Margie Maccoll
A group of First Nations people led by Djinang Marangu elder Don Weluk travelled 3800km from the remote Maningrida area of north east Arnhem Land to speak for the Glasshouse Mountains, a site of cultural and spiritual importance to the Kabi Kabi and Jinibara communities.
On Tuesday the Maningrida men performed traditional dances including their Black Crow dance at Noosa Junction in front of Noosa FM Radio before Don spoke to a crowd of onlookers about their journey, culture and artwork.
A friend of the group, Michael, from Katherine, said the journey followed a Noosa FM Radio conversation with radio presenter Sibylle about the Glasshouse Mountains, a development application to expand the Hanson Glasshouse Quarry and the viewing by Don of a photo of the mountains.
Don saw a picture of land in Queensland where there was a large man-made cutting in to the base of a beautiful tall standing rock and he was shocked, Michael said.
“That land him crying, yelling out,“ Don said.
“You welcome us to come and speak for that rock. I have rock too in my country, sacred rock.“
“We want to sing for this rock. We’re going to come.“
Don spoke to the crowd about the educational messages relayed through his artwork that are inspired by ancestral stories and passed on through the generations.
Also included in their group was Jungai, who he described as a great leader and carer of sacred sites. “He the most important fella, that look after sacred sites,“ Don said.
The group was welcomed to the area by a First Nations representative and Noosa Mayor Frank Wilkie.
“On behalf of the Noosa community we’d like to say thank you to you Don and your colleagues for coming all this way from Arnhem Land to share your songs, your stories because you felt you wanted to help us,“ Cr Wilkie said. “Through your songs and your arts you’re giving us the opportunity to be healed. We honour your intention and thank you for being here.“
The proposed quarry expansion has led to the establishment of a community group opposed to the plan.
For more information visit the Facebook group, Save Our Glass House Mountains.
