The Gulf Walk-About: Summer 2026

SUMMER 2026

AboriginalandTorresStraitIslanderreadersareadvisedthatthefollowing publicationmaycontainimagesofpeoplewhoaredeceased.

Queenslandcrocodilecullplansupportedby somecouncils,slammedbyconservationists

Katter'sAustralianPartyisproposingnew legislationthatwouldallowcrocodilecullsand safaristylehuntingtripsinQueensland.

Aninquiryintothebillhasheardfromlocal councilswhosaytheyaredealingwithgrowing crocodilepopulations,aswellas conservationistssuchasBobIrwinwhooppose thebill.Source:ABC

CallstoprotectIndigenousintellectualproperty fromAI'culturaltheft'

AItoolsarerapidlygeneratingFirstNationsart, storiesandlanguagewithoutconsent,raising alarmsof“culturaltheft.ˮ

Arecentmock‘exhibitionʼfilledwith‘Indigenous paintingsʼgeneratedbyChatGPTandMidjourney highlightedtheextenttowhichAIisthreatening traditionalpractices.

LegalexpertTerriJankewarnsAIlackscultural understandingandcanmisappropriatesacred imagery.

"AIhasnoDreaming,ithasnokinship,country,or culturalobligations,"shesaid.

"[It]doesn'tunderstandculturalprotocolsabout whethercertainimagescomefromplacesthat needtoberespectedorwhetheritshouldmake versionsofthem."

Governmentsarenowreviewinglawstoprotect IndigenousCulturalandIntellectualPropertyinthe ageofAI.Source:ABC

Women-In-FiretrainingcomestoFarNorthQueensland

TraditionalfirepracticesreintroducedinNorth Queensland

Traditionalculturalburninghasreturnedto YuwibaraCountryinNorthQueenslandforthe firsttimesincecolonisation,markingasignificant culturalandenvironmentalmilestonefortheYuwi people.

FollowingformalrecognitionasTraditional Ownersin2020,YuwiEldersandrangers partneredwithQueenslandParksandWildlife ServicetocarryoutaplannedcoolburnatCape Hillsborough.

Thepracticeuseslow-intensityfireguidedby seasonalknowledgetomanagevegetation, reducewildfirerisk,andsupportecosystem health.

Participantsdescribedtheburnasculturallyand emotionallysignificant,helpingreconnect youngergenerationswithtraditionalknowledge andstrengtheningtiestoCountry

Therevivalofculturalburningreflectsbroader effortstorestoreIndigenouslandmanagement practicesandimproveenvironmentaloutcomes throughtraditionalecologicalknowledge.

Source:ABC

FloodingcutsoffGulfcommunityforuptofour months

Doomadgee,aremoteAboriginalcommunityin QueenslandʼsGulfofCarpentaria,hasbeencut offbyfloodingforthreemonthsandisexpected toremainisolatedforuptofour

Foodandfuelsuppliesarerunninglow,with limiteddeliveriesquicklyexhausted.Residents facehighpricesandshortagesofessentials, whilefuelscarcityrestrictsaccesstobushfood. Communityleadersarealsoraisingconcerns abouttheprolongedisolationʼsimpactonmental health.Source:ABC

Forthefirsttime,AustraliahostedtheWomen-In-FireTrainingExchange(AUSWTREX),takingplaceinFarNorth QueenslandlastMay

The12-dayprogramwasdesignedtobringtogetherwomenandfirepractitionersfromacrosstheglobetobuild skills,shareculturalknowledge,andstrengthenleadershipinfiremanagement.

AUSWTREXmarksthe13thinternationaleventintheseriesbutthefirst-everheldinAustralia.

EwamianRa culturalvalue

From cattle country to cultural sanctuary: Talaroo’s next chapter

AttheheartofNorthQueenslandʼsGulfSavannah liesTalarooStation,homeoftheEwamianRangers andtheiconicTalarooHotSprings.Visitorsare drawntothisuniquelandscapenotjustforitsnatural beauty,butalsoforthechancetoconnectwith CountrycaredforbyitsTraditionalOwners.Now,an excitingnewchapterisunfoldingwiththeplanned expansionoftouristfacilities,includingamulti-use trailforwalkingandcycling.

