Bush tucker and coral in Darwin

The three green ants.

(Industry/Government, Aboriginal People and Aboriginal Bush Traders)

are working together towards creating a secure and sustainable

economic future(The nest) for Aboriginal People.

The logo features the racik (cross hatch) which is typically found in Top End cultural art ,

signifying our regional interest.

You can’t build a strong nest without working together.

So our focus is on creating strong partnerships with all stakeholders

to ensure objectives are met.

We had breakfast yesterday morning at the Aboriginal Bush Trader’s Cafe in the CBD in the historical Lyons Cottage. It was Darwin’s first stone residence, having been built in 1925 to house executives from the British Australia Telegraph company. The cottage survived the Darwin bombing during WW11. The US army also occupied it for a while at that time. In 1974 the cottage sustained some damage from Cyclone Tracy, which was repaired. The cottage was heritage listed.

Housed in the cottage is also a gallery and a shop showcasing authentic and ethically sourced Indigenous products – art, gifts, clothing, bush food products, bush medicines and homewares.

Having enjoyed a leisurely breakfast and coffee in the garden, we set off to look for Darwin’s Marine Discovery Centre. We had both noticed it whilst driving around the other day. Fortunately it was not hard to find. Located right next to the Darwin Water Front, the facility itself is rather jaded. However, the proprietors are passionate and keen to showcase Darwin’s marine life. Housed in the main entrance to the various displays is a rock pool of Darwin’s coral life. The water is crystal clear. The large pool contains a living coral reef ecosystem. Specimens have been sourced from the Darwin Harbour. What is fascinating about this display, apart from the many unique and beautiful corals and fish, is that the crystal clear water has not been changed in the whole of its 24 year existence. The evaporated salt water is replaced by rain water, as it is in nature, thus retaining the original salinity levels. It is a self sustaining environment with the sea life feeding on plankton. Did you know that different species of corals are awake and feeding during the day than at night ? The delicate fronds of the live coral wave gently in the soft flow of the water as the fish lazily swim in and through them.

One of the other fascinating things about coral is that they synchronise their spawning. ALL of them spawn on the same night, at the same time, under the full moon. Not just in Darwin. Everywhere. One giant orgy of corals releasing eggs and sperm into the sea. And amazingly, each species finds its own as they pair. How cool is that!