UQ’s Heron Island Research Station (HIRS) recently hosted 8 Traditional Custodians from the Bailai, Gooreng Gooreng, Gurang and Taribelang Bunda Elders Council.
They were joined by a range of staff from HIRS, UQ’s Faculty of Science (FoS), Heron Island Resort, the Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS), and University of Sydney One Tree Island Research Station.
The 4 days, 25–28 July 2025, workshopped cultural awareness training and knowledge sharing. There were plenty of yarns around the table and out on the reef, with the aim to work closer together, learn Indigenous culture, learn from the reef and island, and learn from each other.
Day 1: Friday
The team started with a Welcome to Country by Uncle Colin, a Bailai Elder, followed by a Belonging Session led by Shae Lake (FoS Indigenous Engagement Manager), where every participant shared where they felt they most belonged in Australia (or overseas), utilising the Australian Aboriginal Languages Map. Then, the Station Manager, Dr Stuart Kininmonth, conducted a tour of both the station and resort surrounds.
Day 2: Saturday
The morning commenced with a Connection to Heron Island activity led by Associate Professor Chris Roelfsema (Academic Director HIRS), where each participant introduced their connection to Heron Island. Participants’ connection varied, from enjoying the birds in summer, to watching the reef go by while surfing over it, or connecting to students and research. Some mentioned memories of family visits, or reflected on Heron Island’s proximity to Gladstone, and some discussed the traditional sea country that owners have not been able to visit.
The rest of day was led by Uncle Shayne Blackman, delivering a Cultural Heritage Awareness session, where participants learned more about the Gladstone and Bundaberg’s Indigenous past, and the current challenges of local mobs. We finished the day with a reef walk, where we introduced the Elders and other guests to various reef creatures, and where the Elders were exposed the School of the Environment (SENV) citizen science program, Coral Watch.
Day 3: Sunday
This day focussed on knowledge sharing, interactively working in 4 groups. The sessions included:
- Where Are We Now?
Facilitated by Dr Stuart Kininmonth, HIRS Manager. - What is the Ideal and How Do We Get There?
Facilitated by Hannah Alan, AIMS Indigenous Partnerships Coordinator. - How do Projects Develop? And What are Research Protocols?
Facilitated by Uncle Bob Muir, Woppabara Elder, and AIMS Indigenous Partnership Coordinator.
We finished the day in the semi-submersible, glass-bottom boat, through which the Elders were able to see the reef underwater, which was a great experience.
Day 4: Monday
Rounding off the workshop, Shae and Chris led a session where each of the participants provided their reflection of the few days on Heron Island, noting some of the actions and where to go next.
With the help of Aunty Lois Blackman, and a whale that passed by, we identified a location where HIRS staff will create a yarning circle, providing a location for visitors of the station to talk, exchange knowledge and connect to each other and to country.
What’s next?
Actions include exploring Indigenous language being represented at the station, creating the yarning circle, an Indigenous-focussed volunteer program, building the Coral Watch Indigenous Program, and developing employment opportunities with local custodianship. It’s proposed that the event will be celebrated every year at Heron Island, and UQ staff and FNBGGGTB mob will work together to common goals to collaborate with focus on getting better connection between young and old and the reef.
The event was funded by the FoS to support Elders to participate in the event, HIRS provided accommodation and facilities, Heron Resort provided boat fares for Elders and semi-sub, the University of Sydney One Tree Island Research Station provided catering, and all participants – including the 8 Elders – provided their time and knowledge.
We connected deeply. During all the talking, emotions and laughter, we also sang, danced and had some great conversations beyond the tables and the classroom. This resulted in a very positive atmosphere, highlighting the need to connect with mob and country, and to take care of the reef and sea country.
