Photo: Jagera Daran

Catching Up
NEWSLETTER AUGUST 2013
INTRODUCTION
Hi, my name is Vanessa Hounsell, Traditional Owner and Indigenous Engagement Support Officer for SEQ Catchments. Welcome to the August 2013 Aboriginal natural resource management newsletter. This edition showcases some of the successful projects as part of the 2012 -13 SEQ Catchments Traditional Owner and Indigenous Project Support Grants. I hope you enjoy this edition. Feedback is encouraged and very welcome.

LAND FOR WILDLIFE OFFICERS RECEIVE CULTURAL HERITAGE ACT TRAINING

The Land for Wildlife program works with private landholders to provide advice and support on nature conservation and sustainable land management. In SEQ there are 26 Land for Wildlife Officers employed by Local Governments with over 3800 member properties, equating to about 6000 people involved in the management of Land for Wildlife properties, which cover over 60,000 hectares. Several Land for Wildlife Officers and SEQ Catchments staff recently received training from registered Queensland Indigenous Cultural Heritage Body Jagera Daran regarding the Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Act 2003 (Qld), and the responsibilities of extension staff and landholders under the Act. Part of the training included a field trip to a nearby site, where participants had an interactive walk and talk session relating to Cultural Heritage. The officers are now better equipped to provide information to landholders regarding Cultural Heritage, and to refer any relevant matter to the appropriate Cultural Heritage body.

GUANABA INDIGENOUS PROTECTED AREA FIELD DAY

Date: Friday August 30, 2013, 10am - 2pm Location: Guanaba Road, Guanaba - meet up point is at Hollindale Family Park, just before Hollindale Rd at 9.45am RSVP: Tony Dillon, 0414 537 688 or ngarang -wal@bigpond.com The Ngarang-Wal Gold Coast Aboriginal Association Incorporated invites you to the Guanaba Indigenous Protected Area field day. At the base of Mount Tamborine, the only Indigenous Protected Area in the region covers 100 hectares of dense rainforest and vine thickets, eucalypt woodlands and picturesque creeks. Land management activities focus on conserving Guanabas high levels of biodiversity through water quality testing, fire and weed management, feral animal control and soil and catchment protection. The field day is supported by SEQ Catchments, and aims to showcase the property to people interested in land management. A variety of topics around land management from an Indigenous point of view will be covered during the day, including how the property was established. Morning tea and lunch is provided.

DREAMTIME MURAL AWAKENS CULTURAL UNDERSTANDING

A strong spirit of reconciliation and the coming together of Indigenous and later Australian culture were as thick as the welcome ceremony smoke at NAIDOC Week celebrations at Pomona State School last month. Since successfully applying for a Traditional Owner and Indigenous Project Support Grant from SEQ Catchments earlier this year, a dedicated group of staff members, parents, students, representatives of local indigenous groups and community volunteers, have worked to create special outdoor learning areas within the school. The areas have been designed to promote understanding and appreciation of Australian indigenous culture, Michelle Jackson of the school P&C said. Students will now have the opportunity to learn more about our indigenous people in the beautiful setting of the outdoor yarning circle a replica of a local historical meeting place with its colourful mural depicting Dreamtime stories nearby." Students will also be able to wander through and sample produce from the recently created indigenous bush tucker garden, planted with 400 native plants and trees. Many of the indigenous plants and trees were generously donated to the project by Noosa and District Landcare and Brush Turkey Enterprises from Maleny. As identified in the new Australian Curriculum, it is a priority for all young people to gain a deeper understanding of traditional Aboriginal / Torres Strait Islander histories and cultures, the significance of these and their ongoing relevance to Australia today.
Adapted from 'Dreamtime mural awakens cultural understanding at Pomona State School, Coorooy Rag, July 2013 and Coming together for NAIDOC, Noosa News, 16 July 2013. Brent Miller, Gubbi Gubbi Traditional Owner

NATIVE WATER MOUSE MONITORING

The Bunya Bunya Country Aboriginal Corporation recently undertook monitoring of the vulnerable Native Water Mouse (Xeromys myoides). This involved searching for and recording the locations of the nesting mounds of the Water Mouse. Over 60 hectares was searched, with 132 nesting sites recorded around the Maroochy River as a part of the National Recovery Plan for this species. Weed control of the invasive weed species, the Pepper Tree, has also been an important threat abatement activity. Utilising a Traditional Owner and Indigenous Project Support Grant from SEQ Catchments, this project was also supported by Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service and WetlandCare Australia. The project included training in the use of a GPS handheld unit, data recording and GIS mapping systems.

SEQ Catchments Office - Brisbane Level 2, 183 North Quay, Brisbane 4000 Ph: 3211 4404 Fax: 3211 4405 Vanessa Hounsell Traditional Owner and Indigenous Engagement Support Officer E : vhounsell@seqcatchments.com.au M: 0437 645 127 www.seqcatchments.com.au