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Don't just flop and drop: Finding culture in Queensland
Alan Granville • July 24, 2023
Finding culture in Queensland - Learning the history of the Gubbi Gubbi (Kabi Kabi) people who are native to this part of the Sunshine Coast.
“Our goal is to preserve, protect, maintain and manage our culture. I don’t want it to die with me,” says Aunty Bridgette Chilly Davis, holding court as we navigate the calm waters of the Mooloolah River.
Pausing for a quick second she adds, “Jeez, I’m talking sad aren't I?”, before erupting into a roar of laughter.
This proud Gubbi Gubbi/Kabi Kabi Country woman is detailing her long family history to this part of the Sunshine Coast, or as she calls it “my grandmother’s, grandmother’s, grandmother’s country”.
Sitting on the historic 115-year-old Spray of the Coral Coast sailing ship, it is hard to imagine what life was like back in the day as we putter around the million dollar homes of the uber wealthy. Giant ostentatious villas and mansions glisten in the unusually hot winter’s day, as we mere mortals onboard critique the styling choices of those with a bit of coin: “too many pillars”, “the pool looks too small”, “what were they thinking with that roof?”
Davis admits her ancestors would probably be “mourning” at what the land around Mooloolaba has become, but she says she has “evolved” herself with all the changes in the area. Aunty Bridgette Chilly Davis holding court.
This once rough-around-the-edges Sunshine Coast coastal town has undergone a significant glow-up. Fancy restaurants and a bustling wharf have brought a new energy to the area.
But with all the progress, it is important to remember what came before, and what should come in the future.
Saltwater Eco Tours is pretty hard to miss on the river, standing out among the leisure cruisers and fishing vessels. At 58 feet (17.6m), the huon pine sailing ship built in 1908 is modelled after the vessel Joshua Slocum used to become the first to solo circumnavigate the globe.
Lovingly-restored and now owned by Simon Thornalley of Torres Strait Island descent, the tours offer a range of authentic experiences from traditional music to bushtucker feeds, all steeped in the culture of the land.
Saltwater Eco Tours is pretty hard to miss on the river. For storyteller Davis, it is a chance to connect with people while telling her history. “We are the oldest family still on the Sunshine Coast. The reason why is because of a pioneering Westaway family. They wrote to the Chief Protector of Aborigines back in the day,” said Davis, chuckling at the “fancy title”.
Platters of food were served throughout the cruise.
“He could say ‘yes’ or ‘no’ to the removal of Aboriginal people from their native land. He actually approved for my family to stay here because they were employed with the Westaway family. We got all these exemption cards so we could stay here whereas others got forcibly removed.”
The tales range from the importance and significance of the river and the trees, to the reasons behind smoking ceremonies and ochre, all accompanied by platters of entrées, as well as cocktails and champagne.
Looking to the future, Davis hopes for a cultural centre to be built for more opportunities to tell the stories of her ancestors. As we leave the ship, she reminds us all the overriding philosophy of her heritage: “Whatever you take from Mother Earth, you’ve always got to give back.”
Saltwater Eco Tours is a venture that celebrates culture, environmental awareness, community spirit and Australian native ingredients. In November 2024 we began collaborating with Skye Staniford, Creative Director at Golden Virtues Catering & Events to enhance the menu for our signature Bushtucker Cruise. Read all about the collaboration and how Skye brought to life her incredible vision...
Adam-James is a Coastal-Folk singer/songwriter from the Sunshine Coast. He creates fast folky sounds which blend with soft rock elements that shine in his live performances. After appearing on the 2024 season of Australian Idol, and with a second national tour under his belt, Adam’s captivating live performance will have you dreaming of road trips and days by the ocean with someone you love. Adam has been playing on Saltwater Eco Tours for over two years and as our featured musician for December, we sat down with him to discover his music journey and how he impacts people through his beautiful lyrics. Here's what he said...
