Gulf Walk-About — October 2024

Keeping the community up to date

October 2024 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are advised that the following publication may contain images of people who are deceased.

GOOD NEWS STORIES GOOD NEWS STORIES Update from Ewamian Rangers Ewamian Rangers recently assisted rangers from Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service at Forty Mile Scrub National Park with a series of controlled burns to gain more experience and training in fire management.

Farewell to Sharon Prior! Gulf Savannah NRM would like to recognise the hard work that Sharon has delivered during her time as General Manager of Ewamian People Aboriginal Corporation. We have enjoyed working with you and wish you all the best in your future endeavours.

Boosting Housing Supply Kowanyama Aboriginal Council has received $160,000 funding to develop a Future Housing Supply Strategy expected to enable 66 welllocated homes.

It was one of 80 projects across Australia to receive funding as part of Stream 1 of the $1.5billion Housing Support Program. The program is one of a range of measures designed to help achieve the national target of building 1.2 million new homes over the next five years.

New Laws, Bigger Fines for Feeding Crocs Two new offences have been introduced making it unlawful to unintentionally feed a crocodile by discarding food, and remaining in close proximity to a crocodile.

It is now an offence to discard food (including fish frames and bait) in a way that may attract crocodiles to a public place such as a boat ramp, jetty, pontoon or camping area or park adjacent to water and where there is a sign warning of the presence of crocodiles in the vicinity. This carries a $483 on-the-spot fine, and maximum court-imposed fine of $6452.

It is also an offence to knowingly remain within close proximity to a crocodile that is on, or partly on, land. For example, to remain in close proximity (10m) to a crocodile basking on a riverbank. This carries a $806 on-the-spot fine, and maximum court-imposed fine of $16,130.

Conservation officers have the power to direct people to move away from a crocodile to avoid any potential human-crocodile interactions.

STAY DEADLY

Wanjadda to all you deadly mobs in our region. It's awesome to work with you, and seeing your successes makes my job exciting every day!

I want to take this opportunity to tell you about my new role as the Indigenous Cultural Broker for Gulf Savannah NRM. In order to facilitate a seamless introduction and interaction between an organisation and the Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander community, a broker can be very helpful in bridging the cultural gap.

The new role will enable Traditional Custodians to achieve their aspirations and goals by providing them with the chance to broker a wide range of plans and outcomes that will directly benefit all parties.

What does this mean for you? I am here for you, to help: Build or strengthen connections and formal partnerships.

Identify and engage with Traditional Custodians in co-design activities where projects relate to culturally significant species or land management practices.

Coordinate events to support engagement and capacity-building for Traditional Custodians.

Support the delivery of Indigenous Ranger programs.

If you would like to yarn with me about my new role or if you would like to yarn about the possibility of kick-starting a new NRM-based cultural activity or event, please give me a call on 0474 634 562 or email natarsha.bell@gulfsavannahnrm.org.

5 MINUTE YARN WITH Gullera McInnes Gullera is an amazing young Koko Muluridji woman from the Mareeba Tribe. Gullera works at Energy Queensland and studies science and law at James Cook University.

By Natarsha Bell We first got to spend time hearing from Gullera at the Earth & Country Environmental community day in 2023 — listening to her speak about her passion for flying high with drones and how they can help protect country and our culture by helping to safeguard cultural sites.

A member of the Young Indigenous Women’s STEM Academy, she advocates for Aboriginal sciences and provides mentoring for youth.

This led to her attending the National Youth Science Forum where she met delegates from

across Australia and got to rub shoulders with the Governor-General of Australia, Sam Mostyn AC, and Australia’s Chief Scientist, Dr. Cathy Foley.

Gullera also recently won the Queensland Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander 7 News Young Achiever Award. Congratulations!

Despite personal loss and challenges, including the passing of her father, she remains resilient, driven by her commitment to bridge educational disparities.

Jawiyaba Warra Aboriginal Corporation and Mitchell River Traditional Custodian Advisory Group (MRTCAG) have partnered with David and Maria Turpin from Streams in the Desert: Indigenous Fire Service and Queensland Rural Fire Service to support the Clans with the implementation of their Healthy Country Plans and Cool Burn Management Plans to further develop skills, knowledge and experience in fire fighting.

As training gets under way we look forward to working alongside the MRTCAG custodians who include the Mbarbaram and Wakaman (Bungaru Men’s Group) and Kawanjirku.

The Imbala Butterfly project is also ongoing with funding being sourced so further protective measures can be taken.

Yallada Lealin Ropeyarn

TAGALAKA RANGERS UPDATE On Wednesday 3 July 2024, a historic ceremony was held as Littleton National Park was renamed Tagalaka National Park.

