NIDR Gathering 2024

The NIDR Gathering will be a multi-day, immersive event showcasing Indigenous leadership and excellence in disaster resilience, emergency management, community recovery and Caring for Country.

This unique gathering will bring together representatives from disaster resilience and emergency management sectors, government, researchers, non-government organisations, Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations, Indigenous ranger groups, Native Title groups, and other land and water management organisations to build awareness, share knowledge, connect, and support an Indigenous-led conversation on disaster resilience. 

Across the three days guests will be invited to join keynote addresses, panel discussions, workshops and have the option of participating in on Country activities.

On Country Activities  

On Wednesday 25 September attendees will have the option of choosing an on Country activity. This is an optional add on to the standard program.

Tour 1 – Explore Byron Bay Tour - Walgun (Cape Byron) - Cost $100 per person

Visit Byron Bay for a swim or shop before learning about the Arakwal people. For those who are interested in learning about local Indigenous History or are visitors to the area for the first time wishing to explore and swim in Byron Bay.

Led by Delta Kay as part of Explore Byron Bay Tours

• 9:15am pick up Showgrounds / 9:30 pick up Resilient Lismore -215 Keen Street
• Limited to 55 people
• First stop is Byron Bay Main Beach for a walk on the beach or wander through the Byron Bay main precinct, participants will be able to purchase morning tea and lunch at their own leisure.
• 12:30 hop on the bus to drive out to the Pass to meet Delta
• Afternoon tea is provided as part of the tour
• Return 4pm

Walgun (Cape Byron)

Touring into the heart of Byron Bay, guests will be dropped off into the precinct so they can enjoy either the beach or go shopping for local products, immersing themselves into Arakwal Country as we know it in 2024. The town is a popular tourism destination and the coastline a 'must see'. Jumping back on the bus to venture to The Pass to meet up with local tourism operator, Delta Kay, on this tour, guests are taken on an easy walk while learning about significant places and hearing local history and traditional stories. 

Highlights include the story of Nguthungalli (Julian Rocks), information about Walgun (Cape Byron) and the thousand-year-old midden. There are also opportunities to learn some Bundjalung language, bush food, natural medicine, tools, weapons and artefacts. 

At the end of the tour, guests enjoy tasting some delicious bush tucker foods and have a nice cup of bush tea and a biscuit.

Tour 2 – Dorrobbee Grass - Cost $70 per person

For those interested in learning about cultural burning practices.

• 9:30am pickup at Lismore Showgrounds
• Limited 24 people
• Picnic Morning Tea and Lunch provided
• Return 2pm

The Dorrobbee Grass Reserve - morning tea or afternoon tea

Explore the enchanting Dorrobbee Grass Reserve, located at the junction of Dunoon Road and Fraser Road, just north of Dunoon village. This crown land reserve, managed by the Dorrobbee Grass Reserve Trust in partnership with the Ngulingah Aboriginal Land Council, is one of the Northern Rivers' best-preserved stands of Kangaroo Grass (Themeda australis). It offers a unique opportunity to delve into the region's cultural heritage, as traditional Aboriginal gathering areas and travel routes now serve as crucial habitats for rare and culturally significant species.

Join us for an immersive experience, where you’ll learn about traditional Aboriginal practices, including cultural burnings, with guidance from Oli Costello, Executive Director, Jagun Alliance. The reserve not only showcases remarkable biodiversity but also provides a window into the land’s deep cultural roots.

Tour 3 - Rocky Creek Dam with Rous County Council Water - Cost $60

For those interested in Bird watching, walking, habitat restoration and water security

• 10:00am pickup at Lismore Showgrounds
• Limited to 22 people
• Picnic Morning Tea and Lunch provided
• Talk by Rous County Council at Rocky Creek Dam
• Return 2.30pm

Rocky Creek Dam

Patient nature lovers may spot a platypus at Rocky Creek Dam. The dam wall is 27 metres high, 187 metres above sea level and, when full, the dam holds 14,000 mega litres of water. The 29 square kilometres of catchment area includes sections of Nightcap National Park, Whian Whian Conservation Area and revegetated farmland.

The dam has a platypus viewing platform and an elevated boardwalk. There are picnic and barbecue facilities with wood supplied, benches, tables and children's play equipment.

Four walks are available, and guests choose their own adventure, ranging from 1.2 kilometres (20 minutes) to six kilometres (two hours) in length. Water Dragon Walk takes you up the hill to the lookout. Platypus Walk goes alongside Rocky Creek and back across the dam wall. Cedar Walk takes you towards the edges of the Rous Water Rainforest Reserve. Scrub Turkey Walk passes through tall a variety of forest environments.

