S Lavarack, Noel Williams and Sue Simon, Stories of Old Buderim, Buderim: Buderim Chronicle.
2012, ‘Buderim’s Indigenous History,’ Buderim Celebrates 150 Years, Maroochydore: Sunshine Coast Daily, pp.30-31.
2011, ‘A Deeper Heritage’ Trust News Australia (National Trust), Vo.4:7, pp 22-23.
2009, & Alex Bond, The Statesman, the Warrior and the Songman, Brisbane: Brisbane City Council.
2008, ‘Aboriginal Nambour,’ in Audienne Blythe & Barbara Want, Nambour: A Pictorial History, Nambour: Nambour & District Historical Association.
2008, Bringing Kitchener Home: The Centenary of Nebo’s Stolen Generation Nambour: ICP Australia Inc.
2007, ‘Unstructured networking in a charisma-based new religious movement: the ‘Baba lovers’, Australian Religion Studies Review, Vol.20, No.2.
2006, ‘Dark Religion? Aztec Perspectives on Human Sacrifice,’ in Chris Hartney & Andrew McGarrity, eds., The Dark Side: Proceedings of the Seventh Australian and International Religion, Literature and the Arts Conference 2002 2006, Sydney: University of Sydney RLA Press, pp.136-160.
2004, ‘Towards a Multi-faith History of the Sunshine Coast,’ Australian Religion Studies Review Vol. 17: 1, pp.69-93.
2003, Soul Havens: the Story of Spiritual Sanctuaries on the Sunshine Coast Woombye: Ray Kerkhove
1996, Avatar Meher Baba – his life, his message and his followers, Woombye: Meher Baba Foundation Australia.

