" Working towards the equitable, efficient and sustainable use of water, land and other environmental resources of the Queensland Murray Darling Basin "

Projects

QMDC's Aboriginal Program funds and supports a number of projects across the region. Some of these include:

Weengallon Rock Wells Project
Oral History Recording Projects
The 'Yumba' Native Garden and Nursery Project, Mitchell
The 'Old Camp' Revegetation and Rejuvenation Project, Dirranbandi
Inglewood/Texas Cultural Site and Management Plan
Native Trees and Bush Tucker Garden Project
School Cultural Heritage Tour

Read below for details of each project. For further information on any of the projects, contact Tim Knox, QMDC's Regional Coordinator for the Aboriginal Program.

Weengallon Rock Wells

The Weengallon Rock Wells are located 150km west of Goondiwindi on the edge of the Barwon Highway and are an important cultural site for Aboriginal people of the region. The rock wells have recently been restored through a joint effort between Traditional Owners, QMDC, Department of Main Roads and the Waggamba Shire Council. The restoration involved cleaning out the wells and controlling weed infestations. The Aboriginal Program is in the process of developing a work plan for continued weed control at the site with a specific focus on the Mother of Millions weed.

Oral History Recording Projects

QMDC's Aboriginal Program has funded two community-based organisations - namely the St. George Aboriginal Housing Company, through their Culture and Heritage Program, and the Dandaloo Gayngil Aboriginal Corporation - to conduct oral history recording projects in St. George and Toomelah/Boggabilla, respectively. The oral history projects are a knowledge sharing and communication tool for Aboriginal people and facilitate the handing down of the ‘caring for country' culture. The projects also ensure oral histories are preserved.

Both projects will be completed by June 2008 and will be the intellectual property of the respective organisations. It is hoped that some of the information gathered through the recordings will be available to QMDC and the wider community to inform land management practices.

'The Yumba' Native Garden and Nursery Project, Mitchell - Nalingu Aboriginal Corporation

'The Yumba' is of significance to the Aboriginal community of Mitchell and further a field. 'The Yumba' was the home of many Aboriginal people in and around the region and is also strongly connected as a learning ground, housing a school many years ago.

This project is important as many of the plants historically used for food and medicinal purposes by the Traditional Owners of the region have been removed or died. The Nalingu Aboriginal Corporation is endeavouring to re-establish these native plants to support practice of culture on country, as an education tool for both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal communities and as a tourism project for the local community.

Nalingu Aboriginal Corporation has been working closely with Mitchell Landcare to build the knowledge and skills needed for the project. In 2007 planting and propagation training was delivered through the Southern Queensland Institute of TAFE.

The 'Old Camp' Revegetation and Rejuvenation Project - Dirranbandi Gindjurra Aboriginal Corporation

The 'Old Camp' is situated two kilometres west of the township of Dirranbandi on the lower reaches of the Balonne Minor River. The 'Old Camp' has traditionally been considered the main camping area of the Aboriginal people of the Dirranbandi district. The close proximity of the 'Old Camp' to the rich hunting grounds of the flood plains between the Culgoa River and the Balonne Minor and to the swamp area abundant with wildlife to the south-east ensured the site was a great camping, hunting and gathering site.

In the mid-1990s the land was granted as a Deed of Grant in Trust (DOGIT) to the Aboriginal people of Dirranbandi via a trusteeship to the Dirranbandi Gindjurra Aboriginal Corporation. The purpose of the grant is that the Trustees can only use the land for cultural and natural resource management purposes. Dirranbandi Gindjurra (the Trustees) have identified projects that would enhance the cultural significance and resource value of the 'Old Camp'.

Inglewood/Texas Cultural Site and Management Plan - Kambuwal Aboriginal Corporation for Culture, Heritage and Land

This project is a partnership between the Traditional Owners of the area, the Kambuwal people, QMDC and a local landholder. The site has been identified as an area of significance with strong evidence of Aboriginal occupation. This and similar projects in the Inglewood/Texas area will involve Traditional Owners working with landholders and government departments on the protection of areas of significance to the Kambuwal people.

Native Trees and Bush Tucker Garden Project

QMDC, Traditional Owner groups and community groups are propagating native trees and bush tucker plants to be planted throughout the QMDC region. This project will emphasise the participation of school students and raise awareness of cultural heritage and the natural environment.