celebrates the past, how we live today and what Message from we pass on to future generations. the Executive Officer The World Heritage emblem symbolises the focus on both cultural and natural heritage. The Welcome to the first edition of our revamped symbol consists of a circle, which represents newsletter. Our aim is to make this a quarterly nature, and an inner square representing a form publication to keep our members better made by humans. The circle and square are informed on activities within the Willandra Lakes linked, which results in a round symbol that Region World Heritage Area. For this to be stands for the world and is at the same time the successful we need contributions and ideas from symbol of protection. those involved and committed to the Willandra World Heritage sites are recognised for being Lakes, so I look forward to comments you can unique and worthy of conservation. By putting make to improve the newsletter. places like the Willandra on the World Heritage

List it ensures that they can continue to be There’s lots of exciting things happening at the experienced and enjoyed by future generations moment with the Mungo Youth Project coming up in September, and our recent success in securing grant funding to employ two Indigenous Field Officers over the next four years. They will be Inside This Issue responsible for assisting landholders and Parks staff with a range of activities including pest control, conservation fencing, and cultural site Committees & their roles protection. James Shevlin & Sally Barnes Visit My special thanks to the Elders of the 2 Traditional Tribal Groups of the Willandra Lakes Tumut Mob Visit for their support and encouragement. I trust you enjoy this inaugural issue, and I welcome your Willandra Updates comments and suggestions Bush Tucker/Medicine

Willandra Personality Profile What in the world does World Heritage mean? Tune into

World Heritage is the shared heritage of all Upcoming Events people on this planet. This UNESCO initiative recognises the Universal Value of the world’s News from Greater Blue Mountains unique natural and cultural heritage. It

Willandra Lakes Region Our AWHAC & AWHIN Members The Environment Protection and Heritage Council World Heritage Committees (EPHC) have established a national level World There are three official World Heritage Heritage advisory body, the Australian World committees responsible for policy and Heritage Advisory Committee (AWHAC). management in the World AWHAC provides advice to EPHC on World Heritage Area. Heritage issues of a national and cross-cutting nature, rather than those of a site specific or Two Traditional Tribal Groups (2TTG’s) Elders day to day nature and comprises on Council : Represent the interests of the representative from each World Heritage traditionally affiliated Indigenous people and property. Our AWHAC member is Michael provide traditional perspectives on management Ockwell. issues, directions and priorities. Our two Indigenous representatives on the Technical Scientific Advisory Committee Australian World Heritage Indigenous Network (TSAC) : This committee gives scientific and (AWHIN) are Roy Kennedy representing the technical support and advice to the Community Ngyiampaa & Marie Mitchell on behalf of the Management Council and the 2TTG’s Elders Paakantji. Their first meeting was held in Council. Katoomba where they were able to Network & share ideas with indigenous representatives from Community Management Council (CMC) : This other World Heritage areas. From this meeting council is made up of stakeholders (traditional two indigenous members were chosen to owners, landholders, shire councils & government represent the indigenous people on AWHAC. agencies) and is an essential part of the administrative structure as it guides, implements and reviews plans. It is a link between the Up Coming Events communities. WH Region Elders meeting 31 st July In addition there are other committees and bodies that make significant contributions to AWHAC meeting August Willandra Lakes activities such as the Mungo Joint Management Committee, the Willandra AWHIN meeting 12 th Aug Landholders Protection Group, Dept of Lands, and the Lower Murray Darling Catchment Joint Management meeting 11 th Sept Management Authority.

th Mungo Youth Project 9 Sept

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James Shevlin & Discovery Rangers, NPW Sally Barnes Visit the Staff & Elders from Tumut th st Willandra On May 18 - 21 Elders, National Park A visit from James Shevlin, First Assistant staff and Discovery Secretary Heritage Division & Sally Barnes, Rangers from Tumut Deputy Director General of Parks & Wildlife arrived at Mungo Group joined the Willandra Lakes Region Elders National Park for who took them on a tour of the Willandra. Cultural interaction with our Discovery Rangers

& networking with Traditional owners & park Elders and other staff were excited & park staff. enthusiastic to be able to

show them around the area They were given a and share some of their goals tour of the Visitor & future aspirations for Centre, Walls of China, Foreshore Walk, Joulni Discovery Tour on Mungo NP and the wider the site were Mungo Man & Lady were found and the Mungo Lunette Willandra Region. the Footprint site.