Lilli Fairfax is an upcoming artist in the world of country/folk/pop music. Hailing from the small town of Maitland, NSW, and now calling the Sunshine Coast, QLD home, Lilli is a singer-songwriter whose music radiates with the warmth of her coastal lifestyle and her country town roots. As our featured musician for December, we sat down with Lilli to discover her music journey and how she impacts people through her beautiful lyrics. Here's what she said...
Whether you enjoy sunset sessions with tunes or want to forge a deeper connection with local history and Indigenous culture through tucker and stories, our tours will immerse you in coast and culture.
Lap slide guitarist and folksy crooner Pat Tierney will again bring his unique sound to the Sunshine Coast live music scene with a sunset session aboard Spray of the Coral Coast. As our featured musician for December, we sat down with Pat to find out what inspires his music, how he creates his inimitable sound, and what playing on the Sunshine Coast means to him. Here’s what he said:
July 4 marked three years since Saltwater Eco Tours first set sail on the Sunshine Coast. To celebrate the anniversary, founders Jenna Griffiths and Simon Thornalley reflect on their time connecting culture to the Coast.
SALTWATER PEOPLE
It had been more than several years since Simon Thornalley had seen his childhood home the Stephan Davies , but within moments of stepping on board the ex-Torres Strait mission vessel he was met with an instant feeling of belonging. Built in 1952, Stephan Davies was the Thornalley’s home from the late 80’s to early 2000’s, before Simon and his older brother Oliver began their schooling on the Sunshine Coast. His parents, Su and Stephan, provided the ultimate adventure-filled childhood, sailing up and down the QLD East Coast, Island hopping and immersing themselves in the land and sea. This, combined with Simon’s seafaring ancestral history and Indigenous heritage from the Torres Straits cemented his love for a life on the ocean. The young boys were well- known to other boat owners along the East-coast, as their sun-bleached hair could be seen bopping up and down, amusing themselves on deck. The “good old days on Stephan Davies”, his parents still say as they flick through old photos… In 2018, after returning from 6-months in Antarctica and two years in Canada, Simon was invited to join his family friends and the next owners of Stephan Davies for a casual Sunday sail off Mooloolaba. He was taken back in time as they started up the gardener engine and headed out the Mooloolah river towards Mudjimba Island. It was soon after this experience that Simon began his extensive journey to find his own unique timber sailing vessel. Two challenging years of building a business model, long days developing tourism concepts as well as inspecting potential vessels, before the slap-in-the-face Covid, Saltwater Eco Tours was finally ready to launch mid-2020. Simon and his partner Jenna began welcoming passengers on their Mooloolaba based tours, while navigating new restrictions and policies that would not have existed if they had begun operating a mere 6 months prior. Many believed they were crazy, starting a new tourism business in the peak of a global crises, but this motivated them further to tap into the local tourism industry and work hard on making it a success. During the lead up of launching, Simon was faced with various hurdles. Not only was he creating a company from the ground up, but he also had to find the right vessel, the one that aligned with his vision of authenticity and the one that would set them apart from other operators. After flying to Melbourne, Tasmania, and Cairns to view potential vessels, Simon kept coming back to one that was moored just 5 minutes from his own home. A 58ft, timber ketch made from solid Huon Pine and built off the blueprints of the infamous ‘Spray’ by Joshua Slocam. Admittedly, he felt drawn to this boat, perhaps due to the rarity and historical significances that resonated back to his childhood on Stephan Davis. This Spray replica, now named ‘Spray of the Coral Coast’ was something special. Built in 1908 in Melbourne, she had seen many owners and undergone many restorations, all the while keeping her original beauty intact. Simon knew Captaining this vessel and opening her up to the public for tours would be the perfect way to create something truly unique. Simon’s vision for Saltwater Eco Tours was to provide a tourism experience where people were able to learn about local Indigenous Culture through the art of storytelling, music, and delicious native foods. He worked hard to build relationships and partnerships with local Traditional Owners of the Gubbi Gubbi/Kabi Kabi region to create an authentic tourism product allowing passengers to experience and learn about local culture and history. Spray of the Coral Coast further enhanced the tours with passengers stepping aboard and becoming immediately fascinated with the history of the vessel, in admiration of her pristine condition for 113- years of age. Tours took off immediately, as the local and surrounding South East Queensland community were seeking new adventures within the boundaries of domestic travel. In hindsight, the everchanging restrictions through out 20/21 allowed Simon and Jenna to further find their feet and develop