Thetrailwillguidevisitorsthroughareasofdeep culturalsignificance—pastancientscartrees,along riverbanks,andacrosslandlongimpactedbypast grazingpractices.Butthisisnoordinarytourist development.Beforeapathwasevenmapped,the EwamianRangerscarefullyassessedtheecological andculturalrisksandopportunities.Theiraim?To ensurethetrailbringsbenefitstoCountry,culture, andcommunityalike.

ParticularlysignificantwasaburnnearthefiresensitiveHotSprings,removingoldfuelsthathad builtupoverdecades.Byrestoringtheseecological processes,therangersarealsoprotectingfragile tea-treevegetationandencouragingnativespecies toreturn.

Feralpigdamage,longathreattothearea,isbeing reducedasweed-infestedpighabitatiscleared. Newbootbrush-downstationswillhelppreventthe spreadofweedsbyvisitors,whileeducationalsigns alongthetrailwillsharethestoryofTalarooʼs transformation—fromacattlestationtoan IndigenousProtectedArea.Throughtheseefforts, EwamianRangersareinvitingallwhovisittowalk gentlyonCountryandbecomepartofitshealing journey.

Already,theprojectisdeliveringpositiveoutcomes. Traditionalburnprogramshavebeenreintroduced, reducingwildfirerisksandclearingoutinvasive weedsthatoncechokednativehabitat.

Junior Custod

OurJuniorCustodiansboyscampwasabig success.Everyonejustgotbackfromatwo-night campoutoncountry.TheylearntGuGu (language)fromMoogaiQawanji,andvisitedthe Imbalahabitattolookdeeperintoplantandsoil knowledgewithseniorethnobotanistGerryTurpin.

Burning BuildMapping Skillsto ProtectCountry

MembersoftheJawaiyabaWarragrouprecently spenttimelearningvaluablemappingandspatial technologyskillstosupporttheirworkincaringfor Country.Throughhands-onlearningsessions,the groupexploredmaps,identifiedkeyculturaland environmentalareas,anddiscussedprioritiesfor protectionandmanagement.

Thistrainingstrengthenslocalcapacitytorecord andsharetraditionalknowledgewhileusing moderntoolstosafeguardimportantplacesfor futuregenerations.

AbigthankyoutoKeerahSteeleandMahtsente Tadeseforgenerouslysharingyourknowledge andsupportingourmobonthislearningjourney.

Ourcustodians/rangersledourfirstevercultural burnonbubu.Ahazardreductionburnwascarried outaroundhighsignificantareas—thebutterfly habitatandJawiyabaManjal(TwoBrother Mountain).BigappreciationtoStreamsinthe DesertDavidandMariaTurpinforassistingwith theburn.

Protecting Country Since 2008

NormantonLandandSeaRangers

TheNormantonLandandSeaRangershave beenworkingonCountrysince2008,delivering vitalconservationandlandmanagement programsacrosstheLowerGulfofCarpentaria.

FundedbytheQueenslandGovernment,the programwasoriginallyestablishedastheWild RiverRangersProgrambeforebecomingpartof theQueenslandIndigenousLandandSeaRangers initiativein2011.

Theteamofsixfull-timeRangers—allTraditional OwnersfromtheKukatj,Gkuthaarn,andKurtijar Tribalgroups—undertakesawiderangeof activitiestocareforCountry.Theirworkincludes feralanimalmanagement,weedcontrol,fire management,andwetlandandbiodiversity monitoring.

Importantly,theseactivitiesareguidedbythe culturalvaluesandaspirationsofTraditional Owners,assetoutinlocallydevelopedSeaand LandManagementPlans.

Protectingourriversis necessary,waterislife!

KowanyamaRangersshineat SavannaFireForum

Darwin-IndigenousleadershipinAustraliaʼs carbonandnaturerepairmarketstookcentrestage atamajornationalgatheringinDarwinthisyear, whereTraditionalOwners,rangers,scientistsand policymakersmettoshapethefutureof Indigenous-ledlandmanagementandcarbon projects.

The2ndNationalIndigenousCarbonForum(NICF) andthe8thSavannaFireForumwereheldon LarrakiaCountryfrom24–26February2026, bringingtogethermorethan500participantsfrom acrossAustralia.Thethree-dayeventfocusedon strengtheningIndigenousparticipationincarbon markets,improvingfireandlandmanagement practices,andensuringTraditionalOwnershavea centralroleinemergingenvironmentaleconomies.

