Kumbilor – Hill in My Country by Jeanine Leane

I come back and see a hill
barren and cleared of trees. Sectioned by fences
like a checkerboard of games won and lost.
Only the rocks anchored so deep they cannot
be moved remain.

A dry creek-bed – thirsty for a long time
now. Faded stones no longer shining sharp
worn and rounded by time passed.
 
I close my eyes. Fences disappear.
Bare-foot mop-headed children – hatless
in the heat of the high sun search for
a slumber of koalas, listen for a
warbling of magpies laugh louder than
a cackle of kookaburras.
 
The children run. Scramble high on
 granite sentinels.
‘This is my wild horse!’ shrieks one.
‘And this is mine!’ yells the other.
They ride and ride and ride a
thousand miles standing still.
Sun blazes on quartz crystal makes
amethyst haze.
 
I scrunch my eyes tighter.
There’s my Aunty on the creek flats
 walking through parched grass
 towards the hill. She calls us.
Time to come home. We start to run
arms open to meet her.
 
 
We’re almost there – nearly
touching her.
My eyes hurt. I open them.
She’s gone! 

Jeanine Leane (1961–Present) – Short Biography

Jeanine Leane is a distinguished Aboriginal Australian poet, novelist, essayist, literary critic, and academic. She was born in 1961 in Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia, and belongs to the Wiradjuri Nation, one of the largest Indigenous communities in Australia. Her Aboriginal heritage plays a central role in her writing, which focuses on Country, memory, family, identity, history, and the continuing impact of colonization on Indigenous Australians. 

  Kumbilor – Hill in My Country by Jeanine Leane

Kumbilor – Hill in My Country is a deeply emotional poem by Aboriginal Australian poet Jeanine Leane. The poem explores the themes of memory, identity, family, loss, and the enduring connection between Indigenous people and their ancestral land (Country). "Kumbilor" refers to a hill in the poet's homeland, and throughout the poem it becomes a powerful symbol of belonging, cultural identity, and childhood memories. The poem moves between the present reality of a damaged landscape and the rich memories that continue to live in the poet's heart.

The poem begins with the speaker returning to Kumbilor after many years. Instead of finding the vibrant landscape remembered from childhood, the speaker sees a hill that has become barren and empty. Trees have been cut down, and fences divide the land into separate sections "like a checkerboard of games won and lost." This comparison suggests the effects of European colonization, where Aboriginal land was divided, owned, and controlled. The fences symbolize separation—not only of land but also of culture, identity, and community. Although much has changed, the ancient rocks remain firmly rooted in the earth, representing the enduring strength of Indigenous history and culture. The dried-up creek further emphasizes environmental destruction and the loss of life that once flourished there.

Unable to bear the painful sight, the speaker closes her eyes. The present landscape disappears, and vivid childhood memories return. She remembers barefoot children running freely over the land without fear or restriction. The children search for koalas, listen to the songs of magpies, and laugh joyfully alongside the calls of kookaburras. These images create a lively picture of harmony between children and nature. The land is not simply a place to live but a living companion that nurtures happiness, freedom, and imagination. The sounds of birds and the laughter of children replace the silence and emptiness of the present-day landscape.

The children continue their adventures by climbing large granite rocks, which the poet calls "granite sentinels." These rocks stand like faithful guardians watching over the land for countless generations. The children imagine the rocks as wild horses and pretend to ride them across great distances while never leaving the hill. Their imaginative play reflects the close relationship between Aboriginal children and their environment. Nature becomes their playground, teacher, and friend. The sunlight shining on quartz crystals creates an amethyst-coloured haze, making the landscape appear magical and sacred. These images celebrate the natural beauty of Country and the spiritual bond between people and place.