as a new company, with the target market focusing on locals as opposed to international travellers. Through Simon’s endless hard work and unique business concept, came a variety of incredible opportunities that has seen him be a voice within the growing industry. In 2019, Simon was chosen as a delegate to travel to Vancouver as part of the World Indigenous Tourism Conference , in 2020 he was then chosen as a Young Indigenous Tourism Leader through The Department of Tourism, Innovation and Sport , as well as recently joining the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander committee for Tourism and Events QLD. With over 10 months of welcoming passengers on board each weekend, Simon and Jenna have established themselves as reputable tourism operators in Mooloolaba, both local to the area and both excited to be able to connect further with the community. Not only are the flagship Cultural Tours a highly sought-after experience from locals and visitors alike, but their efforts to support the arts industry with Sunset Tours and live music are growing in popularity, with acoustic artists often playing to max-capacity. Now the Captain of his own timber sailing vessel, Simon often reflects to his childhood growing up on Stephen Davies and the life he was fortunate enough to experience, living off the land and understanding the importance of our ocean. His connection to the environment and sustainable practices is also threaded into Saltwater Eco Tours ethos as they continually seek ways to improve as Eco-Operators. With a deepening drive to grow the business, Simon knows it is his responsibility to ensure the beauty and history of his timber vessel is showcased, as well as the connection to Indigenous Culture and the ocean is shared.
Queensland’s Sunshine Coast welcomes a new tourism experience which sees travellers take to the sea with Saltwater Eco Tours to learn about the region’s rich cultural heritage. Launched during Queensland’s Year of Indigenous Tourism, Saltwater Eco Tours operates out of Mooloolaba, taking passengers aboard a century-old historic timber sailing vessel, Spray of the Coral Coast. The tour hosts local Indigenous storytellers who share stories, traditions and culture of the Kabi Kabi people of the Sunshine Coast. Saltwater Eco Tours is founded by Torres Strait Islander man, Simon Thornalley. From a young age, Thornalley has had a strong relationship with the ocean. “I grew up on an ex-mission boat that was from Thursday Island, very similar to the boat we are using now, and I guess that’s where the inspiration has come from. My Dad is a timber boat builder, both Mum and Dad spent most of their lives sailing around the world,” he said. Thornalley’s family travelled up and down the Queensland coast until he turned six, when the family settled in Moolooaba. Thornalley later became a commercial diver, which enabled him to travel internationally. “All of my experience I’ve had on the water as well as my passion for Indigenous culture, that is where the business model grew from,” he said. Saltwater Eco Tours’ Simon Thornalley at the helm. Photo supplied. Saltwater Eco Tours is unlike other tourism experiences operating along the coast. “The Indigenous cultural experience is the number one [priority], that is really what I wanted to encompass in the experience … an authentic local Indigenous experience,” Thornalley said. “Although there is a lot of Indigenous experiences all over Australia, we wanted something that was on the water, that reflected the culture from this area.” “You could look back on the land, back on the mountain ranges and hear those creation stories told by the local Indigenous people. And in combination with that, the vessel we have is 112 years-old so just being on that timber boat gives you the presence of history.” Spray of the Coral Coast is a restored classic 58 foot gaff-rigged, Huon-pine ketch. Its design is based upon Spray, the boat in which Joshua Slocum became the first person to circumnavigate the globe in the late 19th century. Saltwater Eco Tours’ Spray of the Coral Coast returns to Mooloolaba. Photo supplied. Saltwater Eco Tours offers a series of tours, including the Cultural Tour, Sunset Acoustic Tour and Private Charters. “There’s more demand than ever for authentic ecotourism and Indigenous cultural experiences in Queensland,” said Queensland Tourism Minister, Kate Jones. “COVID-19 has had a huge impact on our tourism industry. We need new experiences like Saltwater Eco Tours to entice visitors back to the Sunny Coast and share the message that we’re ‘Good to Go in Queensland’.” Although only in its early stages, Thornalley hopes the business can expand in the coming years. “I want to be more established within the tourism community, I want to create bigger and more exciting trips. I want to go further, be able to do full day trips, two day trips and move on from here and build that experience; build that reputation of an authentic, traditional sailing experience.” By Rachael Knowles
Founder Simon Thornalley has been recognised as an emerging force in tourism with his recent appointment as an Indigenous Young Tourism Leader. Read More The Palaszczuk Government has today announced 10 Indigenous Young Tourism Leaders to champion their industry and culture in 2020 – the year of Queensland Indigenous Tourism.
