19/03/2026
Language work is hard and long and does not happen overnight, but with the dedication of Language Warriors, like Aunty Coco here and the team surrounding her, long term outcomes for the saving, protecting, caring for and in tun sharing of your language can be achieved and this story is testament to that. Long term investment is always needed for our languages, as well as dedication and love. Congratulations Aunt on this recognition and everyone at Yawuru for their support
🌟 Aunty Coco and the Legacy Behind Australia’s Largest Digitally Documented Language 🌟
Aunty Coco’s dedication to the preservation of Yawuru ngan-ga continues to honour the legacy of our Elders and strengthen the voice of our language for generations to come. 💛🖤❤️
Through countless hours of meticulous work, Aunty Coco has carefully transcribed elders’ recordings with exceptional accuracy. Listening closely to fluent speakers in person and on old tape recordings, she applies the correct orthography and painstakingly conjugates each verb with precision, all 63 forms at a time.
Her devotion has transformed the way our community preserves, accesses, and celebrates our language.
Her commitment to building and refining individual data sets in the Miromaa database has contributed to Yawuru ngan-ga becoming the largest digitally documented language in Australia! This achievement stands on her tireless commitment and the strong foundations laid by Yawuru Elders and language speakers, whose knowledge, voices, and teachings continue to guide this work.
Today, that legacy is carried forward by her and the dedicated team at Mabu Yawuru Ngan-ga, who continue to grow, strengthen and share our language with community. Together, this work reflects a deep and shared belief that Yawuru ngan-ga must always be heard, spoken and carried forward.
Thank you immensely, Aunty Coco, and to all our Elders and language workers who continue to protect and grow this precious legacy.
✨ WIRDU GALA MABU! BIG THANK YOU! ✨
💬🪶🌏