VOLUME 1 ISSUE 15

JANUARY 2013 EDITIO N

BOOROONGEN D J U G U N COLLEGE

CONTENTS

PAGE JIDAANGA CULTURAL PROJECT 1 Phaius australis Jidaanga

B A N K S I A AWARD FINALIST

S T U D E N T S The orchid is believed to be one of the HEAD OUTSIDE 2 - 3 F O R Booroongen Djugun Aboriginal Corporation largest species of ground orchid found in (BDAC) recently became a finalist at the N A T I O N A L and its nearest colony is located in T R E E D A Y prestigious Banksia Environmental . Foundation Awards in Melbourne. The College’s Jidaanga Cultural project— “Hard work had gone into the lengthy Endangered Phaius Australis narrowly submissions for the award and a strong BOWRAVILLE missed out on winning the Indigenous Award commitment and support from partners has LALC 4 G I V E S T H E ‘Caring for Country’ which recognises those made the project a success. We now have MISH delivering excellence in stewardship of the A FACE LIFT 1500 nursery plants for translocation in the land, waterways, wildlife habitats and native Macleay and Hastings catchments and 22 flora and fauna through demonstrated adult plants in the wild population, an Indigenous leadership, community increase of five! To become a finalist in this

Involvement and benefit. very prestigious award is a great honour for B E L L B R O O K 5 the Corporation, College staff and the WEED PROJECT The Jidaanga Cultural project involves STAGE ONE Aboriginal community. Our partners from the SUCCESS Booroongen Djugun College, the local Northern Country Culture and Heritage Dunghutti and Gumbaynggirr Aboriginal Division, Office of Environment and community and partners; to save the Heritage, the Northern Rivers Catchment SPEAR endangered Phaius australis or Swamp Management Authority and all those who THROWER orchid/ Swamp Lilly from extinction. support the project - our thanks go out to 6 PAGE them.” said project manager Amie McElroy. Through the encouragement of distinguished Elder of the Dunghutti – Booroongen Djugun College has since Gumbaynggirr nations, the late Aunty GOLDEN HOLE partnered with the University of the Sunshine 7 Maggie Morris, BDC’s Natural Resources P R O J E C T Coast’s PHD student Laura Simmons who is Unit located a small colony (19 plants) of studying the genetics of the species. Miss AN ART ATTACK Phaius australis, also known as the Swamp Simmons's data will contribute to the Orchid or Swamp Lily, in the Kempsey Area recovery and the most appropriate on the of NSW. methods needed to achieve the desired $$$ preservation of the plant. 8 Since then, Stage 1. funded by a DECC F U N D I N G The Jidaanga Cultural project is gaining more grant and Stage 2. Translocation, funded by AVAILABLE and more interest from the wider community the Australian Government’s Environmental $$$ recently becoming one of the top ten most Trust has provided conservation for the read EMR Projects on the Ecological Society orchid via a commitment to management, of Australia’s website.http:// C O N T A C T U S 9 monitoring and the requirements needed for site.emrprojectsummaries.org/2012/01/26/ the species to continue in the wild. jidaanga-cult

For more information contact Amie on 65602005 ©Booroongen Djugun Aboriginal Corporation January 2013 VOLUME 1, ISSUE 14 Page 2

Students from 22 local primary and high schools learnt an important life lesson outside on Friday 27 July, as they planted trees and shrubs to contribute to the health of the community for Schools Tree Day. Thanks to the donation of 10 locally grown native trees and bush tucker plants per school from National Parks and Wildlife Services Arakoon and Macleay Landcare and supplied by Aboriginal owned business “Gone Native Tube stock and seed”.

Samantha Athena and Charlie from St Joseph’s Primary

“By coordinating this event and asking our local networks for a donation of native plants we have supported and encouraged our local schools and their students to connect with their community and their Crescent Head Public School environment and get involved in Schools Tree Day.” Planet Ark Spokesperson Rebecca Gilling says The Macleay Valley is now 220 trees better off, says National Tree Day 2012 also focuses on the health and Booroongen Djugun College’s Aboriginal Extension wellbeing benefits that getting outside amongst trees Officer Amie McElroy. and nature can bring to children, particularly at school.

Bush Tucka a healthy snack! Planet Ark’s Schools Tree Day is the dedicated day for Australia’s younger generation to play their part in National Tree Day, Australia’s largest community tree-planting and nature care event. Since Planet Ark launched Schools Tree Day and National Tree Day in 1996, more than 2.8 million volunteers have planted 17 million native trees, shrubs and grasses. Millbank Public School N A T I V E B E E Page 3

“A new report, Planting Trees – Just What the Doctor Ordered*, launched by Planet Ark and sponsored by Toyota, shows that contact with nature helps increase academic achievement and reduce the effects of anxiety and depression in children,” says Gilling.

