COASTAL CUSTODIANS
Volume 1, Issue 10
Introducing
Ranger Chris (Snappy) Griffiths
November 2002
learning about the significance of Mumbulla
Mountain before it became a part of the park.
This knowledge has enabled Chris to advise
NPWS on site protection during emergencies
such as the recent fires.
Chris has strong connections with the Paarkantji
people in western NSW and is aware of some of
the problems that they encountered during the
handback of Mutawintji National Park. He hopes
that lessons learnt from the Mutawintji
experience will help to ensure that the handback
of Biamanga and Gulaga National Parks goes
smoothly.
Chris has completed his Bachelor of Arts Degree
in Archaeology out of the University of New
England in Armidale. He would like to see more
people learning from the old people as well as
academically.
Chris is a Monaro person who grew up and went
to school in the Cooma and Jindabyne area. His
family are Bidewal people from the southern
Monaro, Snowy River country.
Chris started his first job on the railway in
Cooma as a laborer, he then moved to various
jobs in Queensland, Canberra and the far south
coast, where he worked on the Bega Municipal
Council and seasonal picking at Jellat Flat. In
1976 he went home to the mountains and worked
for the Snowy Mountains Authority.
In his spare time Chris likes to go fishing, carve
wood and stone, paint traditional art and play his
guitar. He also likes to spend time with his pet
dingo Balawan. Chris is an accomplished artist
with many awards to his credit.
Inside this issue
Introducing: Chris Griffiths – Ranger
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Editors & Our Readers Comments
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He started working for the NPWS in 1978 as a
ranger in the Kosciuszko National Park based at
Jindabyne and then later Bombala and Tumut. In
1989/ 90 Chris worked at Eden and has been
based in Narooma since 1991.
Department of Aboriginal Affairs
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Chris has been the Ranger for Biamanga
National Park since 1997 when the park was
gazetted. Chris considers himself fortunate to
have spent time with Uncle Percy Mumbulla,
Uncle Ted Thomas and Uncle Jacko Campbell
Mountains of Meaning
Office of the Registrar update
4-5
Regional Managers Report
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6-7
Kosciuszko Aboriginal Heritage Study
Coastal Custodians
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Our Readers
Comments
Dear Trisha
First of all, allow me to send you my heartfelt
sympathy to you and all your family for the
recent loss of your beloved Mother. She will be
sorely missed, not only as a Mother, but also as a
great fighter for the Aboriginal cause - and by
many of us non-Koories.
Thank you for continuing to send me your
Magazine. Always so interesting and full of
energy.
It was particularly good to read about the life
Lynne Thomas is making for herself. Having
known her for some years through my friendship
with her Mum, Ann Thomas, it really gives me a
thrill to know what successes she has had and is
having, and how varied her talents are. What a
role model for her kids! And how proud they
must be of her. I wish her the best of luck in all
her undertakings. Best wishes, from
Shirley Horey, Bingie. 23/09/02
Dear Trisha
Congratulations on your latest edition of Coastal
Custodians. Each edition seems to be better than
the last. Seeing all those familiar faces and
hearing the news about the places I love always
calls me back to the mountains (and Lynno I
have your painting with me that reminds me to
come back). And congratulations to Lyn on your
appointment to NPWS and all of your study
achievements. It is really good to hear that the
interpretations signs are being updated. There
have been a couple that have given me grief in
the past and not for spelling mistakes! I formally
extend my condolences to you Trisha and your
family on the loss of your mother, grandmother,
sister, aunt, cousin. Best Regards
Sue Wesson Brisbane 26/09/02
Trisha,
I have finally got my hands on Coastal
Custodians...it is fantastic and you should be
heaps proud. i can't wait to read it from cover to
cover. Did you see the email from Vanessa
Mason in relation to this? I will also fill out the
back to ensure that a copy is sent to me.
Juanita McCarthy Hunter Region 30/09/02
Dear Trish,
Thanks for the back copies of Coastal Custodian
and congratulations on a very illuminating little
newsletter. I had no idea that the National Parks
& Wildlife Service was involved to this extent
with the process of reconciliation and in such a
constructive manner.
I would be grateful to receive further copies.
Sandy is reading them now and has announced
her intention to enquire as to whether there is
anything of a similar nature produced in this
locality. Regards
Brian & Sandy May Toukley 30/10/02
Editors Comments
Thank you so much to all those people
whom extended their sympathy and
support to my family and myself over
the very sad loss of our mother.
