As a child, sitting in a room full of her Elders, too young to fully understand, Jade Pryor would watch on and listen eagerly to conversations and plans about future aspirations for her People and her Country. 

As a proud and strong Bandjin and Girramay woman, Jade has always felt a deep connection to the community and the environment around her – a legacy instilled by her Boompa (Adrian Pryor) and Nanna (Shirley Pryor). Her Boompa, a ranger for Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service worked closely with Traditional Owners of the entire Girringun region , as a respected member and role model of the community. He lived for the love of his family, his people, his country and his culture, values that Pryor strives to emulate. 

So when the role of Girringun TUMRA coordinator came up, it was as though her Boompa and Nanna were with her. 

“I felt goosebumps wash over me,” Jade said. 

“I knew right away in my heart that it was something I needed to do.

“It was a legacy left by my Elders and one that I knew I wanted to carry on.

“They worked so tirelessly to create something special, to lay the foundations of our Agreement.”

Girringun Aboriginal Corporation represents nine Traditional Owner groups: Bandjin, Djiru, Girramay, Gulngay, Gugu Badhun, Jirrbal, Nywaigi, Warrgamay and Warungnu. Of tyhese groups, six (Bandjin, Djiru, Girramay, Gulngay, Nywaigi and Warrgamay) have deep ties with the Great Barrier Reef, which make up the Girringun TUMRA Region. 

It was twenty years ago, when the opportunity arose to formalise a new type of Agreement that would see westernised legal backing of their Lores and Customs for managing the Traditional use of marine resources. With it was an air of anticipation and quiet determination. 

It was a journey led by the Elders, for their future generations just like the young Jade, to keep their Culture, Lore and Customs strong and safe. 

In her role of TUMRA coordinator, Jade is guided by her Elders past and present and is constantly amazed by the transformation that has taken place over the past two decades. 

“Originally, our Agreement was formed to guide Traditional hunt policies in the region. Today it is so much more.”

Today the Corporation runs a dedicated compliance program for the region with rangers taking to the water to be the eyes and ears of their Sea Country. Safeguarding the Reef and neighbouring ecosystems is foundational in their motto of caring for country, preserving culture. The blue carbon and seagrass & dugong monitoring projects that have become core opportunities are testimony to this. 

But for Jade, of all the incredible work that has taken place over the years, the significance of these projects comes from the opportunities that they provide to her community from Elders through to the younger generations. 

“Our people are able to connect back with Country, while learning Traditional Knowledge from Elders and skills through western science.”

The highlight for Jade is seeing Elders faces light up when they are out on Country with the younger generations eagerly watching on and listening.

In 2024, after three years in the role, advocating for her people (the six saltwater groups) of the Girringun TUMRA Region and the reefs of the region, Jade finally had her chance to reconnect and see this part of Sea Country for the first time on a Reef trip of her own.

“It brought tears to my eyes,” she said.

Overwhelmed with the opportunity, the sight of colour and movement mesmerised her as she put her head below the surface. Originally nervous and apprehensive, accompanied by her daughter, the magnitude of the moment washed over her. 

The Bedarra Reef Protection Initiative is more than just a reef monitoring program. Facilitated by Great Barrier Reef Safaris through the Reef Authority’s Tourism Reef Protection Initiative, Traditional Owners of all generations of the Girringun Saltwater Tribal Groups are having an opportunity to establish their own connections with this incredible place. 

“Seeing the looks on the faces of the young ones as they learn how to snorkel for the first time is beautiful.”

Accompanied by Traditional Owners or rangers, children are taking in Traditional knowledge, while learning methods to survey the Reef. 

“One of our young ones has fallen in love with it that much, she wants to become a marine biologist,” Jade said proudly.  
And it’s not just the children that are building these connections.

“We’re bringing families back to Country and giving them the chance to connect with each other and a place that some of them have never been before.”

The families of the Girringun Saltwater Tribal Groups are spread out across Australia. Through the opportunities that the Girringun TUMRA is creating, these families are coming together, safeguarding not only the Reef but building a stronger community with it. 

For Jade, she has relished the tough but rewarding role and is proud to continue this great legacy.  

We are very fortunate to have our Girringun Rangers support with on the ground work; as they have their own vessel Gununndali which can accommodate 6 passengers; in the very near future we hope to be able to get a bigger vessel as our scope of works within our sea country has increased; these works are also creating growth for our Rangers and Traditional Owners to be upskilled, while having the opportunity to connect with our Elders and increase Traditional Knowledge while being out on country.

Jade would like to acknowledge and pay her respects to all her elders who were instrumental in being the first ever Traditional Owner Group with the GBR to sign a state and federal agreement; Girringun TUMRA Steering Committee Representatives from the six saltwater groups past, and present; past Girringun TUMRA Coordinators and also other TUMRAS’ within the Great Barrier Reef.

“We all play a pivotal role in the continued growth, development, and success of our TUMRA’s and Sea Country Business, not only for our respective groups but for all First Nations People, nation-wide!”