PANEL DISCUSSION- Caring for Country

Caring for Country” is a term often used to describe sustainable land management practices and initiatives led by First Nation Australians.

Kim Walmsley is a Wangerriburra and Mununjali woman, cultural worker, artist and member of the stolen generation. Her project Corroborate was part of recent Naidoc week exhibitions and resulting public artworks made with the Scenic Rim community. She is an experienced Visual Artist with a demonstrated history of working in the arts and crafts industry. Skilled in Visual Arts, Leadership, Painting, Strategic Planning, and Fine Art. Strong consulting professional graduated from University of Melbourne.

Kuweni Dias Mendis is a contemporary landscape artist born and raised in Sri Lanka. Her artistic process is unusual, driven by her desire to mark paper and fabric using ink, watercolour, pastels, bush dyes, leaves and stitching. She makes her own brushes from sticks and feathers, fronds and other plant materials and paints from leaves and inks sourced from the bushland environment. Her work is characterised by distinctive and raw mark-making that speaks to the power she draws from the earth. She is a finalist in the Queensland Regional Arts Awards which will tour Queensland 2020-2021.

Brendan Knight Leader of Mununjali Ngari traditional dance group, cultural heritage worker and board member of Minjella Dhagun. He is cultural advisor for Danggun Balun (Five Rivers) and a member of the Scenic Rim Arts Reference Group.

Judith Roland - President of Tamborine Mountain Landcare and founder of the Piccabeen Bookshop,which raises funds to assist in regeneration work. Judith is passionate about preserving our local flora and helping to create more habitat for wildlife.

Facilitator Bronwyn Davies