You might notice that this edition of the
Coastal Custodian is a bit smaller then
usual. This is due mainly to the amount
of time spent at the fires up the Deua
River. I was a part of the crews that
monitored, mopped up and blacked out
the back burns and spot overs, I also
had a go at dozer support. All of which
has left me more the wiser and
extremely
impressed
with
the
monumental task of coordination, the
expertise in maintaining safety and the
commitment of all the fire fighters,
whether they are National Parks, Rural
Fire
Service,
State
Forest,
Air
Operations, or local and or out of the
area volunteer fire fighters.
Tis the season to be jolly, so from all of
us here to all of you out there, we wish
you a safe, joy filled Christmas with
much laughter, fine food and good
company. Wishing you a MERRY
CHRISTMAS and a HAPPY NEW YEAR.
Patricia Ellis
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Aboriginal Ownership of Biamanga and Gulaga National Parks
As part of the process for returning Biamanga and Gulaga National Parks to Aboriginal ownership, the Department
of Aboriginal Affairs has been working with people who have a cultural association with the Parks to appoint a
negotiating panel.
What does the negotiating panel do?
The negotiating panel represents all Aboriginal people who have a cultural association with Biamanga and Gulaga
National Parks and negotiates the lease for the Parks with the Minister for the Environment and the relevant Local
Aboriginal Land Councils.
The negotiations are about the hand back of Biamanga and Gulaga National Parks. Negotiations cannot begin until
a negotiating panel has been appointed. When the land is handed back, it will be held on behalf of Aboriginal
owners by the Local Aboriginal Land Council(s) and leased back to the government. The negotiations are about the
terms of the lease to the government.
Who can sit on the negotiating panel?
The people who are on the negotiating panel must be Aboriginal people, chosen by people who have a cultural
association with Biamanga and Gulaga National Parks, to represent them.
What has happened so far?
The Department of Aboriginal Affairs held a meeting on 12 February 2002 at Umbarra Cultural Centre to explain its
policy for appointing people to the negotiating panel. At that meeting, it was decided that a series of community
meetings would be held to help people to choose representatives from within their own community to sit on the
panel.
In April 2002, the Department held community meetings at Batemans Bay, Nowra, Eden, Bega, Queanbeyan and
Wallaga Lake. A list of nominees for the negotiating panel was drawn up from those meetings.
The Department organised a meeting for 28 May 2002 to endorse the list of nominees that came out of the
community meetings. That meeting was postponed because of a funeral.
The Department organised another meeting for 24 June 2002 to seek endorsement of the representatives for the
negotiating panel. The people at that meeting endorsed the proposed representatives, subject to the Department
confirming the representatives for Wallaga Lake, Bega and Batemans Bay, with the relevant Local Aboriginal Land
Councils.
Appointment of the negotiating panel
The negotiating panel has now been appointed.
The 13 appointees are: Violet Parsons (Batemans Bay), Donna Brennan ( Batemans Bay ), Dave Tout (Moruya),
Mary Duroux (Moruya), John Dixon (Bega), Kathy Jones (Bega), BJ Cruse (Eden), Merv Penrith (Eden),
Vivienne Mason (Narooma), John Mumbler (Bodalla), Lionel Mongta (Bodalla), Pam Flanders (Wallaga Lake),
Ann Thomas (Wallaga Lake).
The Department of Aboriginal Affairs is currently in the process of developing a workshop to assist the panel
members to prepare for the negotiations. Further information on this will be passed on to the relevant stakeholders
in the near future.
Contacts
If you have any questions about the appointment of the negotiation panel, please contact Lindon Coombes at the
Department of Aboriginal Affairs on (02) 9290 8750.
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OFFICE OF THE REGISTRAR
Aboriginal Land Rights Act 1983
Level 5 – 83 Clarence Street SYDNEY NSW 2000 Ph (02) 9290 8700 Fax (02) 9290 8704
UPDATE ABOUT THE REGISTER OF ABORIGINAL OWNERS
What is the Register of Aboriginal Owners
The Register lists the names of Aboriginal people who have a cultural association with land, the
nature of the cultural association the person has with the land and the location of the land.
For your name to be entered in the register you must be an Aboriginal person who:
•
is directly descended from the original Aboriginal inhabitants of the cultural area in which
the land you have a cultural association with is located.