HostedbytheIndigenousCarbonIndustryNetwork (ICIN),theforumshighlightedtherapidgrowthof Indigenouscarbonprojectsacrossthecountryand theincreasingdemandforframeworksthat recogniseIndigenousknowledgesystems alongsideWesternscience.

StrongRoots,StrongFutures

UnderthethemeStrongRoots,StrongFutures, discussionscentredonboththeopportunitiesand challengesfacingIndigenouscommunitiesinvolved incarbonandnaturerepairmarkets.Delegates sharedcasestudiesfromsavannafire managementprojects,carbonfarminginitiatives, andculturallandmanagementprogramsthatare deliveringenvironmental,culturalandeconomic outcomes.

Akeymessagethroughouttheforumswasthe needtoensureIndigenouscommunitiesarenot onlyparticipantsincarbonmarkets,butdecisionmakersinhowthosemarketsaredesignedand governed.

TraditionalOwnersandIndigenousorganisations calledforstrongerinvestmentinIndigenous-led carbonmethoddevelopment,aswellasdedicated start-upfundingtosupportnewprojects.Concerns werealsoraisedabouttheneedforfree,priorand informedconsentincarbondevelopmentson Indigenousland,withleadersemphasisingthe importanceofensuringprojectsarecommunity-led andculturallyappropriate.

Rangersshareon-Countryexperience

AmongtheIndigenousgroupscontributingtothe forumweretheKowanyamaRangersfromwestern CapeYork,whoattendedandpresentedforthe thirdconsecutiveyear.Theirparticipation highlightedthelong-termcommitmentoftheir communitytolandandfiremanagement,andthe growingrecognitionofrangergroupsaskey playersinAustraliaʼscarboneconomy.

TheKowanyamaRangerssharedinsightsfromtheir savannafiremanagementworkandon-ground experiencesmanagingcountry,demonstratinghow culturalknowledgeandcontemporarycarbon methodologiescanworktogethertoreduce emissionswhilestrengtheningconnectionstoland.

Theircontinuedpresenceattheforumwaswidely seenasanexampleofthesustainedleadership emergingfromremoteIndigenouscommunities, particularlyinnorthernAustraliawheresavanna burningprojectsareincreasinglycentraltocarbon reductionstrategies.

Governmentandsectorengagement

Theforumalsofeaturedparticipationfromfederal governmentrepresentatives,includingMinisterfor IndigenousAustraliansMalarndirriMcCarthyand AssistantMinisterforClimateChangeandEnergy JoshWilson,whoacknowledgedtheimportanceof IndigenousleadershipinshapingAustraliaʼsclimate andenvironmentalpolicyagenda.

Acrossworkshopsandplenarysessions, participantsexploredawiderangeoftopics includingsavannafireregimes,bluecarbon, environmentalplantingmethods,andtheemerging “naturerepairˮmarketframework.Technical discussionswerepairedwithculturalknowledgesharingsessions,reinforcingtheroleofIndigenous scienceinenvironmentalmanagement.

Growinginfluenceincarbonmarkets

ICINnotedthatIndigenousparticipationin Australiaʼscarbonmarkethasexpanded significantlyinrecentyears,withagrowingnumber ofprojectsregisteredundertheAustralianCarbon CreditUnit(ACCU)Scheme.

However,leaderswarnedthatcontinuedgrowth mustbematchedbystrongersafeguards,longterminvestment,andgenuinepower-sharing arrangementstoensurebenefitsflowbackto communities.

Astheforumsconcluded,aclearmessage emerged:Indigenousleadershipincarbonmarkets isnotemerging-itisalreadyestablished,and continuingtogrowinstrength,scaleandinfluence acrossthecountry

TagalakaRangersupskillin fieldtraining

“Fromreddirttotallgums –thebushisour

A T E R & C O U N T R Y

Waterplanningforpeopleand Country

StorybyLucyGraham,CAFNECCapeYorkcampaigner

FortheCairnsandFarNorthEnvironmentCentre (CAFNEC),waterplanningisnotanabstractpolicy exercise.Itdefineshowourfutureisshaped,whose knowledgeisvalued,andwhetherdecisionsmade todayprotectpeopleandCountryinanincreasingly uncertainclimate.

