Baloon Cave visit and assessment, Carnarvon Gorge, Queensland. Fieldwork report, 7 February 2019

Abstract

On 2 January 2019 Dale Harding (Bidjara, Garingbal and Ghungalu peoples), who is a member of Griffith University’s Place, Evolution and Rock Art Heritage Unit (PERAHU) Indigenous Advisory Group, contacted PERAHU Director Professor Paul S.C. Taçon by email to inform him about fire damage to Baloon Cave, Carnarvon Gorge National Park, that occurred in December 2018. After a phone conversation later that evening and a series of emails, as well as conversations between Dale Harding and community members concerned about Baloon Cave, Professor Taçon was invited to visit the site by Dale Harding, Milton Lawton and other community members. After flying to Roma on 9 January, Taçon and Harding drove to Carnarvon Gorge where they were met by Fred Conway (senior Bidjara elder and Carnarvon Gorge National Park Ranger for over 30 years; see Figure 1), Milton Lawton (Bidjara), Darren McLeod (Garingbal) and Will Lawton (Bidjara; Milton’s youngest son). All members of the group are passionate about their heritage, especially the rock art sites but Fred (now 75 years of age), in particular, has been active much of his life in looking after his people’s rock art. As the Queensland Government states on its website for Carnarvon Gorge “Fred is an Indigenous Elder and tireless advocate for protecting Indigenous cultural sites, particularly the rock art sites in Carnarvon National Park in central west Queensland” (https://parks.des.qld.gov.au/parks/carnarvon-gorge/ranger.html). In 2014, he was given a ‘Queensland Great Award’ for his service. After introductions and a welcome to Country the group proceeded to Baloon Cave. Public access to the site was closed but permission had been obtained from Queensland Parks and Wildlife (QPWS) staff, some of whom we later met with on site, including Brett Roberts. This report focuses on the results of the visit including recommendations discussed in the field.