•
has a cultural association with the land that derives from the traditions, customs,
observances, beliefs and history of the original Aboriginal inhabitants of the land.
•
consented to your name being entered in the register.
Who works on the Register
Rachel Lenehan and Adam Black.
Why does the Office have to keep a Register of Aboriginal Owners
The Aboriginal Land Rights Act 1983 says that the Registrar must keep a Register of Aboriginal
Owners.
What is the relationship of the Register with the joint management of lands in NSW
People listed in the Register may be appointed by the Minister for the Environment to Boards of
Management to lands recognised as being of cultural significance to Aboriginal people. These lands are
listed on Schedule 14 of the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974.
Lands claimed by Local Aboriginal Land Councils and refused on the basis of nature conservation, known
as 36A lands may also become part of this process.
The title to these lands may be transferred to an Aboriginal Land Council and leased back to the Minister
for the Environment. The land is then jointly managed with the National Parks and Wildlife Service and
the Aboriginal owners.
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What is happening with entering people in the Register?
You put your request to enter the Register in awhile ago and you haven’t heard anything?
It takes some time to get all the information together that the Registrar needs to look at before
entering a person’s name in the Register. This information includes:
•
•
•
•
•
A signed and dated request form from you.
A signed and dated licence agreement from you.
A statement of your family history – this is generally in the form of a family tree.
A statement of your cultural area.
A statement of your cultural association.
In some instances people have given us all this information, but in most cases we are working
with you and people such as Steve Meredith and Brad Steadman (Mount Grenfell) and Sue
Wesson and Brian Egloff (Biamanga and Gulaga) to gather this information. If you have sent in
a request form, we have not forgotten about you, we are working on it, it just takes time. Please
call Adam or Rachel if you want to ask what is happening.
Staff from the Office of the Registrar
and Researchers in Canberra, March
2002.
From Left – Right: Brian Egloff, Nicolas
Petersen, Rachel Lenehan, Adam Black,
Sue Wesson, Jeremy Beckett, Kathryn
Gregson.
Front: Steve Wright and
Cheryl Kistan
Latest news
We have been working all year on getting
these ready to publish and send to you. Let us know if you would like a copy.
The Guide to the Aboriginal Ownership and Joint Management of Lands in NSW
A guide to the legislation that establishes the Register of Aboriginal
Owners, and the joint management scheme in New South Wales
The Mount Grenfell Aboriginal Owners
Research Report
The history and cultural association of the
Ngiyampaa people with the Mount Grenfell
Historic Site and their land, written by Jeremy
Beckett and Tamsin Donaldson with Brad
Steadman and Steve Meredith.
How to contact us
We don’t have an 1800 number so call us reverse charge on
Rachel 02 9290 8746 Adam 02 9290 8748 Reception 02 9290 8700
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Regional Managers Report
I’m writing this on one of the few days during the fire season for which it is too cold or
too wet for bush fires to burn. Its been a bad fire season already and at the moment
there’s nothing to say that things will get better over the next month or two.
In the last issue Preston Cope wrote about the Biamanga fire. Since then we’ve had more
fires, mainly in the north of the region. At the moment the NPWS, State Forests and the
Rural Fire Service are putting a huge amount of effort into fires in and around Deua
National Park.
If you haven’t seen many park staff around recently, fires is most likely the reason. Trisha,
for instance is trying to finish Coastal Custodians between shifts. Tomorrow she’ll have
the yellow gear on as she goes back to fire fighting duties, along with just about all of our
staff.
It’s great to see that the Gulaga/ Biamanga negotiating panel has been formed. It’ll take a
little bit of time for people to be ready for the negotiations, but we’re looking forward to
starting as soon as possible in the new year. Preston Cope and myself will be doing most
of the negotiations, with much help from Trisha Ellis and other NPWS staff.
Across the rest of the region, the major work going on is the development of a big cultural
heritage study for all of Bega Valley Shire. The work is going to be done by the
community, Bega Valley Shire and the NPWS. If anyone is interested in getting more
information, please call Marcus Sandford at our Merimbula Office.
Elsewhere, there’s some exciting cultural heritage work going on in Kosciuszko, for which
there is a separate article in this edition of Coastal Custodians. A number of coastal people
are involved in this work.
This is the last Coastal Custodians for the year, hopefully in this edition next we will be
able to say that Gulaga and Biamanga have been handed back to their rightful owners.
See you in the New Year.
