Rosy Gunnal Carpenter Mumbler

Gunnal Rose Carpenter Mumbler (c. 1870 – 27 February 1971, Nowra NSW), affectionately known as Queen Rose, was a respected Elder of the Yuin people. According to genealogical sources, she was born around Greenwell Point, NSW, and later married John “Biamanga’ Mumbler of Wallaga Lake in 1900.

Gunnal Rose became the mother of children who went on to become influential in Yuin community life, including her son Percy Mumbler (1907-1991), a noted Elder and activist. Her lineage and connections anchored her within the rich cultural traditions of Yuin families around Wallaga Lake, Nowra and the South Coast region.

In her long life she witnessed profound change from the late colonial era, through the establishment of Aboriginal reserves such as Wallaga Lake, to the evolving land rights movement of the 20th century. Although little published documentation is available specifically about her own life story, her presence in family histories and community genealogies marks her as a key figure in the intergenerational continuity of Yuin heritage.

Gunnal Rose died on 27 February 1971 in Nowra, NSW. Her life serves as a reminder of the enduring connections between Yuin people, land and family which are a foundation for the community leadership and cultural revival that her descendants helped to drive.