Young urged to get creative

A fantastic art competition which helps pass down traditional knowledge to younger generations, has been launched by Binthi Land Holding Group Aboriginal Corporation (BLHGAC).

The competition is inviting young people to create an original artwork, either drawing or painting, that interprets the newly-created Binthi Seasonal Plant Calendar, and has the theme: “Protecting Country and the Great Barrier Reef”.

The competition is part of the South-East Cape York Reef Community Action Plan, led by Cape York NRM, which supports local community action to protect the Reef and local environment.

The calendar, which was developed by Binthi’s Ramona McIver with design assistance by Cape York NRM’s Communications Officer Monique Bell, provides traditional information and images on the region's unique flora and fauna.

There are three age groups (5-12 years, 13-18 years and 19-25 years) in the competition and cash prizes are on offer for winning entries.

“We are very excited about our calendar, a lot of thought, traditional knowledge and artwork has been used to build it. And the best, most fun way to share this knowledge is by encouraging young people to be creative,” Ramona said.

“We have had a lot of young people already coming and collecting the materials to make their art for the comp, so that’s a great start. And we have clear guidelines for entrants to use.”

Binthi Country is situated in the McIvor and Morgan Rivers within the Jeannie Catchment and has a very rich and ancient history. It has many ceremonial sites, story places and blue ochre cave paintings. Surrounding areas include undisturbed catchments with diverse ecosystems such as vine forests, rainforests, mangroves, swamps and woodlands and outstanding dune systems.

“As the custodians of our land, we must care for our sacred and special friends/totems and responsibly protect our clan, land and sacred sites,” Ramona said. “A big thank you must go out to our partners, the Australian Government's Reef Trust, the Great Barrier Reef Foundation and Cape York Natural Resource Management.”

To enter the Binthi Seasonal Plant Calendar Youth Art Competition please see the details in the poster for more information, and contact Ramona McIvor for the resources and colouring pencils.

Entries close February 10, 2023

This project has been supported by Cape York NRM through the CAP Program which is funded by the partnership between the Australian Government’s Reef Trust and the Great Barrier Reef Foundation.