23rd August 2012
Dreamtime in Northern Queensland rainforest
At 135 million years, the Daintree Rainforest is the oldest rainforest on earth. The Yalanji people have lived there for around 40,000 years. I was invited to visit the new indigenous eco-tourism development at Mossman Gorge, just north of Cairns, a week after it opened. Our local guide, Harold, was a mine of information as he took us on a “Dreamtime Walk” through the gorge, describing how his people used native plants for food, medicine and art.
We were also able to meet the local community leaders behind the project, including Roy Gibson and Michael Friday, CEO of Jabalbina Aboriginal Corporation. Frankie Deemal, a nationally recognised figure, was also present. The new centre is not just a tourist facility and generator of indigenous employment, it also includes a hospitality training centre for indigenous students, two of whom –Torres Straits Islanders Amber and Gabriel – showed us round. Our excellent British Honorary Consul in Cairns, John McIntyre, has been closely involved with the project through his day job at the Balkanu Cape York Development Corporation.
We also attended a celebration of the 25th anniversary of James Cook University’s Cairns Campus, and afterwards had a private dinner with the Chancellor and Vice Chancellor. James Cook has the highest number of indigenous students of any Australian University. It plays to its strengths as a “Tropical University”, with campuses in Cairns, Townsville and Singapore, and world class research programmes in tropical issues, including collaboration with Liverpool University’s School of Tropical Medicines.
In a discussion with the Mayor of Cairns and business representatives we talked about some of the challenges and opportunities for the tourist industry, which generates around $2 billion for the Cairns economy each year, but has been adversely impacted by the strong dollar. British tourists make up the 3rd largest group of international visitors, particularly backpackers, so as Hon Consul John is kept busy helping Brits who run into difficulties. Our local interlocutors were looking forward to hosting the G20 Finance Ministers meeting in 2014. We took the opportunity to check-out the impressive Convention Centre, where that meeting will take place.