Borobi first broke onto our screens and into our lives during the 2018 Commonwealth games at the Gold Coast smashing an Australian record. Never had any games mascot carried an Aboriginal name.
Borobi's instant popularity, especially with the kids, gained him widespread recognition and it wasn’t a hard task convincing the Commonwealth Games Foundation to break with tradition and offer him a new ongoing role.
Rory O'Connor, of the Yugambeh Musueum at the Gold Coast highlights the significance of Borobi’s role and his alignment with the Commonwealth Games' principles.
"There are 70 countries involved in these games. They bring together a third of the globe and they try and make sure every host country is left in a better position financially, in terms of infrastructure and most importantly in terms of social legacy," Rory O'connor says.
Dame Louise giving Borobi to Ted for safe-keeping Source: Supplied
"This is the difference between the Commonwealth Games and any other sporting event. They don’t just turn up and leave. They are the third biggest multi-sport event in the world but, unlike the other events they come with a social agenda.”
Borobi’s new role is to use his cheeky personality to promote Aboriginal languages and culture. At the airport, in national parks wherever you see Borobi just ask him a question and he will amaze you with his knowledge of local languages and culture.
This is a very serious role as at the beginning of colonization there were more than 300 Aboriginal languages across Australia. Today 90% of these languages are considered as endangered. Borobi is tasked to help keep these languages alive.
“No Aboriginal language has ever come back from being lost to becoming fluent again. A fluent language is a language that has 500 speakers of 3 different generations,” Rory O’Connor says.
Learning Aboriginal languages empowers young Aboriginal people and helps them close the gap. It also gives them pride and a sense of identity. Non-Aboriginal youth also benefit from learning these languages as they pick up new skills and, at the same time, develop their brains.
“Borobi Day, May 31, is a day of national celebration, it is a day for people to celebrate Aboriginal languages and have a crack without fear that they will be offending anyone,” Rory O’Connor says.
“For the sake of our children; for tomorrow’s children’s sake we are imploring you to learn a few words. It could be three, it could be four, and it could be ten! You might even do 100 words! It could be the name of your suburb! Do you know the meaning of the Aboriginal name of your suburb?”
Rory O'Connor adds that Borobi Day won’t cost you a cent. You just go online on Yugambeh.com. There are many activities on this website for all ages ranging from coloring sheets for the youngest ones to more serious corporate accessories. There are also detailed and fun activities for schools.
Tom Tate, the mayor of the Gold Coast has set the example. At every opportunity the Mayor uses Indigenous languages in official proceedings and his office is decorated with Indigenous artifacts.
