Elder John Jones: Fraser Island - Media Watch Page 1 of 2 _

Photo left: From the Gympie Times newspaper, 18 Nov '03
Island standoff - Half-price passes lead hostilities in Fraser Island battle.
Highlighted in this newspaper article was the ongoing frustrations which the Indigenous owners of Fraser Island have had with their trustees, the Queensland Parks & Wildlife Service (QPWS).
The QPWS continue to say that IndigePasses are illegal.

Our notes:
Many people believe that Fraser Island is government land as it has been made a national park, is World Heritage Listed, and is managed (also mismanaged) by QPWS
Fraser Island is owned by the Dalungbara, Batchala and Ngulungbara Aboriginal Peoples through possessory title under common law.
QPWS have severely abused their trusteeship towards the owners.
QPWS have not explained yet why they say IndigePasses are illegal.

Photo right: From the Gympie Times newspaper, 19 Nov '03
Fraser Island pass furore accelerates
"at a glance"
c IndigePass manager kicked off island.
c Police probe vandalism claims at Dilli Village
c QPWS warns against purchasing IndigePasses

Our notes:
On Mon night 18th Nov 2003, our Rainbow Beach Manager Mr. Lyall Sempf, was, what the QPWS and police explain as, 'evicted from off Fraser Island to the mainland at Hervey Bay.
Our manager was quickly put in the back of a police wagon, was not allowed to make a phone call, was not asked if he required any medication or other personal items to take with him.
Fortunately one of our Ngulungbara Aboriginal families came to the rescue of Mr Sempf at Hervey Bay to provide him with accommodation for the rest of the night.

Mr Sempf is one of our managers, and to be 'evicted' by our trustee (the QPWS), from off of our land, constitutes a most serious offence under international law,being those laws under the UNESCO World Heritage Commission and the UN Human Rights Commission.
Mr Sempf was unable to complete preparing our huts yet at the Dalungbara Cultural Centre in readiness for our People to use them.

Photo left: From the Cooloola Avertiser, 20 Jan '04
On the 'Legends, scandal and spies' page, reading:

In The Tracks of a Rainbow
Author: Robin Wells
Illustrated: by David Jones
Selfpublished
RRP $42
In the Tracks of a Rainbow: Indigenous Culture and and Legends of the Sunshine Coast ........ etc. ...

... ... The book is available at Lawford's ABC Bookshop, Noosa Junction; Noosa's Mary Ryan Bookshop; Kawana and Caloundra's Angus and Robertson Boolstores; and Books of Buderim.

Photo right: From the Gympie Times newspaper, 4 Feb '04
Rain fails to dampen day of learning
WELCOME: Imrin Appo (left) and John Dalungdalee Jones play music to welcome Member for Gympie Elisa Roberts who has been painted in Dalungbara colours of brown and yellow.

INCLEMENT weather may have stopped a display of traditional fishing at Inskip Point yesterday but none-the-less the rest of the show wet on.
John Dalungdalee Jones, Lyall Sempf, Bruce and Brian Little and Imrin Appo from the Dalungbara Aboriginal People had planed the day as a "form of education" for interested persons.
"We never relinquished our rights to net fishing - ever," Mr Jones said.
......
Ms Roberts has been asked to be the patron for the Waarvah Program through the Peirson Family Support Service.

Story by Christine Harch