First Nations Telegraph

Being granted a permanent home base in St George is a game changer for the Queensland Murray Darling Catchment Ltd (QMDCL), enabling the group to better care for country and bring its community together to strengthen culture.

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QMDCL represents eight Traditional Owner groups and cares for 101,177 km2 of country across the nationally significant Northern Murray-Darling Basin catchment in Queensland. 

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The group has been granted new premises in St George by the Indigenous Land and Sea Corporation (ILSC), a corporate Commonwealth entity which acquires and returns country for the benefit of Indigenous Australians.

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The property includes a workshop-sized shed, camp kitchen, ablution blocks and basic accommodation, with plans to build an outdoor area for a yarning circle and new training facilities.

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The new home base will enable the group to run its successful ranger program more efficiently, as well as several programs including a youth engagement program.

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“Having a central hub where our Elders and young people can come together is so important for us and enables our Elders to pass down their cultural knowledge and practices,” said QMDCL CEO Chandel Eyre.

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“It’s also really important for our young people to see our rangers at work, to understand what they do and have pride in the role we all play in caring for country, so they have something to aspire to.

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“Having this property will enable us to expand our programs and services, apply for grants to run more programs and to work with both government and non-government agencies collaboratively on projects to benefit the community.”