Have you got a story to share?
The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (Reef Authority) is looking to work with Traditional Owner groups, gathering stories and information about your connections to the Great Barrier Reef.
The goal is to produce a series of case studies featuring Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples or communities who remain connected to their land and Sea Country and who care for Sea Country within the Great Barrier Reef Region.
The case studies will showcase the information and help people learn about your critical work and connections.
The stories may be shared publicly on the Reef Authority website, including as a compiled publication, and individual case studies may be integrated directly into the next Great Barrier Reef Outlook Reports.
Once published, they'll also be available for the Traditional owner groups to use.
We have partnered with Winangali - a 100 per cent Aboriginal-owned Indigenous engagement agency – who will be engaging with Traditional Owners across the Reef - to listen to you and work with you to share your stories of caring for Sea Country across the Great Barrier Reef.
If you want to be involved, we'd love to hear from you, so email outlook.2024@gbrmpa.gov.au.
Inaugural Joint Reef Advisory Committee
August celebrated the first joint Reef Advisory Committee meeting in Townsville, which was an excellent opportunity for the two committees to come together to discuss issues, ideas, and solutions and build ongoing professional relationships.
The committee was presented with the Reef Authority's vision over the next 12 months and where the agency's efforts are best placed to deliver for the Reef.
Members also reviewed the Co-management Principles policy and were able to share interpretations and perceptions of what this meant to them through their many different lenses.
Reef Advisory Committee members provide valuable expertise and advice on the Management of the Reef, crucial to achieving positive outcomes for the Future of the Reef.
Great Barrier Reef festival
The theme at this year’s Great Barrier Reef Festival was humpback whales, with the Whitsundays soon to become the world's first Whale Heritage Site in a World Heritage Area.
The theme was captured during the opening of the event, where the local Whitsundays Master Reef Guides led an Immersive Reef Stories event, engaging the community via storytelling.
The festival continued with a regional masterclass on Daydream Island, where event attendees learnt from Traditional Owners about their connections to the whales and from Dr. Josh Smith and Dr. Wally Franklin, two leading humpback whale scientists.
The following day the Master Reef Guides hosted an inaugural outer Reef experience with Whitsunday's Traditional Owners, the Ngaro people.
The experience began with a cultural welcome and smoking ceremony before embarking on a deeply significant day of ‘connecting back to country’ for those Traditional Owners who had never been on Country before.
Above water, guests enjoyed humpback whale song recordings from this year’s season, learnt about the importance of the Whitsundays, practised identifying fish species, and took a closer look at the intricate wonders beneath the waves.
Traditional Owners conducted weaving workshops, traditional painting on boomerangs and clapsticks, and educated guests about their cultural artifacts.
The Great Barrier Reef festival concluded by educating upcoming generations through a Family Fun Day.
Cuppa and a yarn with Jade
Jade Pryor, a descendant of the Girramay and Bandjin people, has dedicated herself to preserving Girringun's cultural heritage, Land and Sea Country.
As Girringun's TUMRA coordinator, Jade works tirelessly alongside the Traditional Owners of Girringun's six Saltwater Groups and Girringun's Rangers to ensure on-country commitments and maintenance.
From early childhood, Jade immersed herself in her family's cultural traditions. Attending meetings with her grandparents, Nanna Shirley Pryor (Clarke), a Girramay and Bandjin descendent and her Boompa, Adrian Pryor, a Ngaro and Kuku Yalanji descendent.
Through their strong connection to Girringun, she developed a profound generational bond with her heritage.
Jade's journey into her current role as the TUMRA Coordinator stems from her loyalty and love for the Girringun Elders and Traditional Owners and her passion for organising and coordinating events.
Recognising her talent, family and community members encouraged her to pursue the job she vowed to undertake when the time was right.
Today, Jade's impact is palpable through projects like seagrass and dugong monitoring, where she protects Country and empowers others through engagement and employment opportunities.
Jade focuses on ensuring that Traditional Owners are seated at decision-making tables and have a voice in matters that affect their Land and Sea Country.
She loves seeing the Elders on their own Country and celebrating them throughout the year.
To the younger generation, her message is clear: education, cultural connection, respect, and perseverance are key to embracing opportunities.
She encourages the youth to seize each opportunity, cherishing and owning each wholeheartedly as she has.
Incident response exercise bee
The 2023 state marine pollution response exercise bee was centered on a spill within Cleveland Bay and simulated oiling off Yunbenun (Magnetic Island) bays and the mainland coast between the Port of Townsville and Cape Pallarenda.
Participants from multiple agencies and jurisdictions were involved in roles from environment advisor, intelligence analysis, air, wildlife and marine operations, investigations, community engagement and messaging to various
field-based activities.
There were discussions, consultations, notifications, and advice sought from the Wulgurukaba People, including Gurambilbarra Wulgurukaba Native title applicants, the Yunbenun Advisory Committee and Yunbenun Rangers embedded within Queensland Parks and Wildlife.
Yunbenun rangers participated directly in the exercise, and with staff from the Reef Authority’s Traditional Use of Marine Resources team, enabled meaningful and timely discussion (actual and simulated) with Traditional Owners and dissemination of cultural information in an appropriate format that could be actioned by the response.
The exercise provided valuable training for officers and the response system.
As a result, Queensland is better prepared for any potential response requirements.
