from the desk of catherine, south coast enviro-experiences.
One of Bush Heritage Australia’s protected reserves, Red Moort Field Station, was the base for an amazing group of local Noongar Yorga to gather for their latest Bush Camp. We met for a healthy lunch and then joined Bush Heritage Australia’s South West Ecologist, Sarah Comer, and Fitz-Sterling Reserves Manager, Heather Barnes, for a bush walk around the reserve to learn about the conservation work and field research that has been undertaken over the last decade. The women marvelled at the once cleared and altered landscape that has now been restored, providing much needed habitat for honey possums and the black-gloved and tammar wallabies, the threatened malleefowl and the recently discovered mallee eucalypt.
We were lucky enough to see a huge malleefowl mound and learn how these vulnerable birds create and maintain their nests. Cultural stories were shared of how the melaleuca flourishing in the reserve once provided shelter and roofing for mia-mias. Everyone got a chance to create some artwork, relax and yarn before a hearty home-cooked meal and a spotlighting walk to look and listen out for wildlife. A morning walk on the beautiful Bremer Bay main beach was followed by a foraging activity to find bush tucker and plant-based beauty products for an afternoon of pampering and Noongar language lessons.
The Kambarang bush camp was a wonderful opportunity for the women to escape the stress of everyday life and connect with their Country and sisters. Thank you for the collaborative team of organisers (Bush Heritage Australia, Department of Biodiversity and Conservation, Great Southern Aboriginal Health Services, Palmerston Association and South Coast Enviro-Experiences) who delivered this amazing experience.
The South Coast Enviro-Experiences team is helping to support not-for-profit groups and increase environmental volunteering. If you would like to find out how you too can connect with Country through environmental volunteering, head to the South Coast Enviro Experiences volunteer web platform and register so you can see the many amazing volunteering activities across the South Coast. Click here to sign up and find out more:
The South Coast Enviro-Experiences project is supported by Lotterywest.