Frederickton Public School “Contact with nature helps increase

academic Crescent Head Public School achievement and reduce

the effects of anxiety and

depression in children.”

Bellbrook Primary School To find out more about Schools Tree Day, please visit treeday.planetark.org, call the Hotline on 1300 88 5000 or contact your local participating Toyota Dealership. You can also contact Amie McElroy on 6560 2005 to “Schools Tree Day is an opportunity for children and plan ahead for next year and if you would like to donate young people to connect with nature in a fun and native trees to our schools. practical way to learn about trees and the role they play in the health of our environment and community.” National Tree Day is National Tree organised by Planet Ark Day also aims in partnership with to educate Toyota and its Dealer Australian Network, which school children provides on the ground on support at local environmental community tree planting issues such as sites Australia wide. the loss of The Aboriginal habitat for Extension Project Officer native wildlife, and Macleay Landcare local Community Support provenance, Officers are funded by the salinity, Northern Rivers erosion and Catchment Management long-term Authority. carbon offsetting.

Gladstone Public School South West Rocks Public School VOLUME 1 ISSUE 14 Page 4

Bowraville Local Aboriginal Land Council Heritage, and Nambucca Shire Council for the recently completed their ‘Bowra Mish Face Lift’ project development of an awareness raising brochure and funded through the Office of Environment and poster. Each class had an activity to contribute to the Heritage’s Aboriginal Lands Clean-up Program. brochure. All participants were given school canteen The project trained and employed sixteen local vouchers and winners were given boxes of chocolates. Gumbaynggirr women and men, contractors to carry out This resulted in a beautiful coloured brochure called the clean-up, propagate and plant native trees, and fruit Gumbaynggirr ‘Caring for Country Caring for us’. It trees, remove rubbish, remove weeds including felling, incorporates the Gumbaynggirr Country Care Plan, poisoning and mulching mature Coral trees to be used STOP, SORT & SHARE," said Phillip Hall: CEO of Bowraville Local Aboriginal Land Council.

The final product was put together by Julia Morrell of Beyond Empathy. The boarder artwork was produced by local artist Keene Ballangarry. The final product was put together by Julia Morrell of Beyond Empathy”.

Community clean-up around the plants to retain moisture and promote growth, erect barricades preventing illegal dumping at the old Nambucca Council tip site adjoining the LALC owned community. Recycling dumped cement slabs to build a barrier

Should more

information about the program be required, please contact the Local government section of the Environment Protection

Authority on (02) 8837 6000 or Green Team ladies planting fruit trees mail to: sustaina- bility@environme “We incorporated a Community Education program. An nt.nsw.gov.au. art competition was organised with St Mary’s School in conjunction with Bowraville Central Public School, An extract from Beyond Empathy, the Office of Environment and the brochure. VOLUME 1 ISSUE 14 Page 5

Nulla Nulla creek runs through the Thungutti Aboriginal All outcomes during stage one of the project have been community at Bellbrook, owned by the Thungutti Local completed successfully due to the diligence of Henry Aboriginal Land Council. Dunn of Dunns NRM Service, an Aboriginal Sole Trader and the contractor who initiated this project. Henry, a Once abundant in fish and other native foods important Thungutti man with an NRM background, completed to the local Aboriginal people, Nulla Nulla is now Certificate IV in Small Business Management through degraded and rarely used. Its banks have eroded from Booroongen Djugun College’s NEIS program in 2011. timber cutting, grazing livestock and flooding and the This program enabled Henry set up a business to do what he enjoys most, land management. His connection water quality is poor. Weeds have infested the area. to ‘Country’ is very strong, and with the support and Thungutti Local Aboriginal Land Council in conjunction encouragement of his Elders and people at Bellbrook with the community’s Aboriginal men’s group, the Nulla and the Thungutti LALC Board was able to develop this Nulla Thungutti Boys to Men Aboriginal Corporation, worthwhile project. Henry carried out the weed control and removal of Coral trees with an employed team of five successfully completed the first stage of a $34,715 workers from the community under his supervision. The Environmental Trust’s Protecting Our Places program second stage of the project will revegetate the treated grant to regenerate the riparian zone of Nulla Nulla areas with native trees and plants including. Lomandra Creek. Hystrix, Lomandra longifolia, Callistemon viminalis, Casuarina cunninghamiana and Melaleucas bracteates, species naturally designed to minimise erosion and withstand the strong flood waters. It is planned to involve the local community, the men’s group and Bellbrook Public School in stage 2’s revegetation activities.

