Today we are introducing you to Peter, the small business owner of Nunkeri Place which has First Nations’ art and craft galleries in Port Douglas and Airlie Beach.
Peter has spent over 40 years working for the First Nations people and hopes that his business is a step closer towards cultural recognition. Despite a downturn in tourism in Townsville, Peter has opened two galleries and has plans to open more so that he can provide employment to local First Nations’ people.
“Charles, my Many Rivers business coach, believes in me and my journey and that is what I like most about Charles. He supported me and believed that I can do it. That is all that I needed from the man.”
Read more.
Meet Peter
My business is called Nunkeri Place and it is a First Nations art and craft gallery. Nunkeri means beautiful in my language, and I have two galleries in Port Douglas and Airlie Beach. The Port Douglas gallery has been open for 4 months and the Airlie beach gallery has been open for 2 months. I had a third shop for a while too, but it’s not open anymore.
I have always worked for myself my whole life, my dad used to say to look and learn. I don’t like working for anyone else. For 40 years I have been working for the First Nations people. I have been training and working with our people. I worked in construction in our communities and did the training. I moved into art and craft about 26 
years ago when I moved to Hobart. I saw some of my elders making digeridoos and I was just so caught up by it. They nursed me through it.
In 2018, I supplied the Queensland Commonwealth Games with digeridoos.
Working with Many Rivers
I heard of Many Rivers around my community.
Charles, my Many Rivers business coach, and I are very good friends now and he has been so supportive of what I have done and what I want to do next. He believes in me and my journey and that is what I like most about Charles. He supported me and believed that I can do it. That is all that I needed from the man. Mental and cultural strength is what he gave me.
Many Rivers has been very supportive of First Nations people. Many Rivers is deadly.
Biggest Challenge
It is a challenge getting everyone to work together and getting my galleries and the First Nations people recognised. It is also a challenge to get a revenue stream going from my business.
Biggest Success
My biggest success was going down to the Queensland Tourism Awards recently. At the moment I have 3 employees on part-time until tourism picks up again. I hope to be able to employ more First Nations people when international tourism kicks off.
Future Goals for Nunkeri Place
I want to keep growing so that I can employ First Nations people. I am also working towards winning a contract for the Brisbane Olympic Games in 2032. So thank you to Ken Wyatt for his work and for supporting me and believing in me for what I can do for the First Nations people.
Thanks Peter
Thank you Peter for sharing your business journey with Nunkeri Place. We look forward to working with you as your business journey continues.
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