Australian Marine Sciences Association Conference
Earlier this month, members of the Reef Authority attended and presented at the Australian Marine Sciences Association (AMSA) conference on the Gold Coast - Yugambeh language area.
The theme this year was Science in Sea Country, recognising the enduring connection that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have with their Sea Countries and acknowledging the critical role that the ecological and cultural knowledge of Australia’s first scientists plays in the sustainability of our seas.
The Reef Authority was proud to be a gold sponsor of this event. This presented an invaluable opportunity for scientists and practitioners to exchange traditional knowledge and modern science.
Director of Science for Management, Dr Chloe Schauble, in a pre-presentation huddle with co-authors Chrissy Grant, Dr Leah Talbot, and Charles David. Jim Davis (not present), Chrissy, Leah, and Charles are the Traditional Owner members of the Reef 2050 Integrated Monitoring and Reporting Program (RIMReP)’s Executive and Operations Groups.
Darumbal TUMRA Community Day
The Darumbal TUMRA Community Day held at Emu Park on Friday 2nd of June brought together community members, visitors and representatives from various organisations. The event commenced with a Welcome to Country, setting the tone for a day of cultural celebration.
One of the highlights for the day was the invitation for attendees to kick off their shoes and join dancers on the beach. Later, Leon Jackson from the Reef Authority spoke about the Darumbal Traditional Use of Marine Resources Agreement (TUMRA) and its profound connection to the Reef Authority’s work in preserving the marine ecosystem.
Following the speeches, the crowd was encouraged to explore the various stalls, have a yarn with some of the elders and participate in traditional activities throughout the day.
The Reef Authority shared a tent with the Darumbal TUMRA staff to showcase the work that the Darumbal team have been involved in.
For the younger attendees, the presence of Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS) vessels brought an additional element of excitement. Kids eagerly hopped on board for a glimpse of the vessels, sparking a sense of adventure and curiosity about the natural wonders of their surroundings.
Cuppa and a yarn with Malachi
When Malachi thinks about his Country: Port Curtis Coral Coast region and Bundaberg in particular, his mind floats away to the warm, golden stretches of sand and his family’s personal connection to a key time in Australia’s history.
Today he is a reflection of Country and of Milbi (sea turtle). As Milbi did, Malachi has walked his beaches, swum his waters and is now on a journey of growth.
Malachi grew up as the youngest in a large family which was instrumental in shaping his understanding of the importance of having a voice. His upbringing taught him the significance of actively participating in conversations, the power of effective communication, the value of diverse perspectives, the need to assert oneself, and the strength of collective action. These skills now enable him to protect Country, pursuing the sounds of change from the Grassroots to Reef management.
Malachi acknowledges mentorship by Mr. Malcolm Mann as one of the keys to his success, and as his cup overflows, Malachi pours his energy into his family, his Darumbal mentee and to many others through his partnership with the Global Indigenous Youth organization. His message is of love, to turn the hatred that many feel to openness and to love people the way we love Country.
Malachi also teaches the youth to respect the Elders who are like libraries in his life and who allow others to see life through a cultural lens. He is grateful for the sacrifices and resilience that the Elders of Darumbal Traditional Use of Marine Resources Agreements (TUMRA) have shown and recognises their hard work landing the largest TUMRA in the region. It’s this accomplishment that will offer himself and the rest of his multi-generational team opportunities into the future.
There is a reason why Milbi leaves its own Country, Malachi’s is a story of personal growth, reconciliation and to be the voice of change. One which he endeavors to continue: to protect and preserve both in human and spirit form.
Port Curtis Coral Coast Traditional Use of Marine Resource Agreement
The Traditional Use of Marine Resource Agreement (TUMRA) Steering Committee meeting was attended well by Committee members and, most notably, was observed by several Elders representing each of the four groups covered under the Traditional Use of Marine Resource Agreement TUMRA.
A large contingent of Rangers from Gidarjil’s various Ranger programs also observed proceedings, as has been common practice for past meetings to support sharing of Traditional Knowledge.
The remainder of the two days comprised interactive sessions toward developing an Indigenous Protected Area to give added layers of protection to the Sea Country and the values managed through their Traditional Use of Marine Resource Agreement.
The specific objective of these initial Indigenous Protected Area sessions was to begin to adapt the five cultural pillars: Language Lines, Song Lines, Creation Story, Trading Routes and Lore, into their Indigenous Protected Area and Traditional Use of Marine Resource Agreement.
Foundations Program
The latest Reef Joint Field Management Program (RJFMP) Foundation Program was held on 17-21 April.
The week-long training was a huge success, with 19 participants from Queensland Parks and Wildlife Services, the Reef Authority and Yunbenun Ranger group gaining insights into the complexity and variety of work the Reef Joint Field Management Program and partners undertake to protect the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area.
Participants were presented with modules covering safety, reef science, governance, management, compliance, incident response and caring for Country.
The value and importance of this Program are recognised by the wide range of guest presenters who deliver many of the modules sharing their expertise with the cohort and being present to answer questions.
Three days of workshops culminated in a field day on Magnetic Island, which included a visit to the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service and Yunbenun Ranger base.
This visit showcased a valued partnership between the Ranger groups working together with a common goal of preserving our World Heritage wonder.
Register your interest in attending the next Foundation Program at fmp.training@gbrmpa.gov.au
