FEDERAL Liberal MPs Greg Hunt and Senator Mitch Fifield went on a forest tour during a visit to the Grants Picnic Ground in Sherbrooke recently.
The pair visited after an invitation from Liberal backbencher Jason Wood and were taken through the forest by Murrundindi, the head man of the Wurundjeri Clan.
He taught them about things in the forest that could be used as food, medicine and utensils, and what Indigenous people used to use as shelter as well as how they tracked animals.
The program run by Murrundindi is supported by Kallista Primary School and the school’s students are often taken on excursions to the park to learn more about Indigenous people and their history.
Mr Wood said he had asked Senator Fifield and Mr Hunt, who is the Shadow Minister for Climate Action, Environment and Heritage, for funding and support to keep the project going permanently, for both Kallista Primary School and other schools in the area.
“I congratulate the Kallista Primary School for sponsoring this fantastic project with Murrundindi,” he said.
“Most people who walk into the forest don’t know what bush can be a medicine bush and what tree can be used for other purposes so Murrundindi really brings the bush to life so others can see what he sees.
“I think it would be great for tourism and great for the local area and my goal is to ensure we get the funding for it and put it right in the centre of Greg Hunt’s funding radar.”
Mr Hunt praised the project
“I won’t pre-empt any announcement but it is a fantastic project for kids, for the environment, for Indigenous understanding and culture,” he said.
“The children will learn to love, understand and care for the bush, learn about Indigenous culture and know that it’s not something that just happens in the Northern Territory, in the desert – it’s something that is part of our history and is still part of our lives.”