Public Talks and Media
2019, ‘Aboriginal Camps of Greater Brisbane: Norman Creek Catchment,’ Norman Creek Catchment, 14th October.
2019,’The Battle of Narawai,’ North Stradbroke Island Museum, 28th September.
2019, ‘The Battle of One Tree Hill,’ ABC Radio Darling Downs, September.
2019, ‘Battle of One Tree Hill: remembering an Indigenous victory and a warrior who routed the whites, ‘ The Guardian, 15th September.
2019, ‘The Casual Explorer: unknown and lesser-known expeditions of south-east Queensland,’ Exploration: Sea, Sky and Land in Queensland (Conference by the Royal Historical Society of Queensland, Brisbane), 31st August.
2019, ‘Aboriginal Heritage: Train lines of SE Qld,’ Guest lecture, Dept of Architecture (Post Graduate session), University of Queensland, 31st July.
2019, ‘Aboriginal Campsites of Brisbane: CBD Vicinity,’ Northey Street Community Farm, Brisbane, 23rd July.
2019, ‘Unspoken legacy: Aboriginal heritage and the Hospital precincts,’ St Vincent’s Hospital, Chermside, 18th June.
2019, ‘Aboriginal Campsites of Brisbane,’ Balaangala Community Centre, the Gap (Brisbane), 1st June.
2019, ‘Aboriginal Campsites of Enoggera,’ Hillbrook Anglican College, 29th May.
2019, ‘Aboriginal Heritage of Inland SE Qld,’ guest lecture, Dept of Architecture, University of Queensland, 6th March.
2018, ‘Eulope and the Battle of Moongalba,’ Quandamooka Festival (Colounring of Australia’s History), North Stradbroke Island Museum, September.
2018, ‘Boundaries and Curfews Effecting Brisbane Aboriginal Life: 19th -20th Centuries,’ Guest lecture, Reconciliation Queensland, Mitchelton, November.
2018, ‘Aspects of Moreton Bay Indigenous History,’ guest lecture, Department of Architecture (Postgraduate Class), University of Queensland, 1st August.
2018, ‘Reconstructing Aboriginal Warfare: Considerations for Archaeological Analysis,’ Archaeology of War Conference, National Maritime Museum, Sydney, June.
2018, ‘Unspoken Legacy: Aboriginal Contributions to Colonial Australia,’ Guest lecture (Reconciliation Week), University of Southern Queensland, Toowoomba, 30th May.
2018, ‘Frontier Front: Moreton Region in the 1840s-1850s,’ Moreton Bay Regional Council History Seminar, North Lakes, 16th May.
2018, & Frank Uhr, ‘One Tree Hill’ (Salon sessions), University of Southern Queensland, Toowoomba, July. 2017, ‘Who is Multuggerah, and should the new Toowoomba range crossing be named after him?’ 4ZZZ Radio, 29 October.
2017, ‘Reconstructing Resistance: Mapping Life on the Southern Queensland Frontier,’ University of Sunshine Coast, Indigenous Education Symposium, Sippy Downs, 11-13 October.
2017 ‘Reconstructing Sunshine Coast Aboriginal Culture,’ Noosa Parks Association Inc.
2017 ‘Reconstructing Resistance: Mapping Frontier Affrays,’ Queensland State Archives, Runcorn 16 June.
2017 ‘Boundaries, Parks and Police Raids: The Conflicted Space of Brisbane’s Aboriginal Encampments,’ Policing Colonial Brisbane Forum, Brisbane History Group, Spring Hill, 27 May.
2017, ‘Aboriginal Heritage of the Inner Brisbane Suburbs,’ guest lecture, Dept of Architecture (Postgraduate Class), University of Queensland, March.
2016, ‘Multuggerah, One Tree Hill and Multuggerah Way,’ Toowomba City Library, Toowoomba, 13th September.
2016, ‘The Battle of One Tree Hill,’ Amaroo Environmental Education Centre, Toowoomba, 26th August.
2016 ‘Aboriginal Campsites of South-east Queensland,’ Noosa Parks Association Inc. Noosa.
2015, ‘Aboriginal Campsites: Our Towns’ foundations? Foundational Histories, Australian History Association, Conference (University of Sydney), July.
2015, ‘Barriers and Bastions: The Fortified Frontier and Black and White Tactics,’ Our Shared History: Resistance and Reconciliation,’ Central Queensland University (Noosa), June.
2015, ‘Aboriginal Resistance and Inter-tribal Alliances (response interview to Geoffrey Blainey),’ Phillip Adams, ABC Radio, April.
2015, ‘A different kind of war? Resistance tactics and the SE Qld ‘Black War’ (1842-1855),’ Coniston to Gallipoli Conference, University of Technology Sydney, August.
2014, ‘Indigenous Resistance Techniques in SE Queensland – an Overview,’ Australian History Association, Conference, University of Queensland, July.
2013, ‘From Campsite to Park in Inner Brisbane,’ History Honours Seminar (guest lecture), Dept. of History, University of Queensland, 15 August.
2013, ‘West End to Woolloongabba’, Race, Place and Taste Symposium, State Library Brisbane 27-28 June.
2013, ‘Variety, change and missing pieces: Aboriginal watercraft of south-eastern Queensland,’ Sea Stories Conference , University of Sydney, 15 June.
2013, ‘Gubbi Gubbi canoe as biomimickry, Balance/ Unbalance International Conference, Central Queensland University, Noosa, 2 June.
2013, ‘The Bunya Festival and Baroon Pocket,’ Goorie Vision/ Mary River Catchment (film interview), 26 March.
2012, ‘Joh-era Politics? Not quite…’ BrisbaneTimes.com.au 19 May.
2012, ‘Spiritual Centres and Faith Histories of the Sunshine Coast,’ Soul Train, ABC Coast FM, 10 April.
2011, ‘Indigenous Quests for Group Identity through Material Culture: Examples from ICP Indigenous Heritage Work,’ – paper/ seminar, Material Culture Group, University of Queensland, April.
2011, ‘Kabi Kabi Search for Identity on the Sunshine Coast’ – Seminar, United Synergies (Booin Gari Festival), Tewantin, February.
2010, ‘Transformative Benefits: locating and supporting inspirational Indigenous cultural projects’ – paper & talk, 17th Annual Native Title and Cultural Heritage Forum, Brisbane (Hilton), 30 November – 1st December.

Awards
2011 Governor’s Award (Gold), National Trust of Queensland Award for ICP Aust Inc, for promoting local heritage (Wangkumarra Stories)
2009 Finalist - Reconciliation Qld Awards (community organization division), for developing ICP Aust Inc
2009 Helen Taylor Award for Local History (Brisbane City Council), with Indigenous researcher Alex Bon

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