Tourism Industry Development Minister Kate Jones said she was proud to announce the first Indigenous cohort of Young Tourism Leaders.
“More tourists than ever before are looking for a cultural experience when they come to Queensland,” she said.
“Cultural tourism is a multi-billion-dollar global industry. We’re working with Indigenous tourism operators from throughout the state to make sure Queenslanders tap into this rapidly-growing sector.
“Building Queensland’s reputation as the capital for Indigenous tourism is a priority. That’s why the Premier named 2020 the Year of Indigenous Tourism.”
Ms Jones said tourism was vital to Queensland, pumping $27 billion into the economy and supporting 236,000 jobs.
“By providing influential and inspiring role models through the Young Tourism Leaders program, we’re aiming to encourage young people to stay and progress in the tourism industry,” she said.
“Young Tourism Leaders are advocates for the industry. They engage with school and college students throughout Queensland around the opportunities a career in tourism can offer.
“The program is all about showcasing to our participants that the industry is diverse, exciting and opens doors to other opportunities.”
Ms Jones said the Young Tourism Leaders program started in 2017 had so far engaged more than 7000 students across the state.
She said this group of 10 Indigenous Young Tourism Leaders were from Brisbane, the Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Bundaberg and Cairns. They’ll join 33 existing 33 Young Tourism Leaders across the state.
William Enoch Tranby, a former Young Tourism Leader, was today announced as a mentor for this cohort of Indigenous Young Tourism Leaders.
Mr Enoch Tranby said the YTL program enabled him to connect with current tourism leaders and to inspire the next tourism leaders.
“I hope the next YTL group will absorb each other’s experiences and work as a collective for the benefit of the industry and to have an impact on the next generation,” he said.
The 10 Indigenous Inductees are: • Simon Thornalley, Owner/Director, Saltwater Eco Tours (Sunshine Coast) • Chanaya Warbrick, Barista/café all-rounder, Birrunga Gallery and Dining (Brisbane) • Anthony Cora, Cultural Officer, Jellurgal Aboriginal Cultural Centre (Gold Coast) • Leonard Donahue, Performing Arts professional and Senior Indigenous Officer, Dreamworld Corroboree (Gold Coast) • Stacia Fogarty, Senior Indigenous Officer, Dreamworld Corroboree (Gold Coast) • Tyson Kelly, Senior Indigenous Officer, Dreamworld Corroboree (Gold Coast) • George Bell, Sales Executive, Down Under Tours Australia (Cairns) • Blake Cedar, Ranger, Dreamtime Dive and Snorkel (Cairns) • Elizabeth Lui, Food and Beverage Attendant, Pullman Cairns International (Cairns) • Chern’ee Sutton, Contemporary Indigenous Artist (Bundaberg).