Traditional Owners reclaim access to rainforest Country
Keira Jenkins |
Connection to Country is one of the most important things to Jirrbal Elder Uncle Kurt Noble.
So stepping onto the 20,000 hectares of forest known as Wooroora for the first time was a moment he had been looking forward to.
For generations, Jirrbal people have not been able to meaningfully access this land in far north Queensland, but Mr Noble said cultural and historical knowledge of the area has remained in the memories of Elders.
“Much of our land is under private ownership,” Mr Noble said.
“To have access, to be able to come back and forth has been very restricted over many years, over generations.”
The rainforest, wet sclerophyll forest and savanna woodland landscape of Wooroora is home to at least 12 threatened species, and more than 30 of conservation significance, including the southern cassowary, northern greater glider, red goshawk and magnificent broodfrog.
Conservation organisation Bush Heritage Australia is working with Jirrbal Traditional Owners to purchase the property, hoping to protect its ecosystem, wildlife and cultural heritage.
It will cost the not-for-profit $24.7 million to purchase and begin work alongside Jirrbal people, with the final $5.3 million needed before December 24.
The plan is to remove the fence line with the neighbouring Yourka Reserve, which is also managed by Bush Heritage Australia, creating a protected corridor of more than 400,000 hectares, with Koombooloomba and Tully Falls national parks.
This would be a spectacular outcome for the land, and Traditional Owners, according to Bush Heritage Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander partnerships manager Ross Mitchell.
“It’s a beautiful place, an important place that’s been there for generations and to reconnect back to their ancestors, where they’ve walked, their songlines, their storylines … it’s a really deep feeling,” he told AAP.
It’s hard to imagine all the possibilities that will open up once the property is purchased, Wabubadda Aboriginal Corporation chairperson and Jirrbal man Liam Roberts said.
Aspirations include the Jirrbal ranger team working with Elders and community to safeguard areas of cultural significance.
But Mr Roberts said he’d like to see access to Wooroora extending beyond the rangers, hoping it might be a place where community conversations can be had, and history can be shared.
“The opportunity to come out here and to have camps is the opportunity to share stories you haven’t heard told to you by the Elders and the older generation,” he said.
For Mr Noble, being able to access Wooroora means better wellbeing for his people.
“Being able to be on Country and have access to Country strengthens all of us, it just makes our lives better, stronger, healthier,” he said.
“Instead of talking about our Country over there somewhere, a long way away, now we can be right there in the middle of it.”
AAP