Guests will have morning tea together.

We will be hosted on this visit by Rous County Council Water staff who speak about the dam and it’s catchment and recent challenges during extreme climate events, view the results of Rous’ 40 years of rainforest regeneration at the site, and learn about Rous’ Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan.

 You will also be given a packed picnic lunch to eat on your walk.

Tour 4 – Lismore Floodplain and the CBD - Cost $30 per person

Led by Resilient Lismore-Elly Bird, this tour is perfect for those eager to understand the flood’s impact, connect with Lismore’s river story, and support the local economy.

• Two options: 9.30am Showgrounds and 11:30am Showgrounds
• Bus return to Showground from CBD either 1:30pm or 3:00pm

Discover Lismore’s Resilience: A Thrilling 1.5-Hour Flood Impact Tour

Embark on an eye-opening adventure through Lismore on this 1.5-hour trip, where you'll delve into the dramatic heights of the recent floods and their impact on this resilient community. Guided by the insightful Elly Bird, you’ll traverse key locations, witnessing firsthand the aftermath of the floods and the stories etched into the city's landscape.

Once you’ve soaked up the stories and sights, enjoy some well-deserved free time to explore Lismore’s vibrant shopping scene. A detailed map will be provided, highlighting fantastic spots for shopping, dining, and discovering local treasures.

Don’t miss this opportunity to experience the heart of Lismore and its incredible journey through recovery.

Tour 5 – Cultural Landscapes of the Ballina Area - Cost $80 per person

Led by Uncle Marcus Ferguson, this tour will interest people who want to better understand active cultural landscapes in the Ballina area.

• Pick up at 8:30am Showgrounds and 8:45 Resilient Lismore
• Limited to 55 people
• Morning tea and lunch provided
• Return 3pm

Join Uncle Marcus Ferguson, a local Nyangbal man (Ballina / Lower Richmond) of the Bundjalung nation as he shares with you the stories, customs and history of his people in the local area. Uncle Marcus has a special affiliation with the Lower Richmond River particularly around Bingal Creek.

Marcus will share his over 30-year knowledge about cultural landscapes identifying culture assets in the landscape. This will help you gain a better understanding of what cultural active landscapes mean in a modern world. Marcus has led tours for years passionately sharing his history and stories from his Country.

The tour begins at Lennox Head, Lake Ainsworth and travels south stopping at Sharpes Beach, Angel’s Beach finishing up at Shaw’s Bay for a barbeque lunch and swim.

 Workshop - Silk Scarf Making with Norton Fredericks - $90 per person/per session

Discover Art & Sustainability with Norton Fredericks! 

• Location Lismore Showgrounds
• Two sessions - 9:00am-12:00pm and 1:00pm-4:00pm
• Limited to 25 people per session
• All materials provided
• Morning and afternoon tea provided

Join Norton Fredericks, a talented queer visual artist and workshop facilitator with a rich background in European and Aboriginal Australian heritage, for an engaging workshop that merges art, science, and environmental care.

Norton, who lives on Kombumerri Country, Gold Coast, explores the intersection of environmental sustainability, queer ecologies, and First Nations knowledge in their work. They use historical techniques and modern practices to create site-specific art that deeply considers natural materials and their environmental impact.

In this workshop participants will learn how to bundle dye a silk scarf using earth pigments as a mordant and local Australian native plants for dye. You will also learn how to botanically print on paper. While these bundles cook in the dyepot, Norton will lead the group through a drawing activity using charcoal.

Norton’s unique approach is influenced by their business, Retritus, which focuses on recycling and regenerating materials to create nutrient-rich cloth that nurtures both the environment and the soul.

Don’t miss this opportunity to explore sustainable art practices and deepen your connection to the natural world!

Accommodation 

On-site accommodation is available at the Lismore Showgrounds for an additional cost to the Full Gathering Ticket. 

On-site accommodation includes: 

• Tent with a single mattress, pillow and sleeping bag. 
• Continental and self serve cooked breakfast 
• Light meal upon arrival Monday night
• Camp Warden on-site

There are a couple of accommodation options we would suggest locally:

AZA Motel is in the heart of Lismore CBD and has been locally owned by the Volpato family since opening in 1971. Catering to visiting sporting groups and travellers alike.

Invercauld House just outside of Lismore is Invercauld House, which is in a beautiful setting in amongst the gum trees. 

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community members who would like to attend the NIDR Gathering but don't have the financial means, please email NIDR@monash.edu 

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