Welcome to Barribugu
Barribugu showcases new writing by students in Australian schools. We aim to nurture young writers as they develop their craft. We welcome them into the community of writers published in Australia’s oldest and most prestigious literary journal, Southerly.
About the artwork
Anissa Jones’ artwork, Community Before Self, articulates the impact of colonisation on Dharug Yiyura. The two larger circles indicate the two sides of Dharug Ngurra – those from the coast and those from the river/hinterland. The centre line is representative of the Burramatta dhurabang (Parramatta River), which was a natural boundary. The other lines indicate various waterways on Dharug Ngurra, such as Dhurabang (Hawkesbury River), Gulyari (Cook’s River), and Wiyangamatta Creek (Wianamatta – Mother Creek).
Where you see empty patches, they represent those who are disconnected from Community and our loss of families, culture, language, and Songlines. Some sections are full of circles, highlighting the families that have continued to live on Dharug Ngurra and maintained their bloodline connections – The Lockes, The Goldspinks, and The Simms.
Launch of Barribugu, February 2026
“When I see the word barribugu (future), I think of my grandchildren and their children. It is a place where I may just be a memory to them, someone special who makes them smile as they remember me, but it is also a place where I can dream that it will be better for mirana yiyura (First Peoples).” — Anissa Jones
Anissa Jones is a Burubirangal Dharug woman from Marrangurra (Richmond). She is also a teacher of Dharug Dhalang, the Dharug language, and Dharug language advisor for Southerly. When we invited her to choose a name for Southerly’s new venture, publishing work from emerging writers in Australian high schools, she chose “Barribugu”, meaning “Future”. In this blog post (on the main Southerly site), Anissa explores futurity and heralds in the first Barribugu publications.
New writing from young Australian writers
Southerly is proud to bring you the following inaugural pieces of writing for Barrigubu, by Sibgha Rana and Seray Pekenti, from Auburn Girls High School, and Taha Najjarine, from Punchbowl Boys High School.
Beneath the Bruise
Aisle Six
To Be Lebanese or Italian
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