About Kurungabaa
‘Kurungabaa’ is a Dharawal word for the Australian pelican, a handsome bird with a peculiar way of gliding low over the waves. We have chosen it to express respect for the Dharawal country where we love to surf, to celebrate the continuing culture of the Dharawal people, and to acknowledge the memory of the Dharawal people’s ancestors.
Kurungabaa is a not-for-profit publication, and is published bi-annually (June and December) as a hard copy by the generosity of subscribers and donors.
Kurungabaa publishes diverse genres including poetry, fiction, reflective and scholarly essays, memoirs, review essays, and interviews. Four pages each issue are made available for a photo essay or series of art reproductions by a single photographer or artist. All work undergoes anonymous peer review.
Emerging writers from coastlines around the world are encouraged to submit their work. Several pages will be dedicated to emerging authors in each issue. Editorial and writing assistance can be arranged, if requested.
Indigenous surfers are encouraged to join in Kurungabaa’s production, both as members of the editorial collective and as contributors. Every issue will contain material on surfing-related Indigenous history, culture and politics.
Editorial Collective (feel free to sign up!):
Alex Leonard is a Visiting Research Fellow at the Centre for Asia Pacific Social Transformation Studies (CAPSTRANS), University of Wollongong. He lives with his wife Hanh and their son An Ton in Thirroul.
Stuart Nettle is a part-time student and full-time editor (www.swellnet.com.au). Stuart mainly surfs the reefs around his beloved Cronulla, but has had a long and lusty affair with the limestone coasts of southern Australia. He has a permanently furrowed brow and strokes his chin a lot.
Born 1981 in Hamburg, Germany to parents from Cairo, Egypt Dina El Dessouky immigrated to the United States at age three. Her family moved to northern California when she was eight, and France, Tahiti, and Spain have also been formative places for her; Dina is local to no particular landmass. She is a doctoral candidate in literature at the University of California, Santa Cruz, and works primarily with Oceania’s indigenous writers and activists.
Clifton Evers is a postdoctoral cultural researcher, and works with various community groups in Australia. Clifton has undertaken research and written on subcultures, sport and social politics for universities. He can be bought cheaply with any beer, or expensively with a bottle of Glenmorangie Scotch Whisky. He has a habit of pacing the floor and twitching all night when a new winter swell is on its way.
Kim Satchell is a Mid North Coast NSW surfer, reconstructed from the Cronulla Underground, halcyon days of the early 70s to early 80s, before and after the demise of the Miami Milkbar at South Cronulla. Academic, mystic, oceanic hippy, right foot forward, left hand touching the water, aspires to live recursively from land to sea, in a flow-state of consciousness. Dreams in colour and listens to an eclectic range of music, wavesong and the sound of words. Is said to be able to disappear and appear, at different points on the compass, according to the moon. Lover of books, style, bottle green and contemporary renderings of mid-20c aesthetics. At times raves on…
Peter Bowes: Bondi(1944) Byron(1962) Ulladulla (1969) Warriewood (1971) Avalon (1996). Still kicking.
Thomas Williams has worked for two decades as an advocate for the natural environment while living amongst the unnatural environment of Sydney crowds. He finds solace from city living in the written word and occasional escape to the empty waves of eastern Australia’s far south coast.
Rebecca Olive can sometimes be found with cup of tea in hand musing over why Ryan Adams cannot take criticism. When not at home sliding at The Pass in Byron Bay Bec is found, well, sliding somewhere else or Making Friends with the Neighbours.
Editorial Advisors:
Ry Beville, Tim Baker, Nick Carroll, Fong, Colleen McGloin, Rick Shapter, Pat Grant, Darius Devas, Paul Scott, Adam Rumack, W. D. Ehrhart.
Good luck with your publication.
It contains fresh vision.
Aim for teen student rather than ingrained walrus.
No preaching to the converted.
I hope you can turn your audience left of the mainstream,
hard left at that, before the sponge soaks in.
Thanks Derek. Your advice is spot on and generous. We will take it on board, for sure. Thanks.
We will offer people alternative perspectives, even on their own situations, especially when it means discussion, argument, engagement, reflection, change and movement.
Clif
I would like to write something for your publication. I haven’t thought of anything to write about at the moment but when I do I will let you know. It will be informative and thought provoking.
kk
Mr KK,
All submissions are welcome – especially if they are informative and thought provoking. Hey, even if they are straight-up provocative. Of course you would have to supply your real name. Looking forward to your submission.
Stu
I showed this site to an old boy who had spent twenty years in New Guinea back in the 60’s He surfed through the entire time up there, kept a journal, took pics We agreed that about 25 years of tales are missing from this history of ours – years 1950 to 1965 – So I kicked his arse He is going to get back to me
I was just wondering what the process of pulishing some work on the site is? I have a few idea’s for some articles, which could be a little thought provoking.
Hey Tom, just send them along to one of us mate and we’ll have a read a pass it on. We tend to get stuff peer reviewed before publishing. Once reviewed we can publish on the site, or even in print if you like. You can find out our contact details on the submissions page. Just click on the icon on top of main page. ‘Thought provoking’ is what we want.
Cheers. Clif.
From one independent publisher to another I wanted to say congrats. I subscribed in blind faith, hook, line and sinker. Really stoked to see a new roster of surf journalism and creativity. Tim’s right on.
I like the fact that you guys can publish a mag thats interesting w/ out all the advertising crap, and posers trying to sell more crap, soul surfing is the core, dont lose it, it is the last free frontier, and wonderfull] life style, stay loose and wet.
damn fine show! thought you might be able to field a short inquiry. what would be the female term for chaps? and would such a term be appropriate for such an enterprise as this? i came up with chaste but it seems wholly inadequate. anyway congrats on the spiffing good time you are giving the readers. my friend richard allcock thought perhaps chaps just needed a space to let it all hang out without these concerns. i am not sure allcock is right or bettered particularly with the support allcock gets (to be sure he never gets as much as he’d like). it does present quite a conumdrum to give allcock what he wants and offer more. perhaps time will tell and allcock will get his own back with quite a shock. winterautumn III avid reader and freak
Hello there,
Just stumbled across this little gem via seamouse. i cant believe such a publication exists, it sounds like a completely unique breath of fresh air and right up my street in every way. Hopefully i can get a copy sent here to Mexico….
I’d love to contribute some artwork, please check out the link to my blog and let me know…..
Keep on keepin’ on and stay wet….
hangonawhile droog (nice site mate) – we have waves over here today and all the management are in the water.
Just explored your site Droog. It is a gem in its own right!! Enjoying it a lot. We will post to Mexico. As long as you get some tasty beachies and some beers today
Oh, and Winter autumn. Nice post. lol. We like to wear out rollerskates while reciting Keats next to the fireplace in the smoking room too.