Tourism award for Murujuga Aboriginal Corporation

By PETER ROWE

The Murujuga Aboriginal Corporation is celebrating winning bronze in the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Tourism Experiences category at the Perth Airport WA Tourism Awards.

The MAC Ranger team worked closely to provide high-quality, authentic cultural tourism experiences while accomplishing many other activities that preserve and protect Murujuga country, culture and heritage.

Ranger manager Peter Cooper said that the award resulted from all of MAC – its members, Elders and staff – contributing their knowledge and support.

In October Rangers Sarah Hicks and Jade Churnside participated in WA’s longest running turtle tagging program, which takes place annually on Rosemary Island, Murujuga (Dampier Archipelago).

The island supports a globally-significant population of critically endangered hawksbill turtles.

Sarah said she learned how to tag the turtles and how light pollution affects them.

Rangers Sarah Hicks participated in WA’s longest running turtle tagging program.

“I was amazed by how strong they are, and how quickly they move to the water,” she said.

“It was very cool to see hatchlings. One night we saw 145 hatchlings come out of one nest!”

The program, started by volunteers in 1986, has been run by the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions since 2002, with the DBCA staff and volunteers following approved animal ethics protocols to monitor and tag nesting females on the beaches for two weeks.