You could feel the Gundabooka ground shaking as men from around the country led the dancers out, a 'mob in' to commence the Gunni-Thakun Association's Corroboree, an event born in 1990.   

Since its inception, corroborees have been held around the country each year.

Last weekend, Bourke hosted the cultural event for the first time, at Gundabooka's Redbank Homestead, the biggest corroboree in Bourke in 50 years.   

  "We dance for country, we dance for our people, and we dance for community," said Jamie Moore, A Bourke-based Gunni-Thakun member at the helm of organising this year's event.   

"It's to basically showcase that men from different areas are coming together in unity and embracing culture. And just showcasing how strong culture still is," he said.  

That strength was shown by an almost 600-strong crowd gathering at the event, drawing people from as far as Tasmania, Melbourne, and the Northern Territory.   

While the corroboree was a celebration of people coming together, Mr Moore said it was a highlight to see the strength of culture come out in Bourke, particularly in younger generations.   

"Feedback we had from three Bourke Elders was that they didn't realise how strong the culture (here) is."  

Bourke-based Maranguka Dance Group joined in on the event, where local children immediately felt at ease.   

"Some of those kids are quite shy and are reluctant to dance. On the night, they jumped in and participated, even though they didn't know (other people)," Mr Moore said.   

"The power of a corroboree needs to be witnessed and experienced to feel the strength."  

"In kids, it strengthens their identity and makes them proud of who they are."  

Maddy Hodgetts led one of the groups that featured during the night.  

"As a Ngiyampaa/Wangaaypuwan woman, being able to be a part of this Corroboree held at Gundabooka on Ngemba Country, was an amazing experience! At the start of the night, I sang some Ngiyampaa songs for the Bourke girls while Lacey Boney led them in dance," Ms Hodgetts said.  

Maddy Hodgetts leading the dance group in song. (Urayne Warraweena)

"It was very important for me to respect the local girls and hold a space for them to dance. Knowing they were able to experience and dance at such a large and special corroboree, made my night," she said. 

"I attend these corroborees every year on different Country, but it's always so beautiful to see the men dance powerful and united, and even more special this time to see them singing Ngiyampaa songs on Country, it's like the old people could understand them and were there giving them strength."  

According to Mr Moore, you have to see a corroboree to believe its power. (Urayne Warraweena)