Discovery Rangers Tanya There were some great Charles & Ricky Mitchell ideas exchanged on the started the tour at the interpretation for the Walls of China where James Drive Tour & Discovery & Sally saw ancient hearths program. Everyone got & artefacts. The Elders involved in writing their James & Sally at proudly took the reigns once ideas down & sharing them amongst the group. the Footprint site at the Fossil Footprint site and showed the conservation It was a great few days resulting in an invitation works done by National Park from the Tumut group being extended to us to staff & Traditional Owners. visit their part of the country.

Their time finished off with a view of the sunset at Red

Top handing certificates of Certificate appreciation out to the Presentation to Elders Elders from the Traditional Tribal Groups.

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UPDATES

TSAC/CMC National Parks &

Wildlife Service I am very pleased that Richard Mintern & Leanne Mitchell have As this is the first newsletter, I initiated this Willandra will start with a general overview Newsletter and I hope this is the first of many. and some key contact details. Future instalments

will provide more detail on exciting projects, So far in 2009 we have had two very effective achievements and snippets of information that CMC/TSAC meetings which were well attended would sell newspapers…… and supported and both had very full agendas. I am particularly grateful to Richard and Leanne National Parks & Wildlife is part of, the newly for their excellent meeting preparations and restructured, Department of Environment, documentation. Climate Change and Water (DECCW). The Lower A major focus of CMC/TSAC this year has been Darling Area (LDA) office at Buronga houses the funding bids under the Caring for Country staff from different parts of this organisation proposals and we are anxiously awaiting the final with Parks & Wildlife Group being the majority. outcome of those bids. Another major focus has In 2009/10 there are 16 full time permanent been the concerns and suggestions Professor Jim positions and a pool of Casual Discovery Rangers Bowler has raised about the Willandra and its in the LDA. future. CMC/TSAC has formed a subcommittee to address those concerns. A meeting will be The Area manages 5 reserves of which Mungo held in Canberra on 7 August involving Professor National Park is the largest in size, workload and Bowler and concerned scientists together with resources. All staff have some responsibilities relevant government officials to discuss those relating to Mungo NP; with some spending almost concerns. 100% of their effort on Mungo. In early April I attended the inaugural meeting of the Australian World Heritage Advisory The following are key staff with Mungo Committee, established to provide advice to responsibilities, their contact details are government on World Heritage matters and to provided for your reference. act as a forum for Australian World Heritage Buronga Office Switch 03 5021 8900 local committee representatives. Finally, I would Jo Gorman – Area Manager 03 5021 8903 like to thank the Elder representatives on Warren Clark – Exec Officer 03 50218904 CMC/TSAC for their dedication to the Willandra Joint Management Advisory Committee management and their determination to achieve Lars Kogge – Senior Ranger 03 5021 8909 their aspirations for this important and unique Mungo Joint Management area. Claire Wilkinson – Temp Ranger 03 5021 8906 Michael Ockwell Rita Enke – Acting Senior 03 5021 8926 Chair Willandra WHA CMC/TSAC Ranger - Fire

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Steve Clementson – 03 5021 8917 Jo Gorman Senior Field Supervisor Area Manager NP&W Rocky Robertson - 03 5021 8920