Inrecentyears,theQueenslandgovernmenthas emphasisedclimateresilienceandFirstNations engagementinwaterplanning.Newlegislationand policyintentionshighlightscience-basedplanning andrecognitionofculturalvalues.However,this importantprogressoccurswithinawaterplanning systemstillrootedincolonialframeworks.Ittreats waterasaresourcetobeallocated,tradedand ‘unlockedʼfordevelopment,ratherthanasaliving systemthatsustainsculture,ecosystemsandfuture generations.Thisapproachisexemplifiedbythe Stateʼs‘UnlockingWaterProjectʼ,wherepolitical prioritiesinfluenceplanning.

ForFirstNationspeoples,theconsequencesare profound.Waterisnotacommodity;itisculture, ancestors,anddeeplyspiritual.Rivers,creeks, springsandwetlandsholdstories,lore,ceremonyand responsibility.Traditionally,TraditionalOwners decidedhowwaterwasshared,protectedandcared for,guidedbydeepknowledgeaccumulatedover thousandsofyears.Thosesystemssustainedpeople andlandscapesthroughclimaticvariabilitylong beforemodernwaterplanningexisted.Today,despite rhetoricaboutinclusion,TraditionalOwnersarestill largelypositionedasstakeholderstobeconsulted, notdecision-makerswithauthority

Climatechangemakesthisfailureevenmoreurgent. NorthernAustraliafacesgreaterrainfallvariability longerdryperiodsandmoreintenseextremes. IgnoringIndigenousknowledgewhichisgroundedin observing,respondingtoandlivingwithclimate variability,isnotjustunjust,itisirresponsible. Communitiesarealreadymovingbetweenextreme droughtsandfloodswithlittlerespite.Waterplanning continuestoask“howdowemakemorewater available?ˮratherthan“howdowemanagewater societyandecosystemsinadrier,morevolatile climate?ˮ

Planningforthisfuturedemandsafundamentalshif Watermustbeprioritisedforecosystems, communitiesandculture.Waterisaconstrained resource,andallotheruses,includingindustry,mus respecttheselimits.Realwatersecuritywillnotcome frombiggerdamsormoreextraction,butfrom restraint,care,respectandacceptancethatwateris becominglessreliable.

CAFNECiscurrentlyengagedintheGulfRegional WaterAssessment,theGulfWaterPlanreview,and theMitchellWaterPlanreview,andwillengageinthe CapeYorkWaterPlanReviewlaterthisyear.

AcrossQueensland,thesereviewsareshapingfuturedefiningplans.Yettheoverarchingframingremains focusedonmakingmorewateravailableforuse, reflectingapersistentdevelopmentnarrativethat privilegesexpansionoverecologicalandcultural constraints.Cumulativeimpactsacrosscatchments arenotadequatelyassessed,evenasclimatechange, over-allocationandecosystemdeclineplace increasingpressureonriversandaquifers.

Waterplanningcontinuestobeframedaroundhow developmentcanproceedinachangingclimate, ratherthanhowwatershouldbemanagedfor Country,cultureandcommunitywellbeing.Afuturefitapproachwouldstartfromecologicalandcultural limits,recognisewaterasaconstrainedresource,and allowallotherusestobeshapedbytheserealities. Withoutthisshift,waterplanningriskslockingin decisionsthatundermineresilience,entrenchinequity andfurtherdistanceTraditionalOwnersfrom authorityovertheirownwaters.

“Waterisnotacommodity;itis culture,ancestors,anddeeply spiritual.ˮ

IndigenousAustraliansarecrucial tohittingour2035climatetargets

StorybyDuyguYengin,AndrewTaylor,RohanBestandRuthWallaoe

“Ifweactnowandmovewithcommonpurpose, thenwecandomorethanjustguardagainstthe veryworst.Wecanprotectourenvironmentand buildastrongerandfairereconomyforthenext generation.ˮ

ThatʼswhatPrimeMinisterAnthonyAlbanesetolda specialclimatesummitattheUnitedNationsinNew YorkonWednesday,ashesharedAustraliaʼsnew 2035climatetargetwithotherworldleaders.