The ceremony was a celebration of all the hard work achieved between Tagalaka Aboriginal Corporation, the Tagalaka people and Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS), but more importantly the renaming continues to recognise the Tagalaka People as the Traditional Custodians of the country in which this national park is situated. The national park provides habitat for threatened and protected species including the blackthroated finch and the painted honeyeater.

Also in July, three full time Tagalaka Rangers were appointed. These incredible new rangers are essential to maintaining and safeguarding our homelands. In addition, they represent the resilience and pride in one’s culture.

Upcoming projects include rehabilitation and protection of the various cultural sites within the national park, as well as working in partnership with QPWS to conduct early season planned burns which integrate cultural burning techniques in line with the Tagalaka National Park fire management program.

Rangers will focus on a few key strategies including, the management of weeds, feral pigs, and the continued protection of key sacred sites and threatened species across the national park.

Alfred Owens Chair for Tagalaka Aboriginal Corporation

Tagalaka Rangers with their new work vehicle.

Western Yalanji had another successful burn this year.

Over 500,000 acres managed!

The Aboriginal Carbon Foundation and Western Yalanji Aboriginal Corporation (WYAC) Rangers had the incredible opportunity to connect with the Lautem Rangers for a unique ranger-to-ranger cultural learning experience.

Our WYAC team, led by Senior Cultural Elder Uncle Danny Lee Cheu, along with rangers Les Geia and David Boyle, shared important insights into our work, focusing on the importance of Savanna cool burnings on Western Yalanji country and the important role we play in caring for country.

Australian Wildlife Conservancy (AWC) in collaboration with WYAC and Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service is monitoring the endangered northern bettong population at Mount Lewis National Park, funded by the Queensland Government through a Community Sustainability Action Grant.

The northern bettong's habitat in the tall eucalypt forest is threatened by lantana, feral cats, and inappropriate fire regimes. AWC staff and WYAC Rangers have deployed 60 cameras to monitor these threats.

GLORIOUS GOULDIANS

Gouldian finch Credit: Edward Evans

EASY-TO-MAKE BIRD FEEDERS Making a bird feeder is a great craft project to do at home. Be sure to supervise kids with knives, or better yet, do it for them.

Plastic Bottle Feeder You will need: empty plastic bottle 5–10cm stick (thick as your pointer finger) funnel paper towel something sharp to punch a hole birdseed 1. Punch a hole near the bottom of the bottle – up about 3-5cm. Make a hole on the opposite side of the bottle and slip the stick through.

2. Next cut a small hole right above the stick.

It should be big enough for a bird to be able to get at the seed, but not so big that they can climb inside the bottle!

3. Use a funnel to fill the bottle with birdseed.

4. Use a small screwdriver to make hole.

5. Screw a hook in a tree and hang the bottle or cut a piece of string about 30cm long and loop through the hole. Tie it off and hang from branch.

BUNGARU Aboriginal Corporation The Bungaru Men's Group is a welcoming and committed group, where men gather to engage in a range of activities while fostering their cultural heritage.

Focusing on: 1. Social and emotional wellbeing.

2. Supporting cultural connections with positive activities.

3. Encouraging men to get work ready.

4. Helping to build stronger families.

Men’s groups are one proven method that helps increase the mental and emotional wellbeing of men, creating a safe and supportive space for you.

Bungaru Men’s Group meet fortnightly on a Wednesday night from 6pm. Call Uncle Joe on 0457 593 237 for details.

Congrats Bungaru Aboriginal Corporation!

Joseph Callope, founder of Bungaru Men's Group and Youth Camps, was successful with the Community Gambling Fund and received a grant to buy a 12-seater bus and camping equipment to support both programs.

'The purchase of a bus has been a long time coming and now we can take our mob out on country to help them,' said Joe.

Elders Yarn Elders are a library of knowledge, inspiring the next generation of truth-telling warriors.

Our elders have preserved and passed on the knowledge and customs that have shaped our communities for many generations, and they have a wealth of wisdom to impart.

The important roles elders play in our community is keeping our culture alive.

This wisdom encompasses a deep understanding of the land, language, spirituality, healing practices, ceremonies, and storytelling. Through their guidance, elders impart a sense of pride, respect, and belonging to younger generations, ensuring the continuity of our customs and beliefs.

This is the time to be listening to our elders.

Pass It On

By Michele ‘Mickey’ Hetherington, NSW. Before it’s gone remind me Show me where the wildflowers grow Teach me our stories from long ago Who made the sunrise, where does the moon go?

Walk me back to the land that owns me, Through the trees that know my name The animals, plants and birds, we are but the same On the dust of our earth lay me down.

I am home again.