Senior Field Officer – Pests Willandra Mungo National Park 03 5029 7292 Rodney Cromelin – Senior Field Officer Landholders Colin Gibson & Colin Charles – Field Officers Protection Group Kanga Kirby – Field Officer – Pests Richard Mintern EO was successful in receiving

funding for two purposes through the World Some of the projects for the coming months are: Heritage Property Management Program. Discovery – recruiting the newly created $70 000 was received for rabbit control. At a Discovery Co-ordinator position and continuing to landholder meeting with the EO it was decided develop and increase the Discovery Tours and to rip rabbits on the four northern properties of activities on the park and also expand into local the WHA, Gol Gol, Baymore, Springhill and schools. Mulurulu. Another $70 00 was also received for Pest Control – weed spraying is continuing with renewing Individual Property Plans. This funding recent rains resulting in a lot of growth. Rabbit will be used to review each IPP, identify and warren ripping and fumigation will be in full record completed actions. There will be a swing. workshop with each landholder to discuss new Fire Management – establishing an above ground initiatives and actions that need to be taken to fire water supply at Numbucca Tank. Working protect world heritage values. The new IPP’s will co-operatively with neighbours in fire reflect changes in climate, technology and management planning for the Garnpang mallee property management. It will also provide a block and pre planning for prescribed burning for practical framework for action at the property 2009-2011 level for protection of the WHA and other Visitor Management – take up all opportunities to values. obtain funding for an enhancement to the Mungo

Visitors Centre. Ros Griffith & Des Flora/Fauna research & monitoring – writing and Wakefield (pictured) crunching results of the various biodiversity research projects. Monitoring of vegetation in the Acacia exclosures.

More works and details will be described in the next newsletter. Feel free to contact me or any of the staff listed to discuss any aspects of our work.

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Joint The Discovery program was conducted with minimal complaints and that in itself was a great Management effort. This newsletter was a long Thanks to all Discovery Rangers, Tanya Charles time coming and I would like to congratulate coordinator and Ricky Mitchell. Leanne and Richard for making it happen. I see To plan and arrange these events really takes that this newsletter will be a very important tool time. I would like to personally thank Leanne for all people from the Willandra to stay in Mitchell for her professional contribution to the touch. Everyone with news should consider preparations on the whiteboard. Claire Wilkinson writing a short report and handing to Leanne for the Ranger is also a quiet achiever behind a lot inclusion in the next issue. of this. Thanks also to our admin Lisa Mitchell, Area The most important news at this point in time is manager Jo Gorman, Publicity Officer Marie the employment of a discovery coordinator with Mitchell, my wife Margaret who is very interviews to take place on Monday 3 rd August understanding and cooks a mean scone. 2009. It will certainly ease some of the I know that I will miss some people out but pressure. looking forward to the continuation of this newsletter and with support from all can only Recently, Steve Millington and I gave a power make this more rewarding for all concerned and point presentation to the National Parks the Willandra Lakes World Heritage Area . Foundation in , seeking funding for a new Discovery vehicle. It went very well so fingers crossed we may hear some good news in the not Elders Council too distant future.

July school holidays were very busy for our

Discovery Rangers. They not only gave tours but worked with ARC linkage at the same period as our school holiday program. We had our second NAIDOC day at Mungo and The Willandra Elders play an important role in entertained a crowd of over 130 people. decision making out at Mungo particularly Discovery Rangers gave tours had a free day regarding the Cultural values and maintaining BBQ’s and ran out of meats and bread but their involvement in day to day work. They hopefully we learn from this. participate in work on monitoring sites and any The Tumut mob came to visit Mungo NP and we research that’s being done out in the field. They entertained them for 4 days at the Park and supervise the Discovery Rangers in field work as workshopped the interpretation. It was a part of the Elders role in mentoring young success story that was repeated by all involved workers. They are also responsible for approving and there maybe a follow up trip to Tumut by the any funding being sought for their own Mungo mob.

