SOME KEY ACHIEVEMENTS
Since 1996 Girringun has made an extensive contribution to government, non-government and community groups. Some of its achievements are listed below.
- the official renaming to Girringun National Park from Lumholtz National Park in 2004 (QPWS) ...more information.
- The building of an interpretive centre and memorial at the Hull River Aboriginal Settlement site at Mission Beach. The centre has won a Qld design and art award.
- Establishment and development of the Regional Aboriginal Language Management Committee (RALMC) for 2002-6.
- The establishment of an Indigenous Saltwater Ranger Unit (CIRU) through partnerships with QPWS and GBRMPA, based in Cardwell.
- Establishment of Fishers Creek Outstation in 2000 and now caretaken by a traditional owner (EPA & Cardwell Shire Council).
- Facilitated the purchase of two properties (Mungulla and Badjubulla) from the ILC for a number of our groups.
- The completion and opening (2004) of our whole of community Education, Training and Cultural Centre (skills centre) built on Girringun’s land in Cardwell. An Aboriginal Keeping Place and Museum has been incorporated into the centre and is open to the public and used as a venue for teaching youth about cultural issues and language.
- TUMRA (Traditional Use Marine Resources Agreement) established a formal agreement between Saltwater Traditional Owners GBRMPA (Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority) and QPWS (Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service) and how collectively Traditional Owners manage traditional take of turtles and dugong.
In Addition:
- Girringun provides professional advice and direction across a full range of issues where traditional owner protocols, processes and services are required by government agencies, local councils and communities.
- Girringun employs professional and experienced staff who can effectively work within a cross-cultural environment with the mandate to negotiate on behalf of nine tribal groups across a large regional area.
- Girringun substantially raised the profile of Girringun and the work it does with government internationally by participating in a recent UNESCO workshop that highlighted the importance of cultural diversity and cultural mapping.
- And Girringun has been involved in many other successful activities too numerous to list.