Andtheprimeministerisright:climatechangeisnʼt justathreat.Itʼsalsoanopportunitytodothings differently–andmorefairly.

Asourresearchshows,FirstNationspeopleand Indigenous-managedlandwillplayacrucialpartifwe wanttohitour2035targets.Butenergyjusticeand sovereigntyneedtobecentralinourclimatepolicy.

Twokeychallengesstandout:reducingenergy stress,whichwefoundisasignificantlybigger problemforIndigenoushouseholdstoday,and ensuringself-determinationinrenewableenergyor criticalmineraldevelopmentsonIndigenousland.

Higherratesofenergystress

FortoomanyAustraliansrightnow,powerbillsare rising,theirhomesaretoohotortoocold,and

decisionsaboutbigenergy projectscanbemadewithout localvoicesbeingheard.

Thatʼscertainlytrueformany Indigenoushouseholdsand communities,rightacross Australia.Forthoseinremote communities,theycanface harshweather,poorly insulatedhousing,and relianceonexpensivediesel power

Prepaidenergyschemes–whereyoupayforpowerin advanceandthemetercuts offwhenthecreditrunsout–arecommoninremote communitiesanddriveup disconnections,leaving householdsespecially vulnerableduringextreme weather.

Butenergystressisnʼt confinedtoremote communities.Forthe85%of IndigenousAustraliansliving inurbanandregionalareas, energystressoftengoes unnoticed.

C L I M A T E C H A N G E

introducing the introducing the ‘ ‘carbon rainbow’ carbon rainbow’

Carbonisoftencriminalised,whenreallyit'sthefoundationofalllifeonearth!Today,initiativeslike ACCUsaretryingtoincentiviseresponsiblecarbonmanagementthroughfinancialmarkets;by implementingapprovedmethods,likesavannaburning,TraditionalOwnersandlandholderscan earnmoneywhileprotectingtheirlandandtheplanet

ACUUs(AustralianCarbonCreditUnits)areatradablefinancialproduct Theyincentivisecarbon reductionactivitiesthroughprojectsrangingfromreforestationtoenergyefficiency.OneACCU representsonetonneofcarbondioxideequivalent(tCO -e)thatwouldhaveotherwisebeen releasedintotheatmosphere. 2

SavannaburningmethodallowsprojectstoearnACCUsbyreintroducingcontrolledfireburningof savannavegetationduringtheearlydryseason Thisreducesthefrequencyandseverityoffiresin thelatedryseason,thereforereducinggreenhousegasemissions.

GREEN carbonstoredinplants, includingforests,grassland andsoil;projectscanfocus oncropping,grazingand soiltoachievemorecarbon absorbantgroundcover

TEAL

carbonstoredbyfreshwater andwetlandenvironments, suchasmarshes,swampsand peatlands

BLUE carbonstoredbymarineand coastalecosystems,including seagrassmeadows,tidalmarshes andmangroves

PURPLE

carboncapturedfromtheairorindustrial emissions(ratherthannewly-extractedfossil carbon)andthenusedinmanufacturing processes,suchascleaningproducts

Turning‘smokeandairʼintocarbonunits:advicefromGSNRMAgOfficer,

JulieNicolosi

Understandthemethod:Doyourresearchtoknowwhetheryouʼreusingsavannahburning,soilcarbon,or anothermethod.Understandhowcredits(ACCUs)areearnedandhowtheycouldbelost.

CheckifitsuitsyourCountry:assessifthemethodactuallyfitsyourrainfall,soil,andvegetation.Someareas (liketropicalsavannah)maynotgainmuchbenefitbecauseofhighdecayandlowcarbonstoragepotential. Manycarbonprojectswerewrittenformoretemperatureclimates,likesouth-eastQueensland.

Thinklong-term:bepreparedtomanagetheprojectfordecades,somelockyouinforupto25years

Gettherighthelp:makethemostofanyopportunitywhereyoucantrainsomeoneup,especiallyina successionstylesystem,likeeldersandtheyoungpeoplecomingthrough.Usecarbonprojectstopasson knowledge.Investintechnicalskills monitoring,mapping,drones,orsoilsampling.

