Elder’s tears for Mt Warning as protesters gather to fight ban
An Indigenous elder has broken down in tears over moves to ban the public from tourist icon Mount Warning as protesters gather to fight the ban.
QLD News
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An Indigenous elder has broken down in tears over moves to ban the public from the tourist icon of Mount Warning.
The popular mountain, also known as Wollumbin, has been off limits since the start of the coronavirus pandemic through a series of “temporary” closures before the release of a bombshell NSW government report late last year which recommended closing the mountain to the public permanently because of its special significance to Indigenous people.
The recommendation, from a mysterious and largely anonymous committee known as the Wollumbin Consultative Group, has angered many, including some local indigenous groups who say their voices have not been heard.
About 100 climbing enthusiasts, nature lovers and concerned locals gathered for a rally at Murwillumbah on Saturday, with local Ngarakbal elder Elizabeth Boyd fighting back tears as she described the significance of the mountain to her people and how it should be open to all Australians.
“It’s a very emotional feeling today,” she said.
“I’m pretty upset at the moment.
“I’d like to see it reopened to the public so everybody can be welcomed to Mount Warning and enjoy it and see how beautiful it is.
“This place is so spiritual to me and I’m so connected to this place.
“It upsets me that they closed it because they didn’t notify me, they just went bull-headed and done it on their own.
“That’s really sad for me to see that but I hope to open the mountain to all the people so everybody can be happy.
“I hope and pray that our nation can come and be at peace instead of everybody arguing because that’s not going to get you anywhere in life.”
Rally organiser Marc Hendrickx called for an independent inquiry into the long-running saga, and implored the NSW government, Indigenous groups and other stakeholders to work together to find a solution which reopens the mountain while respecting Indigenous customs and values.
Tweed Mayor Chris Cherry was unable to attend the rally, but in a statement said she would continue to advocate for the mountain trail to be reopened.
“I believe there is a way forward whereby all in the community can enjoy access to the summit, while respecting the indigenous cultural values of this truly iconic site,” she said.
A Wollumbin Stakeholder Advisory Committee has been established with a view to trying to find a compromise for Indigenous values and the 100,000 visitors a year who travelled to the mountain each year before its closure.
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