Australia Awards South and West Asia

World Environment Day—held on 5 June each year since 1973—is the largest global platform for environmental public outreach and is celebrated by millions of people across the world. Ahead of 5 June this year, Australia Awards scholars studying in Brisbane and Canberra took part in First Nations-led events that highlighted traditional Indigenous management of the local environment.

In Brisbane, Australia Awards scholars from South Asia and Mongolia were invited to undertake the Nyanda cultural tour at Nudgee Waterhole Reserve. The word ‘Nyanda’ stems from the Indigenous Yagara language and means waterhole or lagoon. The Nyanda cultural tour was led by Madonna Thomson, a member of the Jagera People, who is also a grand-niece of the late Senator Neville Bonner—the first Indigenous Australian to become a member of Australia’s Federal Parliament.

Madonna Thomson (third from left) educating scholars during the Nyanda cultural tour in Brisbane.

The tour started with a smoking ceremony and Welcome to Country. Madonna then shared her knowledge in bush food, including edible and medicinal native spices. The scholars had the opportunity to sample a tasting plate of seasonal bush tucker, such as finger limes, salt bush, lemon myrtle gum leaves, quandong, lilly pilly berries, and various native jams and marmalades. Bangladeshi scholar Taslima Shirin noted that one of the bush foods was similar to a vegetable in Bangladesh, and this initiated a culinary discussion among the group.

During the Nyanda cultural tour, the scholars learnt that the First Nations people had traditional ceremonial grounds, known as ‘bora’, close to waterholes. The participants also heard about the cultural significance of the Nudgee Bora and the history of the waterhole reserve. Given Australia’s status as the driest inhabited continent in the world, such water resources are vital. This resonates with the 2024 World Environment Day campaign’s focus on desertification, drought resilience and land restoration, under the theme of ‘Our land. Our future. We are #GenerationRestoration’.

Throughout the visit, Madonna helped the scholars increase their knowledge of Indigenous perspectives in land management. The tour ended with a discussion about loss and preservation of culture, and a demonstration of boomerang throwing.

Some of the scholars with Madonna Thomson (second from right) during the Nyanda cultural tour.

In Canberra, meanwhile, Australia Awards scholars from South Asia and Mongolia were offered the opportunity to participate in a Country walk at Wildbark, a new cultural centre in Canberra’s north-east. Wildbark serves as the gateway to a 1200-hectare sanctuary preserving the natural habitat of the area.

The Country walk was led by Richie Allan, a Ngunnawal Kamilaroi custodian who was born in Ngunnawal Country. Richie introduced the gathered scholars to the concept of Caring for Country, which refers to Indigenous people’s connection to—and management of—land, water, plants and animals.

The tour began at Gubur Dhaura, which is the Ngunnawal name for ‘ochre ground’. The elevated site gives a scenic panorama of all major mountains in the Gungahlin basin. Richie then took the scholars to a observe a ring tree. Such ring trees represent an ingenious navigational aid crafted by the Ngunnawal people. Through meticulous planning, young eucalyptus trees are identified and modified to serve as directional markers, their branches forming distinctive rings guiding travellers towards neighbouring communities. The ring trees underscore the Ngunnawal people’s spirit of adventure and reverence for the land.

Ngunnawal Cultural Knowledge Holder Richie Allan (centre) leading scholars during the Country Walk.

Throughout the tour, the scholars engaged in discussions and asked questions. “Programs like this are very important, because they give non-Indigenous people a chance to learn our culture and ways of living for thousands of years,” Richie said. Bangladeshi scholar Fariba Halim Aurin expressed her gratitude to Richie for generously sharing his wisdom and highlighting the vibrant, generations-spanning tapestry of Ngunnawal life.

Other participants were equally appreciative. “The tour was truly enlightening, offering a glimpse into the rich cultural heritage of the Ngunnawal people,” Sri Lankan scholar Mohamad Safras said. “Richie’s passionate storytelling brought to life the deep connection between his ancestors and the land, their intricate traditions, and the profound spiritual significance woven into every aspect of their way of life. It was a humbling reminder of the importance of preserving and celebrating the diverse Indigenous cultures that have shaped the nation.”

Scholars with Richie Allan (far left) in front of his artwork, Ngunnawal Dreaming at Wildbark.

Both events added to participating scholars’ Australia Awards experiences, increasing their understanding of and connection to Australia and Australians, as well as offering them a different perspective on the environment and a new lens through which to consider the necessity of land restoration.