Page 26 - PGA Community News- March '22

Page 26, PGA C.A.N.! March 2022 March 2022

Kakadu And Arnhem Land from page 25

Twin Falls in Kakadu National Park

in an overland river, as the dry season begins when the Jabiru is “the” major
water is not replenished. As the flood plain begins to town in Kakadu Park.
dry, large areas of water are trapped, forming ponds and Located at the border
lakes that the Australians call “billabongs.” Yellow River of Arnhem Land, it was
billabong is the largest in the park. Here is where the constructed to supply
crocs and waterbirds gather as the dry season continues housing to the foreign
to evaporate the water from the billabongs. workers who came to work
Almost 500 square kilometers are tied up in the tidal the Ranger uranium mine.
and coastal flats on the northern tip of the peninsula. This facility has greatly
Mangrove forests that run through this area are ideal for slowed its production
fish breeding, especially the barramundi, which is the because of the cost to
staple fish of the Aborigine. This water-intensive habitat extract and supply the ore The Gagudju Crocodile Hotel
is internationally recognized as being significant for from this location and the
migratory birds. plunging price for uranium ore. Long before the mine knowledge has been handed down to them in Dreamtime.
Arnhem Land, named after the Dutch ship Arnhem work was even started, the Aborigine knew the area They know that the appearance of certain butterflies,
that explored the territory in 1623, is today the northern around the mine as the “sick place.” It is suspected that, grasshoppers, worms and other insects – and certain
homeland of the Aborigine. Its borders have been over the millennia, low levels of radiation may have colors of plants – signify specific consequences in terms
established and a permit, issued by the Aboriginal clan, affected parts of the population, creating this omen over of weather. We could only wish that our meteorologists
is required to visit and travel over the land. Joint tribal the land. were that accurate.
authorities manage the land, attempting to keep it in its Arnhem Land exists today without hard surface Throughout the ages they have used fire and controlled
natural condition. Even when the Gagudju Crocodile roads, power distribution, water and other elements of burning. It is a part of their way of life. Quoting Big Bill
Hotel was built on the border of Arnhem Land, the tribal a civilization as we know them; however, this is not a Neidjie, Bunitj Clan elder:
council dictated its design. The first order was that it be deterrent to the people. They continue to live as their
no higher than the surrounding trees; this was no problem. ancestors did – off the land and protected from nature in The earth, I never damage.
However the floor plan generated unique requirements. the caves of the area of simple corrugated metal huts that I look after. Fire is nothing, just clean up.
What better place to enter the building than through the they have built. Because they have always been hunters When you burn, new grass coming up.
mouth of the crocodile? This leads into the croc’s head and gatherers, they do not build large communities, but That means good animal soon.
(lobby). Large exhaust fans have become the eyes, and as rather, live in small clans and tribes … working as a unit Might be goanna, possum, wallaby.
you may suspect, the rooms are in the belly of the beast, for survival. They have learned to manage their resources Burn him off, new grass coming up, new life all over.
looking onto a center courtyard with a pool the shape of wisely, taking only what they need for subsistence. To
a croc’s heart. This pool is the only one the park service do this to the utmost advantage, they have learned to
has considered safe for swimming in all of Kakadu and accurately forecast the weather and the seasons. This Kakadu And Arnhem Land on page 27
Arnhem Land. By the way, as you might expect, the hotel’s
services entrance is at the other end of the croc.

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