June 6th 2012 Wulgurukaba turtle art unveiling at Geoffrey Bay Elder, Arthur Johnson, from the Wulgurukaba clan - the Traditional Owners of Magnetic Island - has created a new public artwork for Magnetic Island. The turtle painting installation will be unveiled on Geoffrey Bay foreshore on Saturday 9th June at 2pm. “The artwork is about linking turtle sustainability and care with protection of the sand dune environment in which turtles lay their eggs” said Michael Johnson, Wulgurukaba spokesperson. “We are raising awareness about the importance of sand dunes and coastal ecosystems and letting people know that vehicles on dunes can damage the nesting environment.” Community volunteer group Geoffrey Bay Coastcare secured funding for the artwork by Traditional Owners through the Australian Government Caring For Our Country program. “A flatback turtle nest hatched at Geoffrey Bay in 2009” said Coastcare member Tony O’Malley. “Rainbow bee-eaters also burrow in the dunes, red-tailed black cockatoos feed on she-oak seeds, and coral and seagrass fringe the bay, so it’s a natural paradise we want to look after, and Arthur Johnson’s painting promotes that.” Photo courtesy of Vandhana To add your comment, or read those of others, see below

Wulgurukaba turtle art unveiling at Geoffrey Bay

4 comments

brooke June 5th 2012

It will be lovely to see art work from Traditional Owners of Magnetic Island. It would be nice to see a lot more of it. Aboriginal history on this island is strong and it would be nice to have more artwork around.

Sylvia June 5th 2012

Good on you, Arthur, and well done Vandhana for your support of this event.

Libby Illidge June 6th 2012

Thank you Arthur, for sharing your knowledge about Magnetic Island with us, through your art. We appreciate it.

Liz Gallie June 6th 2012

It's wownderful to see strong partnerships being forged with Traditional Owners in conservation efforts to achieve positive environmental outcomes such as this. I will make a special trip to Magnetic Island to see the site and Arthur Johnson's artwork. Tony O'Malley is tireless in his committment to the natural environmnet wherever he is so I imagine he has been as much an inspiration to those who have worked with him on Magnetic Island as he is to those who know and work with him at Mission Beach.