Gary Campbell

Gary Campbell is a Djiringandj / Yuin man, residing at Wallaga Lake. As a long-standing community advocate and cultural educator, Gary has devoted much of his life to reviving and sharing Yuin language and traditional knowledge. He has frequently spoken at community festivals, led yarning circles, and visited local schools to pass on Ancestral wisdom.

Gary played a central role in the initiative at Bermagui Public School where, since 2019, children have been learning Yuin languages (Djiringandj and Dhurga) through songs, stories, and cultural resources. Through this work Gary helps ensure that language, story and connection to Country remain accessible to future generations. His knowledge is rooted in the lands, waterways and traditions of his people.

From a young age, Gary learned to fish on Wallaga Lake under the guidance of his father, inheriting traditional fishing knowledge passed down through their family. For Gary, fishing is more than a means to feed the family, it is a living tradition, a way to honour Ancestors, care for community and connect with Country.

Reflecting on his work, Gary has said, when contributing to the language-revival efforts at Bermagui, that he wants to “bring the language back” making it accessible to all young people in the community, so they might “see what’s really there” in Country and culture. By combining his roles as a teacher, cultural guide and fisherman, Gary fosters a living culture that nourishes both the body and the spirit of his community.