A mindset shift helped this founder build a thriving cultural education business.
Raymond Timbery’s business has only been operating for three years, but it’s been generations in the making.
When he started Gadhungal Marring, meaning ‘Saltwater People’, in 2021, the goal was to build a business to help create connections through Aboriginal cultural education programs, particularly through schools.
While he had plenty of business skills still to learn to achieve this ambition, the vision and passion for the company had been set years earlier, while watching his father and grandfather work to share their culture.
“It was naturally following the path of my ancestors and my old people,” he says.
“I talk about my old grandfather being the architect of my journey. Seeing him do all these things, and the challenges that he faced… It was just about the passion in what he had done, and how he’d done it.”
These days, Gadhungal Marring has more than 20 staff working across its education programs, Aboriginal consultancy services and a recently established native plant nursery.
The business runs school programs and cultural experiences in the Nowra and Huskisson areas of New South Wales, including a seven-week program where school kids can learn about language, dance and culture from local custodians.
But Timbery, a Dharrawal and Jaitmatang man, says it has been a long and hard road to achieve success.
Gadhungal Marring is his third attempt at getting a small business off the ground. He launched the company saying it would be his final shot at starting a company.
“I made every mistake under the sun. Don’t get me wrong — I wasn’t perfect. I learn like that, I guess. Making mistakes is the only way of moving forward,” he says.
On his third attempt at launch, there was one big difference in the approach.
“The mindset shift was that I just asked for help,” he says.
“So many people want you to do good and want you to be successful. Finding people like that has really changed how Gadhungal Marring has evolved and grown.”
One of those key supporters has been First Australians Capital, which connects Indigenous entrepreneurs with business support and funding opportunities so they can scale their companies.
The First Australians Capital Catalytic Impact Fund, which offers patient debt finance to founders, has attracted high-profile backers in recent years including Square and Afterpay owner Block. The fintech company invested $3 million from its own social impact fund into the Catalytic Impact Fund in November 2023.
Gadhungal Marring has been able to use funding from First Australians Capital to finance vehicles and support the hiring of a new operations manager as the company has grown.
But Timbery says one of the biggest benefits of connecting with the group has been working through a detailed business plan and spending time understanding his company from the inside out.
“There was no faking it with FAC — there was no hiding,” he says.
“Having that professional relationship is good, because it is where you are held accountable to someone.”
As Timbery has grown the business, he’s become a “life coach” to an increasing number of employees, many of them family members.
While that can be tiring work, seeing his employees thrive is also the number one thing about running a business.
“I want to see my people successful, and they have been,” he says.
“That’s the best part. Seeing my brothers, my cousins, my family getting the little wins they want for their families. That’s why we do it. It’s not an easy task.”
There’s no slowing down. Timbery now has multi-million dollar goals, including buying land for his family to live on and run the business from, as well as growing a commercial-scale native plant nursery.
Those dreams won’t be realised overnight, but the success of the business so far is serving as a reminder of what is possible.
“You look back 10 years ago and there’s no chance that I would be putting people on [to work] full time,” Timbery says.
“That’s the beauty of it – you don’t know what’s coming next.”
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