RED carbonreleasedthrough particlesonsnowand icethatreducehow reflectivetheearthʼs surfaceis

BROWN carbonreleasedthrough incompletecombustionof organicmatter(eg,burning wood)

GREY carbonreleasedduring production,processingand transport(eg,exhaust emissionsfromcarsand factories) BLACK carbonreleasedthroughthe burningoffossilfuels

NgumariWaanyiRangers

Updatefrom WaanyiCountry

TheNgumariWaanyirangerscareforWaanyi CountryinthesouthernGulfofCarpentaria.This includesCountrysurroundingGregory,the NicholsonandGregoryRivercatchments,LawnHill, RiversleighandGregoryStation.

Letʼstakeacloserlookattheworktheydoon Country:

implementinganannualfiremanagementplanto protectenvironmentalandculturalvaluesof Waanyicountry

increasingknowledgeandprotection,and improvingtheconditionofculturalheritagesites reducingWeedsofNationalSignificance (includingrubbervineandbellyachebush)and associatedimprovementtothehealthofnative vegetationcommunities controllinglargevertebratepests,with associatedimprovementstolandandfreshwater countryincludinginbiodiversityvaluesandsoil andwaterquality

monitoringwaterquality,controllingerosionand monitoringandreportingcontaminantrisksand biosecuritythreatsidentifiedintheNicholson andGregorycatchments monitoringofnativefaunaincludingsawfish, freshwatercrocodilesandestuarinecrocodiles engagingwithyoungpeopleforknowledge transferaboutculturalheritageandcaringfor countrythroughon-countryandschool-based activities,includingSchooloftheAir

NewsHighlight:Boodjamulla NationalParktoreopen

Morethantwoyearsafterdevastatingfloodsclosed BoodjamullaNationalPark,theparkisscheduledto reopenon4July2025underarestoredand improvedvisitor-infrastructureplan.

TherecoveryhasbeenoverseenbytheBoodjamulla CooperativeManagementCouncil—apartnership betweentheWaanyiNativeTitleAboriginal CorporationandtheDepartmentoftheEnvironment, Tourism,ScienceandInnovation(DETSI).

Aspartofthereturn-to-countryprocess,Everyl Johnny,anElderoftheWaanyiPeople,will personallywelcomevisitorsatLawnHillGorge, offeringculturalinductionsandreflectionsonthe floodʼsimpactsandtheparkʼssignificance.

Thereopeningfollowsamajor$13millioninvestment bytheQueenslandGovernmenttorepairflood damage,rebuildwater,sewageandpower infrastructure,andinstallnewvisitorfacilitiesat LawnHillGorge.

Thereopeningmarksnotjustareturntotourismbut arenewedrecognitionofBoodjamullaasWaanyi Country—invitingrespectforitsculturalheritage andasharedefforttopreserveitsnaturaland culturalvalues.

Source:NationalIndigenousTimes

Largetoothsawfish: anancientpredatorinperil

Thoughtheystretchuptosevenmetreslongandbrandishabladeoftheirownmaking,largetoothsawfish(Pristispristis) havestillfoundtheirwayontoAustraliaʼsthreatenedspecieslist.Oncewidespreadacrossnorthernriversystems,this sawfishnowsurvivesinafewstrongholds,includingourregionʼsGilbertandMitchellRivers.Infact,inSeptember2025, FederalEnvironmentMinisterMurrayWattraisedthespeciesʼthreatofextinctionlevelfromvulnerabletoendangered undernaturelaws.Theirdeclineislessareflectionofbiologicaltraits(suchaslowreproductiverates),however,and moresotheconsequenceofhumaninterference.

Largetoothsawfishspendtheirjuvenileyearsperusinginlandriversforeasieraccesstofoodandlesspressurefrom predation,whileadultsventureouttomarineandestuarineareas.Regardlessofwhicheverwaterstheyoccupy,these uniqueraysarehighlyvulnerabletodisturbance(IUCNRedList,2025):thoughtheirevolutionaryadvantagesand adaptabilityonceallowedthespeciestothriveinavarietyofhabitatsacrosstheIndo-PacificandAtlantic,theirrangehas shrunkdramaticallyinAustralia(DCCEEW,2025).