Left: Project Manager: Richard Campbell and Team Supervisor Henry Dunn (Centre )with the Thungutti community work team. Before and after photos showing the extent of weed infestation The aim of the project is to carry out weed control and regeneration activities along the banks of Nulla Nulla Creek on the Thungutti Local Aboriginal Land Council owned land Aboriginal at Bellbrook NSW.

The main weeds to be controlled are Lantana, Blackberry, Cat's Claw Creeper, Honeysuckle, Small and Broad Leaved Privet and a number of mature Coral Note: weeds preventing regeneration and cause erosion. trees. The work is required as these noxious and environmental weeds have the potential to spread downstream threatening the catchment which already has a number of weed issues. The weeds also block access to the creek which has significant cultural and recreational value to the local Aboriginal community. VOLUME 1 ISSUE 14 Page 6

RECENTLY pupils, staff and parents from Stuart’s Point Public School took part in a tree planting morning at the Golden Hole, which was followed by scones and a kangaroo sausage sizzle at Stuarts Point Public School.

The tree planting day was funded by National Parks and Wildlife Service as an in-kind contribution to the Stuarts Point Aboriginal Community Environmental Group’s ‘Golden Hole Community Protecting and Interpreting Homelands’ project, funded a $21,000 NSW Government Environmental Trust Grant under the Protecting Our Places (PP) program.

The Clybucca historic site is the largest midden recorded in the southern hemisphere. It is located in a significant area known to the community as the ‘Golden Hole’ as it has, and continues to provide, vast amounts of marine resources to local Aboriginal people.

The project’s aim was to restore the site’s significance through midden protection and public education; planting of native trees and bush foods to stop erosion; hiring local Aboriginal community members to carefully treat weeds on midden areas; establishing two ‘story picnic tables’; and a low-key educational sign about the significance of the area.

The project employed local Aboriginal artists to assist school children in the artwork and associated marine-coastal environmental stories. Hannah Smith made stencils of local marine species Sharon Smith was commissioned by the project to and Libbi Smith and Richard Campbell, assisted by Aunty design the special artwork for the interpretive sign and Marilyn Smith and Sarah Fishburn, have been working with has work with the school to decorate one of the two the pupils to complete the second ‘story” table’ above. tables for the Golden Hole. “The pupils are very keen and love to take part. Their names will be seen on the table’s legs so they can go out and visit and see ‘their table’,” NPWS ranger Cath Ireland said.

The Stuarts Point Aboriginal Community Environmental Group thank the children and staff of Stuarts Point Public School, and a special thanks to NPWS ranger Chels Marshall who is currently on a years leave to assist the Nambucca LALC manage their new Indigenous Protected Area (IPA) for assisting them in the planning and implementation of this project.

N A T I V E B E E Page 7

Well the community’s verdict is in and the answer is NO to the State Governments proposal transferring 32,000 cubic meter's contaminated waste, arsenic from antimony mining, from Urunga (DP 874874) to Hillgrove Gold Mine operated by Straits Resources Ltd. and NO to mining in the Macleay River Catchment area full stop!.

There is public concern as there is an existing pollution issue on the Macleay from tailings at Hillgrove.

Thank God the new Mayor recognises that “transferring waste from one sensitive water environment and transferring it to another sensitive water environment, doesn't make sense”.

The community doesn't want this material brought into our catchment area, particularly to a mine which has some history of releasing water into the river. Over 100 people attended a public meeting in Bellbrook to in 40 degree heat to express their desire for the State Government to take this option off the table. The council built Bellbrook water treatment plant because the quality of the river supply could not be relied upon!

Councilor Campbell said “things can go wrong”, pointing to a combination of factors that led to a controlled spill from the tailings dam of the Hillgrove Mine in 2009. On Tuesday 30 August 2011 Council was advised through NSW Office of Environment and Heritage that there had been a release of material from a sediment erosion control dam at the Hillgrove (antimony mine) near Armidale at the top of the Macleay River catchment. This material contained some small traces of metals, arsenic, antimony, copper, and zinc.

Dorrigo residents are also fuming over the NSW state governments broken promise to protect high value areas of land from mining. What protection exists for the unique environment of the Dorrigo Plateau where mining combined with a high rainfall has the potential to pollute the water supply of coastal residents from Sawtell to Yamba? Will UNESCO be invited back to Australia to consider threats to the nearby World Heritage listed ? A UNESCO delegation has just visited Australia to consider the threats from mining to the World Heritage listed Great Barrier Reef. Would UNESCO be just as concerned with threats to the unique Dorrigo National Park?

We are no stranger to water problems. Why do we continue to trust the so called “experts” environmental advisors and ignore our respected Aboriginal Elder’s/consultants? The issue has the strong aroma of Chlorine about it. When will our knowledge be officially recognised as a science? Let’s hope its soon!

