Country is calling and Our kids Are Answering

Out at Seven Emu Station on the Gulf of Carpentaria, something special happened between October and January. Four young people from the Borroloola community went to work on Country — harvesting, washing, drying, and hand-plucking Kulbanyi leaves as part of Seven Emu Station's Native Bush Management project. Around 100 kilograms of leaves were sustainably harvested, and every kilogram came with something you can't measure: pride, skill, and connection to Country.

The project wasn't just about bush products. It was about passing on traditional ecological knowledge — understanding seasonal cycles, the role of fire, and how to read Country so it stays healthy for generations to come. Youth worked up to 30 hours a week, learning time management, teamwork, and sustainable harvesting practices that Elders have held for thousands of years.

And the results speak for themselves. Two participants have already put their hands up for ongoing employment. The program is building real workforce pathways — grounded in culture, rooted in place.

What's got us most excited? Word is spreading. Frank shared it best: "Kids from Borroloola heard what we were doing and asked me, 'Uncle, can we come out too?'"

That says everything. This project is creating something rare — meaningful, on-Country work that young people actually want to be part of.

We're proud of what Seven Emu Station has built, and we're excited about what's coming next.