Threatsstemmainlyfromhabitatloss,barrierstomigration,andaccidentalcaptureinfishinggear.Gillnetsinparticular havebeencitedfor‘obliteratingʼaquaticlife,evidencedbyphotostakenontheGreatBarrierReefshowingasmanyas13 sawfishfatallyentangledinasinglenet(AustralianMarineConservationSociety,2023).Damsandweirsalsopose complicationsbyrestrictingaccesstoupstreamnurseries,andinextremecasescancreateisolatedpoolsthatdryup andcausestarvation.Additionally,thesawfishʼsdefiningfeature—afzlattenedrostrumlinedwithsharp‘teethʼ—isa sensoryorgan,ahuntingtool,andaquickbitofcashforillegalpoachers.Biologicallyspeaking,electroreceptorsalong thesnouthelpdetectpreyhiddeninsediment,whilerapidside-to-sidemovementsstunandslicefishorcrustaceans (AustralianGeographic,2012).Scienceaside,however,therostrumsellsforhundredsofdollars,whilefinsaresoldfor thousands.Asaresultoftheseaccumulativethreats,thespeciesisnowlistedasCriticallyEndangeredbytheIUCNand protectedunderAustralianlaw

FormanyIndigenouscommunities,thesawfishisalsomorethanabiologicalrarity —itholdsdeepculturalandspiritualsignificance.InnorthernAustralia,sawfish appearinDreamingstories,rockart,andceremoniesthatconnectpeopletowater andCountry.Someaccountshaveevenidentifiedthesawfishasafamilytotem (SaveourSeasFoundation,2019).

Thoughtherearelimitedactionswecantaketopreventthisspeciesfromslipping intoextinction,tightenedfishingregulations(suchasbanninggillnetsand monitoringvessels)couldhelptocurtailtheirrapiddecline(AustralianMarine ConservationSociety,2025).Ifasawfisheverfindsitswayintoyournet,besure toleaveitinthewaterandletitgo!ReportyoursightingtoSharksandRays Australia(SARA):www.sharksandraysaustralia.com/report-your-sighting/

GuardiansoftheGulf: galiddaGarawaRangers

Aworldapart

Sincetheirestablishmentin2008,theGangalidda GarawaRangershavestoodattheforefrontofcaring forCountryinQueenslandʼsfarnorthwest.Basedin Burketown—some430kilometresfromMountIsa— thisdedicatedteamofTraditionalOwnersmanages vastlandscapesstretchingfromtheLeichhardtRiver totheNorthernTerritoryborder.Supportedthrough boththeQueenslandIndigenousLandandSea RangersProgramandthefederalWorkingonCountry Program,therangersplayavitalroleinpreserving therichculturalandnaturalheritageofthesouthern GulfofCarpentaria.

Onanygivenday,theserangersmightbetackling thespreadofWeedsofNationalSignificance, controllingferalanimals,patrollingbeachesfor marinedebris,ormonitoringnativebiodiversityand vegetation.Theirworknotonlyprotectsthelandbut strengthenscommunities,withtheJuniorRanger Programinspiringthenextgenerationof environmentalstewardsinlocalschools.

CLCACleaderssharedtheirferalanimalmanagement expertiseattheMarch2025NationalFeralPig Conference,highlightingyearsofworkacrossthe lowerGulf.CLCACcontinuesitsnationalrolethrough theFeralPigActionPlanCommitteeandasChairof theNationalIndigenousAdvisoryCommittee.

OurroleonCountry

Perhapsmostnotably,theGangaliddaGarawaRangers arerespectedleadersinfiremanagement.TheirGulf SavannahFireManagementGuidelinessetthestandard acrosstheregion,offeringdetailedprescriptionsfor13 distinctlandtypes.Theseguidelinesarehelpingdeliver outcomesthatbenefitbiodiversity,reducetheriskof wildfires,supportcarbonabatementefforts,and enhancepastoralproductivity.Today,10full-timerangers andonetrainee—employedbytheCarpentariaLand CouncilAboriginalCorporation(CLCAC)—continuethis importantwork,blendingtraditionalknowledgeand modernscienceforthelong-termbenefitofboth Countryandcommunity.