Please note that “Native Bee” it’s production and distribution is wholly funded by Booroongen Djugun College as a service to Aboriginal communities . Suggestions and articles are welcomed for consideration. Some comments on articles we include may have an element of tongue in cheek about them on application. We will not publish anything that is derogatory or derides in any way Aboriginal peoples and their relationship to country. Mainstream media and some individual gubbas do good enough job.

Crystal Falls, Dorrigo National Park Macleay River Kempsey

N A T I V E B E E Page 8

. FUNDED ALL YEAR Grants of up to $75,000

For more information by email at: [email protected] or phone: 02 9873 Since 2008 Coles has been providing School Garden 8577 Grants of up to $1,000 to schools and youth groups to Download application form from Website at help create gardens in their grounds or community, www.heritage.nsw.gov.au such as bush tucker gardens, water wise gardens or veggie gardens.

These programs encourage students to learn about the NRMA Insurance Community Grants program.. go to: environment through “outdoor learning” and interaction in developing their own school gardens. http://www.nrma.com.au/about-us/community-grants- program to register your interest. Round 1: closes 5pm (AEDT) Friday 15 February 2013 Ian Potter Foundation Round 2: closes 5pm (AEST) Friday 10 May 2013 Phone: 03 9650 3188 Round 3: closes 5pm (AEST) Friday 2 August 2013 Fax: 03 9650 7986 http://www.juniorlandcare.com.au/grants-2/coles-grant Email: [email protected] Website: www.ianpotter.org.au

Program Opening Closing date Funding date available Applying to the Land Management program Applications for the 2013 round will open on 31 Education Mid March April 2013 $500,000 (Community) 2013 January 2013 and closing on 26 April 2013.

Education Mid March April 2013 $500,000 The Land Management Program assists Indigenous (State and Local 2013 landholders to sustainably manage land and develop Government) viable land uses. Eco Schools Mid March May 2013 $150,000 Who is eligible? 2013 Applicants for the Land Management Program can be Food Gardens in Mid March May 2013 $70,000 Indigenous landholders, government agencies or Schools 2013 non-government organisations. Projects must relate to the managed use, care or improvement of Lead Environ- TBA TBA $600,000 Indigenous-held land. mental Community What steps do we take? Groups 1. Read the Land Management Program Handbook Protecting Our Mid March June 2013 $500,000 and familiarise yourself with the program and its require- Places 2013 ments. Research 12 Janu- 15 February $1,000,000 (Major Grants) ary 2013 2013 2. Call the ILC to discuss your proposal, ask questions and register your intent to submit an application. Restoration and Mid July September $2,000,000 Freecall 1800 818 490. Rehabilitation 2013 2013 (Community) 3. Complete the written application, 4. Submit your application before the due date. VOLUME 1 ISSUE 15 Page 9

We are on the web BOOROONGEN DJUGUN ABORIGINAL CORPORATION www.booroongendjugun.com.au Booroongen Djugun Aboriginal Corporation (BDAC) is a multi-award CONTACT US winning organisation which has twice been selected as a regional BOOROONGEN DJUGUN CO LLEGE winner of the Australia’s Holiday Coast Development Board’s ‘Business of the Year’ in 1997 and 2000 in recognition of the Corporation’s Locked Bag 3, Kempsey 2440 best practices in planning, management and service delivery. 337-351 River street Greenhill, Kempsey BDAC has also won the “Achievement, Innovation & Excellence in NSW 2440 Business” and “Excellence in Business Award for New Businesses” at a Amie McElroy: Aboriginal regional level. The Corporation have won more than 24 awards on a Extension Project Officer local, regional, state and national level since 1995. Phone: (02)65602005 Fax: (02) 65602000 In 2004, the College won a national Award “Australian Indigenous E-mail: [email protected] Community Provider of the Year 2004”.

Booroongen Djugun College Is compiling an eligibility list of ATTENTION ABORIGINAL AND QUALIFIED TRAINERS TORRES STRAIT ISLANDERS IN CERTIFICATE II AND III IN ARE YOU INTERESTED IN STUDYING CONSERVATION CONSERVATION AND

AND LAND MANAGEMENT ? Nationally Accredited LAND MANAGEMENT Course Kempsey Position Available

For Further information please contact BOOROONGEN DJUGUN Applicants must have Jaime Parker

relevant industry on (02) 6560 2000 COLLEGE

qualifications and Send resume, references and For Further information relevant details to: please contact TAE40110 Certificate IV “ Confidential Faith March” Jaime Parker or in Training and Sophia Cubillo Booroongen Djugun College, Assessment Locked Bag 3 Kempsey NSW 2440 Tel: 1800 630 230