Page 76 - Port Douglas Magazine 32

STEP INTO OUR WORLD
By the side of the cool rainforest stream river we stop
to add water to different coloured mineral clays to paint
our bodies. My amateurish efforts are a long way from
the elaborate body paint patterns used by the indigenous
people. Their designs hold significance, showing tribal
and family affiliations, with males and females even
having their own special markings.
Our guides illustrate and describe ancient techniques used
for hunting, housing, cooking and first aid developed
through time from the ‘beginning’. It strikes me that
the rainforest is like a gigantic green-leaved supermarket,
pharmacy and building supplier rolled into one

“a significant part of their
survival and underpinning
their culture, is about living as
one with nature.

My Dreamtime experience even teaches me philosophy.
Tom describes how the ‘wait a while’ is nature’s way of
saying ‘slow down’ as one has to unpick the barbs slowly
from its thorny clutches if you find yourself entangled.
These lessons have played an important part in their
survival and underpin their culture of living as one with
nature. Mother Nature is called ‘murrja murrja’, which
means ‘big boss’. “We must work in harmony with her,
and everything that we take from her must be done with
respect and thanks,” Tom politely reminds us. You cannot
help but feel some of our modern-day issues could use a
dose of this teaching and understanding.
One amazing tree the aboriginals use widely is the
Sassafras tree. Zayden shows us that by rubbing their
leaves with water, it creates a foamy lather that can be
used as a natural mosquito repellent, for bite and sting
relief, acne curer and wound healer. The sap from the
branches can be used also for muscle relief, adding to the
already impressive list of natural medical applications.
Tom tells us that it is even used for fishing! Apparently, by
dissolving the foam in a pool of water it deoxygenates the
water making the fish flounder on the surface. Our guides
are quick to step in and with earnest tones they stress
that even though one could take out handfuls of fish, it is
ingrained in them to only help themselves to what they
need. Once again, there’s that important reminder of
mindfulness and sustainability which echoes throughout
the walk.
As our wonderful tour comes to an end, we are offered
some traditional damper (a European term that refers
to bread made by the Aborigines for many thousands of
years) and a cup of tea, as our small group chats with ease.
I am pleased to hear Zayden’s training is going well and STEP INTO OUR WORLD
he will soon join the four other fully qualified tour guides COMPETITION
leading Dreamtime walks of his own. Though younger,
his enthusiasm shines and he is clearly proud to take the Two nights at Peppers Beach Club Port Douglas
opportunity to share his knowledge with us. Two passes to Mackay Coral Cay with Sailaway Port Douglas
As I leave Tom and Zayden, I am on a natural high. It Prize drawn every month
heartens me that the Centre’s traineeship program will
continue to educate these future leaders and storytellers. tourismportdouglas.com.au/win
Informative, inspiring, authentic, I have had a wonderful
morning and thoroughly enjoyed this humble experience.
I would highly recommend!

mossmangorge.com.au

76 tourismportdouglas.com.au