Dungantours: Bungarubranchesout

JoeandDunganTourstofeatureon‘Going PlaceswithErnieDingoʼ

UncleJoeandtheDunganTourscrewhavebeen interviewedforanupcomingepisodeofGoingPlaces withErnieDingo,settoaironNITV.Thepopularseries followsUncleErnieandateamofdown-to-earth presentersastheytravelacrossAustralia,dropping intotownsbigandsmalltouncoverthestoriesthat makeeachplaceunique.

TheepisodefeaturingUncleJoewillshinealighton localculture,communityspirit,andthespecial connectiontoCountrythatDunganToursshareswith visitors.Withitsmixofstunninglandscapes,warm yarns,andrealAussiehospitality,theseriescontinues tocelebratewhatmakesourcommunitiesfeellike home.

Thegroupmeetsat6pmevery WednesdayattheAboriginalChristian Fellowship,Yumba,Mareeba.

TheBungaruMenʼsGroupcontinuestomakea positiveimpactthroughitsfundraisingefforts, supportingactivitiesandcampsthatbringmen togethertoheal,share,andyarnabouttheir challenges.

Underthededicatedleadershipoffounding memberandchairpersonJosephCallope,who hasguidedthegroupforthepastsevenyears, BungaruMenʼsGrouphasbuiltstrong relationships,meaningfulprograms,andlasting communityconnections.Josephʼscommitment hasbeeninstrumentalinlinkingkey organisationswiththegroup,creating opportunitiesforgrowth,support,andcultural wellbeingacrossthecommunity.

Gulf

Celebrating achievements of young people in the Northern Gulf region

Carl Douglas Jnr.

Whatdreams aremadeof

YoungBullriderShinesatGordonvaleShow

Eleven-year-oldCarlDouglasJnrtookoutthetoptitleatthe2025MiniBullrideinGordonvale,ridingwithpride, courage,andculturalstrength.

AproudKokomenjena,TagalakaandKunjenboyfromKowanyama,NormantonandCroydon,Carlwasinspiredto rideafterwatchinghisunclesandbrothers.Hisbiggestheroeswerecousin-brotherTravisKoolatahandthelate PaddyPossum.

“Ilookeduptothemwithpride,ˮCarlsaid.

Beforeeveryride,Carlsharesaquietprayerbehindthechuteswithhisdad.“Ineverfearthebull,ˮhesaid.His confidenceandfocusimpressedthecrowdandjudgesalike.

When heʼs not training, Carl loves going hunting and gathering with his family — staying connected to Country andculture. Carl's winisapowerful moment forhiscommunity andareminder ofthestrength andspirityoung FirstNationsridersbringtothesport.Keepaneyeout—thisyoungcowboyisjustgettingstarted.

�� Cardboardorsmallplasticbase

(approx.4–5"x2–3")

�� 4CDsorbottlecaps(wheels)

�� Woodenskewers(axles)

�� Tapeandscissors

�� Smallscrewdriverornail(forwheel holes)

INSTRUCTIONS:

1 Makethebase:Cutarectangleofcardboard(4–5"x2–3").

2 Addaxles:Tapetwostrawsacrosstheundersideofthebase.

3. Makewheels:PokesmallholesineachCDorbottlecapfortheskewers.

4 Assemblewheels:Slideskewersthroughstraws,thenattachwheelson eachend(youcanusedisks,bottlecaps,orwhateveryouthinkmight work-experiment!).

5 Attachtheballoon:Stretchtheballoon,thentapeitsecurelyoverone endofastrawtomakeanairtightseal.Tapethestrawtothetopofthe carsoitpointsbackward.

6 Inflateandtest:Blowuptheballoonthroughthestraw,pinchitshut, placethecaronaflatsurface,andrelease!

7 Watchyourballooncarzoomforwardusingonlyairpower! ����

so ye g,a cruisesonth

Joinaguidedwalko Country,wheretrac thestoriesofWakam Discoverourspecia explainthedeepcon traditionsthatlinkus fascinatinglandscap

arriorsMartialArts-Zen nMareebaoffersexpert Karate,Taekwondo,and BrazilianJiu-Jitsu.

Theme:IndigenousandLocalKnowledgeConnections: HonouringHeritageandInnovation

26-29July2026,

ScantheQRcode toregister

Note:earlybird registrationcloses 26May