THE ULTIMATE LOSS

ARE OUR TOTEMS DISAPPEARING?

By Natarsha Bell A totem is a spiritual symbol representing an animal, plant, or other natural object, used by custodians to identify strengths, weaknesses, and obligations, while connecting them to land, air, and geography. Every custodian has a totem or totems.

Totems are not owned but accounted for, and it is the responsibility of each individual to ensure their totem is maintained and passed down from generation to generation.

As climate change puts our native flora and fauna in jeopardy, the battle to preserve their delicate balance and our cultural identity has begun.

The World Bank Group, in their article Empowering Indigenous Peoples to Protect Forests states, ‘Indigenous communities safeguard 80% of the world’s remaining biodiversity and forests on their land are better maintained, with a higher preserved biodiversity, than those on non-Indigenous lands’.

As the original stewards of our land, we have developed tried-and-true methods that are especially tailored to conserve the diversity of everything that exists on our country, but our current laws fail to acknowledge this.

Our ecosystem is hanging on a delicate thread for survival.

CARBON ‘LOCK UP’

James Cook University’s Distinguished Professor Michael Bird is a co-author of the study that compares carbon sequestration in the tropical savannah of Undara Volcanic National Park to carbon sequestration in savannah just outside it.

‘The park has been subject to an Indigenous fire regime involving early dry season fires every 3-4 years, for two decades, while the area outside has not,’ said Professor Bird. The scientists measured the amount of pyrogenic carbon (PyC) in both areas.

‘PyC, also known as char, is resistant to degradation for centuries or even millions of years, it locks carbon in the ground and is also beneficial to soils and crops. We found the area subject to Indigenous fire management had on average a quarter tonne of PyC per hectare more in the topsoil than the area that had not,’ said Professor Bird.

He said this means sequestration of 1250-2500 tonnes of carbon annually is potentially achievable for an average pastoral property of 100,000 hectares, by returning to an Indigenous fire regime of at least five early dry season fires per 12 decades.

While currently not eligible for carbon credits, and with further validation required, this means returning to an Indigenous fire regime could generate significant revenue in the future. He said benefits of more frequent fires had to be weighed against the opportunity costs of forgoing other land use options as well as some potentially negative (as well as positive) impacts on biodiversity.

FIRE YARNS

Scientists have revealed Indigenous fire management can ‘lock up’ more carbon than other methods of native bushland management and the practice could prove very lucrative for landholders.

NEWS

Gulf Young Warriors Celebrating the achievements of young people in the Northern Gulf region

BEST OF THE BEST Western Gugu Yalanji teen, Keenan has hoops in his sights. This year Keenan was picked for under-16 national basketball, representing Queensland and the Yalanji nation.

PRO CAMP Keenan participated in the first Basketball Australia National Indigenous Performance Camp in August. He got to hang out at the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra!

IT’S IN THE BLOOD Keenan comes from an all-star family! His dad Kerry Williams is Assistant Coach for Cairns Taipans and mother Sharon Williams is an avid netballer, while sibling Isiah also plays for Peninsula Boys. However, it’s Keenan’s little sister, Kiana, who’s his biggest fan!

KEENAN LAWRENCE-WILLIAMS #young.warriors.in.the.gulf

GRANTS OPEN NOW! Grant

Closing date

Where to look

New Jobs Program Trial

30 October 2024 12noon (ACT local time)

www.niaa.gov.au/our -work/closinggap/new-jobsprogram-trialapproach-replacecdp

The Gambling Community Benefit Fund

30 November 2024 11.30pm

www.justice.qld.gov.a u/initiatives/communi ty-grants

30 June 2025 11:30pm (ACT local time)

www.niaa.gov.au/our -work/environmentand-land/capacitybuilding-native-titlecorporations

Prescribed Bodies Corporate (PBCs)

Is it time to update your Healthy Country Plans?

Give me a call and let’s yarn.

LOCAL EVENTS 1–3 NOVEMBER

Indi genous Australi an Datathon James Cook University, Cairns The Indigenous Australian Datathon is a free event that brings together people from across Australia to address community challenges using technology and data. Register at indigenousaustraliandatathon.com.

19 NOVEMBER

Gulf Savannah Grazi ng Forum Georgetown Shire Hall Workshops and speakers on virtual fencing, safe stock handling, biosecurity, innovative tech, and climate updates for the season ahead. Register your free place at bit.ly/gulf-grazing-forum.

22 NOVEMBER

Mi crosof t Excel Workshop Georgetown Sports Centre Join Gulf Savannah NRM for a free one-day workshop to help get you started with using Microsoft Excel in your business or community organisation. Register at bit.ly/digital-workshops.