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 Quandamooka Yoolaburrabee Aboriginal Corporation (QYAC) who manage the Native Title rights of the Quandamooka People.

It's a longer episode, but not long enough to ask all the things I want to understand about Quandamooka and the deep, diverse, ongoing, and evolving relationships present in his community have with Moreton Bay! 

Cameron tells me a bit about the Native Title determination, and  clears up some misconceptions that still persist about what Native Title means for both Quandamooka people and we other folk who live here and love it. He also opens a fascinating window into the understanding of just what a "culture" is, and shares QYACs priorities and visions for a healthy Moreton Bay and community. 

Visit QYAC's website and Facebook to find out more about what they're up to, including what's in store at the Quandamooka Festival this year. Also, check out the podcast blog post (if you've got the time - it's a long one!) which was inspired by this episode. 

Peter Downie is the program co-ordinator for SAILS at Bayside - a community outreach program of the Anglican church that takes people out on the waters of Moreton Bay. They have a public program that's open to anyone, but they also partner with other community groups to provide opportunities for people who would be unlikely to have the access 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.

This episode runs a little bit longer, because the world needs more stories of humans and the environment that warm the heart!

Join me on the blog for a few thoughts on why diversity and inclusion are so important to conservation, and to our community coastal capacity.

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 (he's also currently the Dep. Environment Rep for the Moreton Bay Seafood Industry Association), how our tastes have changed, and what changes 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 how people respond to commercial operators - both on the water and when they are your next-door neighbour! 

Check the blog for more on commercial fishing, and what wild-caught fishers offer our community (PS - it's not just fish!)

Robbie Porter is the president of the Moreton Bay chapter of Ozfish Unlimited - a not-for-profit organisation with the explicit goal of helping the millions of recreational fishers across Australia achieve their goal of protecting and preserving 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 we talked a little about recreational fishing practice, and how we can create a beneficial rec fishing culture, leading by example.

He also 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. Why are these reefs going to make such a huge impact? Listen to find out.

Find out more about the project and how you can help at the Ozfish site and on the blog for this episode.

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. 

Find out more about Port of Brisbane's community engagement and environmental monitoring activities at their website, or follow them on Twitter.

Check in with the Moreton Bay Online blog for a follow up on Corporate Social Responsibility, a primer on why sediment from our neighbours has such a marked impact on the health of Moreton Bay, and a list of groups you can get involved with to help out!

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 her journey to becoming an expert on the jellies we see off the coast of Southeast Queensland, 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!) 

Follow Kylie on Twitter, and don't forget to check out the Sea Jellies Illuminated exhibit at Sea World Gold Coast.

A little more info on jellies, on the blog!

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. 

Pop on over to their website to check out all the Ecomarines programs, events and news, or find online training materials for the youngster in your life (or yourself!). Psstt - you can also support them by making a donation or even becoming a sponsor.

They're also on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and Twitter. 

Don't forget to check out the Moreton Bay Science blog for this episode.

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.

Take a look at some of Jen's delicious images on Instagram, or find her seamless repeatable patterns to buy and use for yourself (hooray accessibility!) on Spoonflower. 

You can find out more about the Moreton Bay species ID app we mentioned at the Qld Museum site, or download on Google Play or the Apple Store.

Don't forget to check out the blog for this episode, where I discuss the power of art to inspire our attention, appreciation, and action for place.

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.

Peter's journey to historian of Moreton Bay people and families started with one interesting tale, and continued as people contributed their own stories to add threads to a great, rich tapestry. 

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.

Follow Peter's blog at www.moretonbayhistory.com and don't forget to pop into the Moreton Bay Online blog for a few extra thoughts about why people and the environment should never be considered as two separate factors in our planning.

Cam Cotterell's Instagram account tells you he's an "ocean addict" - and his photos 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.

Apologies for the audio on this one, but stick with it, it's worthwhile. And DO zip over to the blog for this episode because Cam shared some images and videos, and you'll want to see them!