As the memories deepen, the speaker sees her Aunty walking across the dry creek flats toward the hill. The Aunty lovingly calls the children home, and they immediately begin running towards her with open arms. This scene reflects the warmth of Aboriginal family life, where elders play an important role in caring for younger generations. The image of the children running toward their Aunty symbolizes love, security, and belonging. Family and Country are presented as inseparable parts of Aboriginal identity.

However, the joyful memory ends abruptly. Just as the children are about to reach their Aunty, the speaker opens her eyes, and the vision disappears. The heartbreaking final words—"She's gone!"—express not only the loss of a beloved family member but also the passing of an entire way of life. The memory cannot be recovered except through imagination. This ending reminds readers that colonization, displacement, and the passage of time have taken away many people, traditions, and landscapes, but memories continue to preserve them.

On a deeper level, the poem is not simply about one hill but about the Aboriginal understanding of "Country." For Indigenous Australians, Country is much more than physical land. It includes ancestors, language, culture, spirituality, family, and identity. Although the landscape has been altered by clearing, fencing, and environmental damage, the emotional and spiritual connection remains unbroken. Through memory, the speaker reconnects with the people and places that shaped her identity.

The poem ultimately conveys both sorrow and hope. It mourns the destruction of the natural landscape and the loss of loved ones while celebrating the resilience of Indigenous memory and culture. Jeanine Leane suggests that although physical places may change, the stories, relationships, and spiritual connections attached to Country continue to survive across generations. Kumbilor – Hill in My Country therefore becomes a moving tribute to Aboriginal heritage, family, and the enduring power of memory.

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Glossary of Kumbilor – Hill in My Country

Word/Phrase	Meaning
Kumbilor	The name of the hill in the poet's ancestral Country.
Country	In Aboriginal culture, ancestral land that includes identity, culture, spirituality, and family, not merely physical land.
Barren	Dry, empty, and without vegetation.
Cleared	Trees and plants removed from the land.
Sectioned	Divided into separate parts.
Checkerboard	A board with alternating squares; symbolizes land divided by fences.
Anchored	Firmly fixed or deeply rooted.
Rock-clefts	Natural cracks or openings in rocks.
Creek-bed	The bottom of a creek or stream.
Thirsty	Dry because of a lack of water.
Faded	Having lost brightness or colour.
Rounded	Made smooth by weathering over time.
Bare-foot	Without shoes.
Mop-headed	Having thick, untidy hair.
Slumber of koalas	A collective noun meaning a group of koalas.
Warbling	Singing in a pleasant, musical way.
Magpies	Australian birds known for their melodious songs.
Cackle	A loud, laughing call made by kookaburras.
Kookaburras	Native Australian birds famous for their laughter-like call.
Scramble	To climb quickly using hands and feet.
Granite	A hard natural rock.
Sentinels	Guards or watchkeepers; here the rocks are imagined as guardians of Country.
Quartz crystal	A transparent mineral that shines in sunlight.
Amethyst haze	A purple-coloured mist created by reflected light.
Creek flats	Flat land beside a creek.
Parched	Extremely dry due to heat.
Shrieks	Cries out loudly with excitement.
Yells	Shouts loudly.
Blazes	Shines intensely.
Haze	A light mist that makes the air appear cloudy.
Arms open	A symbol of love, welcome, and affection.
Gone	No longer present; suggests death, absence, or irreversible loss.

Important Symbolic Meanings

• Kumbilor (the hill) – Aboriginal identity, ancestry, and belonging.
• Fences – Colonization, land division, and cultural separation.
• Rocks (Granite Sentinels) – Permanence, resilience, and ancestral guardians.
• Dry Creek – Environmental destruction and cultural loss.
• Children – Innocence, freedom, and continuity of Indigenous culture.
• Birds – Harmony between humans and nature.
• Aunty – Family love, community, and the role of Aboriginal elders.
• Closing the eyes – Returning to memory and imagination.
• Opening the eyes – Facing the painful reality of loss.
• "She's gone!" – The loss of loved ones, traditions, and an earlier way of life, while memory remains alive.