Moreton Bay Online

For the last episode, we circle all the way round to the foundation - the first people of Moreton Bay.

Cameron Costello is the CEO of the QYAC, who manage the Native Title rights of the Quandamooka People.

Cameron tells me a bit about Native Title, and clears up some major misconceptions. He also opens a window into the understanding of just what "culture" is, and shares insight into QYAC's priorities and vision for the future of Moreton Bay and our community.

Peter Downie is the program co-ordinator for SAILS at Bayside, who run kayak and sail days open to anyone, but they also partner with community groups to provide opportunities for people to access Moreton Bay who would be unlikely to otherwise - youth at risk, and refugees, for example. 

It's inspiring - and thought-provoking - to hear how small moments on Moreton Bay that many of us would take for granted may actually be a turning point in someone else's life.

John Page has spent spent a lifetime on Moreton Bay, following his father into life as a commercial fisher. He quite literally depends on what he observes and understands of life in the Bay.

John shared with me a bit of history around the local seafood industry, how our tastes have changed, and what he's seen in the Bay over the last few decades.

We also talked a little about what it's like to be a commercial fisher, and the misconceptions people have about wild-caught fishing in Moreton Bay.

Robbie Porter is the president of the Moreton Bay chapter of Ozfish Unlimited, who help millions of recreational fishers across Australia protect and preserve fish and fish habitat for the future.

Robbie talked to me about his time fishing in Moreton Bay since he was a young fella, and took me step by step through a really exciting partnership program that's going to improve the health of Moreton Bay far into the future - the shellfish reef restoration project.

Craig Wilson has worked in ports at the ends of Australia, and settled in Moreton Bay to become the Environment Manager for the Port of Brisbane.

He describes how our port differs from the others, and explains why the PoB invests so many resources into monitoring - and improving - the environment, for the benefit of all of the Moreton Bay Community.

Dr Kylie Pitt knew early that she would dedicate her life to understanding the world below the waves, but she never guessed she'd develop such a fascination for jellyfish - those unsung-heroes with a bad reputation.

Kylie talked to me about the jellies we see off the coast of SEQ, gives us a little background on the new Sea Jellies Illuminated exhibit at Sea World, and blows my mind with one particular ecosystem service that jellies provide (to our dinner!)

Penny Limbach and Kylie Roche, through Tangalooma EcoMarines, are inspiring hundreds of young people to save and protect Moreton Bay, and they're doing it with unbridled enthusiasm and hope.

Both experienced Moreton Bay for the first time as adults - they tell me how they fell in love with it, and how they created this young green family of stewards for the Bay.

Jen Conde is an artist and graphic designer who takes daily inspiration from the sights of Moreton Bay. Jen explains (to this non-artist!) how she sees the shapes and forms of the water; the rewards and challenges of expressing Moreton Bay in her unique way, and how she's seen things change in her time living by the Bayside.

Jen's delicious images on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/inkmodesign/

buy her seamless repeatable patterns: https://spoonflower.com/profiles/inkmo

Peter Ludlow has spent the last three decades in conversation with the people of Moreton Bay, keeping alive the knowledge of our post-settlement past.

We talked about Peter's journey as a local author and historian, and he shared some of his favourite stories and the mysteries still to be answered about Moreton Bay's past.

Cam Cotterell's Instagram account tells you he's an "ocean addict" - and his photos more than prove he comes as close to breathing salt water as you can without gills!

He's a fisher, spearfisher, diver, boatie, surfer, scientist and many other things besides. Take a listen to hear some of the amazing experiences Cam's had on and under the water here in Moreton Bay - he also gives us some thoughts on sharks, regulations, and the health of Moreton Bay.