Tim Shepherd
Regional Manager
Mountains of Meaning
The shores of Lake Jindabyne came alive on Sunday 24/11/02 with a family festival for
the International Year of Mountains 2002, Celebrating Mountains.
Snowy Mountains locals and visitors from far afield browsed stalls at the Family
Picnic Day selling a wide variety of arts and crafts with a great display of indigenous
art. A variety of entertainers including Dale Huddleston, captivated the crowds with
music, games and performance.
The Family Picnic Day was a great success with people coming from all over to
Celebrate Mountains. But the best of all was saved till last – just on dusk the skies lit
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up and the air thrummed with the sounds of didjerdoos as Bobby McLeod invited
people to gather for the Kaju Welcome Ceremony.
Caption: Dancers from Garrabarras, Doonooch and Brindabella Dreaming performed in the Kaju
Welcome on the shore of Lake Jindabyne at dusk on Sunday 24/11/02. Photo: Andrew Christie.
Following a formal welcome the Doonooch, Garrabarras and Brindabella Dreaming
dancers, under the artistic direction of Rhoda Roberts, took the 1000 strong crowd on a
spectacular journey. Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people Celebrated Mountains
together - in a way they have not been celebrated for many years. The previous evening
a special event was held at the Station Resort - probably the biggest gathering of
Aboriginal people in the mountains for more than 100 years.
Celebrating Mountains continued into the following week with an interdisciplinary
conference, covering the connections between tourism, heritage and science. When the
Celebrating Mountains conference concluded the plenary session delivered strong
messages for everyone with connections to mountains. The 260 registrants at the
conference unanimously agreed that cultural heritage values and the natural sciences
must be better integrated.
Paul McLeod and Pat Davison, both traditional owners of Monaro-Ngarigo country,
attended many sessions and they agree that, “Aboriginal people with connections to
mountains must be more involved in the management of country.” “Their knowledge of
values must be treated with respect and sensitivity.” Paul McLeod continued.
Almost all who attended referred to the intense human emotions that mountains inspire.
Virginia Logan
Program Coordinator
Australian Alps National Parks
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Kosciuszko Aboriginal Heritage Study
In November over 40 Aboriginal people and NPWS staff met up in Jindabyne to talk about
the future of Kosciuszko National Park. Monaro Ngarigo elders invited other elders up and
together they welcomed us to country. We then spent the day talking about the Aboriginal
Heritage Study and how people can get involved. The meeting decided to set up an interim
working group for the project, and came up with some clear messages. It was decided there
is a need for:
•
•
•
•
recognition, acknowledgement and celebrations of Aboriginal people’s connections to
Kosciuzko National Park;
strong Aboriginal involvement in looking after country;
more recording of history; and
opportunities for young people.
The meeting was a chance for many people to come back to country and catch up with
friends and relatives. Some of the kids also enjoyed an afternoon of art, weaving,
boomerang and spear throwing with NPWS Aboriginal Discovery Rangers.
What is the project about ?
In March this year, the NPWS started a review of the Plan of Management for Kosciuszko
National Park. The plan hasn’t been fully reviewed since 1982 and is very out of date. The
plan sets out how the park should be managed for the next 20 years. We want to make sure
that the new Plan of Management talks about what is important to Aboriginal people, and
ensures that Aboriginal people are directly involved in making decisions about their culture
and heritage within the park.
The Kosciuszko Aboriginal Heritage Study will be carried out over the next 12 months. We
will work in partnership with Aboriginal people to gain a better understanding of the cultural
values of Kosciuszko National Park, and talk about how we can work together to look after
these values for the future. These ideas can go into the new management plan for Park.
Getting involved
Meetings are only one way to get involved. We would also like to visit people to talk about
the project, and working with individuals and communities on different parts of the project.
We are also thinking about putting out a regular newsletter to keep everyone up to date.
Give us a call at NPWS if you’d like to find out more about the project and how you can get
involved:
Katharine Sale
Aboriginal Education Officer
Project Manager
Kosciuszko Aboriginal Heritage Snowy Mountains Region
Ph: (02) 64 505 631
Study
Plan of Management Review
Ph: (02) 61 249 007
Dean Freeman
Aboriginal Sites Officer
South West Slopes Region
Ph: (02) 69 477 066
Vanessa Mason
Aboriginal Sites Officer
Snowy Mountains Region
Ph: (02) 64 505 520
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