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traditional workers to be employed working on The Darug and Gundungurra language groups are their own country. working with the DECC on a number of co- management projects, funded by NSW Treasury Bush Tucker & Medicine that include: training for Indigenous guides, creating a bush tucker garden, development and Common Name: Mallee Rice- distribution of education resources to local flower schools, ongoing site survey work and women & Scientific Name: Pimelea mens camps. microcephala

The Central Coast Hunter Range Co-management Use: Fruit can be eaten but do Committee and National Parks and Wildlife not chew the seed. Service organised a fantastic event to celebrate Bark of roots infused and the declaration of Mount Yengo, , excluded from drunk for chest complaints, the recent Wilderness declaration of over twisted into cords & tied 119,600 hectares because it’s a place of around the body to relieve important cultural significance to Aboriginal pain. Bark can also be groups around the region, as an Aboriginal Place plaited & put around neck in April 2009. Mt Yengo Aboriginal Place, NSW’s to cure colds. largest Aboriginal Place, covers 1,700 ha in and has special significance to Wonnarua, Awakabu, Worimi and Darkinjung News from the Greater Blue traditional owners and their descendents. Mountains WHA For more information about the co-management Our World Heritage partners in the Greater projects of the Greater Blue Mountains World Blue Mountains World Heritage Area are also Heritage Area, go to doing great things. Here’s some news from their http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/protectedar Executive Officer Jacqueline Reid. eas/CoMgmtGBMWHA.htm to read the

Connections newsletters. Following the success of the Ganguddy Living

Country Culture Camp in October 2008, the 6 Jacqueline Reid language groups of the Greater Blue Mountains Executive Officer are planning the next Living Country Culture Greater Blue Mountains Camp (to be held in conjunction with an Indigenous Celebration week at Jenolan Caves) from Friday 22 to Sunday 24 November 2009, to which you are invited. Go to www.livingcountry.com.au for more information and to register.

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Willandra Tune Into Personality ABC Sundays at 1.30pm: Indigenous program Message Stick Profile SBS Mondays at 6.00pm: Living Black Name: Quentin Clark D.O.B: 20/11/1998 SBS Thursdays at 6.50pm: ’s Heritage: Star Sign: Scorpio National Treasures What do you like about Mungo? Meeting people, th doing tours plus working. Prime Saturday 5 September at 5pm: Guide to What is your favourite bush tucker? Dry the Good Life Kangaroo Curry & Johnny Cakes. Favourite Bush Animal & Why? Lions & Dinosaurs. If you have any shows that you would like added Because Longnecks are very big. for the next issue give me a call on the number Do you have any hobbies? Yes Golf & Bowling. below. Love going to the house of golf and smashing a few golf balls. Kids Corner What school do you go to? Ranfurly Primary Play dough Recipe School. What pets do you own? Goanna, rabbits, birds What You Need: and 1 dog. 1 cup flour, 1/2 cup cooking salt, 1 cup water, 1 What is your favourite colour? Red, Green & Blue tablespoon of cream of tartar, 1 tablespoon of Who is your favourite singer? George Jones, cooking oil, food colouring Johnny Cash & Slim Dusty. Favourite singer around the camp fire at Mungo? Activity: Uncle Ray, Uncle Roy, Colin Charles & Michael Mix the flour, water, salt and cream of tartar in Westaway; he makes me laugh. a saucepan over medium heat until thick. Allow What do you want to be when you grow up? the mixture to cool and then add the oil and A Ranger at Mungo National Park. knead well over a floured cutting board or similar. Divide this blob evenly into as many colours as you'd like to make. Add food colouring to each ball until it is just the colour your child is looking for. That's it! Allow the children to let their imaginations take them away.

To make this Newsletter more useful we would like your feedback on what you like or could be improved so we can meet your needs. We can be contacted at the address below.

Leanne Mitchell, Editor

Willandra Lakes World Heritage Area PO Box 318 Buronga, NSW 2739 PH: 03) 5021 8911 Fax: 03) 5022 2037 8