The TORG conducted on country visits from from May 2016 to July 2017. The TORG spent time on Country, travelling the region from north to south in the assessing sites of Cultural Heritage Significance. Informed by the TORG planning session and by Queenslands Aboriginal and Torres Straits Cultural Heritage Online Portal (https://culturalheritage.datsip.qld.gov.au), the group sort to develop a Indigenous Cultural Heritage Database and form Cultural Heritage Health Indicators for the region. Sites included; St Helens, Hook Island, Nara Inlet, the Molle Islands, Whitsunday Island, Repulse Island, Hook Island, Cape Hillsborough, Andrews Point, Cape Hillsborough, Yuwibera Trail, Cape Hillsborough, Cape Hillsborough, Wetland Walkabout, Seaforth, Finlayson Point and Haliday Bay. Significant sites identified included fish traps, middens, quarry’s, caves and rock art.
Environmental health, threats and management information were recorded. Monitoring stations were installed.
Terra Rosa demonstrated techniques in site and artefact identification and recording, and where no stories were available, provided context to the significance of the sites. Recordings taken on Country will be used to develop Cultural Heritage Indicators for the region and it is these indicator that will be used to inform the MWI 2016 HR2R report card. Additional value was derived from being on Country as a group. Groups were able to relax around each other in comfortable surrounds and discuss histories and connections, further building their strength as the TORG.
Monitoring Organisation The Mackay-Whitsunday Traditional Owner Reference Group
Name Stefanie Wabnik
Phone 0409 677 117
Email stefanie.wabnik@reefcatchments.com
Position in organisation Senior Project Officer - Coasts and Biodiversity
Activity Type science and research (e.g. monitoring activities, trials of innovative practices or new equipment)
Activity Indicators water quality in freshwater river basins
Activity location O'Connell catchment
Frequency of monitoring
Monitoring Start Date 01/05/2016
30/07/2017Location of monitoring data
Date quality / confidence
Website URL http://reefcatchments.com.au/community/traditional-owners/
Collaborators Reef Catchments, Terra Rosa
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