I’ve come home from our Landcare Cultural Immersion Camp in the Capertee Valley feeling grateful for the people, conversations and learning we shared over two days on Country. 🤎🌿
We began with students from Bletchington Public School performing dances they’ve been learning from Wiradjuri Elders. It was a wonderful way to open the camp and to see young people sharing what they’ve learned. Thank you to Rick Ah See, Brian Ah See and Trevor Peckham for helping make that moment so special.
We then heard from Ross Crates of the Australian National University about his work with the critically endangered regent honeyeater. In an incredible piece of timing, regent honeyeaters were nesting near our camp, and we were lucky enough to see them for ourselves!
In the afternoon, Greg Ingram from Local Land Services and Jessica Wegener guided us as we made coolamons and digging sticks. That evening, we heard from Aleshia Longsdale, Chair of Mudgee Local Aboriginal Land Council, and continued the conversations over dinner.
I also want to recognise the Aboriginal people and businesses whose work helped bring the camp to life. Gerald Power, founder of Indigenous Cultural Adventures Tours, supplied the kangaroo tail we shared at dinner. Jessica generously shared her knowledge and skills across both days, including an ironbark distillation and bush medicine workshop. We each took home the soaps and balms we made, along with a much deeper appreciation of what she had shared with us. We had wonderful biscuits from Dreamtime Tuka a groups local to Dubbo, and teas and chutneys from Indigiearth in Mudgee.
Our camp was part of Walan Miya Bulabul - Stronger Partnerships Together, the project through which we’ve been developing a regional Aboriginal Engagement Strategy with Yilabara Solutions. Working with Aboriginal facilitators, artists and suppliers has been an important part of that journey. Their contribution shaped the experience in ways that went far beyond the activities on the program.
For me, the most valuable part was having time to listen, ask questions and get to know one another. A strategy matters when we carry those conversations forward and keep showing up for the relationships we’re building.
Thank you to everyone who shared their knowledge, helped organise the camp or joined us with an openness to learn. I’m looking forward to continuing this work together. 💚