Sun Powers Friendship

September 2009: sixty five people made the 850 km journey through outback Queensland, to Murra Murra, a property an hours’ drive east of Cunnamulla. Their purpose: to join together and celebrate a major milestone for the Aboriginal nation of Kooma, the Kooma Traditional Land Owners Organisation Incorporated (KTOAI) and Engineers Without Borders (EWB) partnership, the successful installation of a brand new 9.8kW solar (PV) power system.

Posted by Reiko Yamada to Kooma Energy project, 16th November 2009, 5:45pm

September 2009: sixty five people made the 850 km journey through outback Queensland, to Murra Murra, a property an hours’ drive east of Cunnamulla. Their purpose: to join together and celebrate a major milestone for the Aboriginal nation of Kooma, the Kooma Traditional Land Owners Organisation Incorporated (KTOAI) and Engineers Without Borders (EWB) partnership, the successful installation of a brand new 9.8kW solar (PV) power system. The power system was constructed with the help of a team of volunteers from both EWB and KTOAI.
 
The Kooma nation is comprised of 16 clans, totalling around 5000 people. In traditional times, Kooma people linked land and species to people and law over a large stretch of country, across what’s now termed ‘South West Queensland’. However as a result of past government practices, many Kooma people were dispossessed and are now scattered in towns across Queensland; particularly in the surrounding areas of Ipswich, Cunnamulla, Toowoomba, and Roma.  

Despite the significant challenges Aboriginal societies face across a wide range of pressing contemporary issues, in 1999 the Kooma nation formed KTOAI. KTOAI is an incorporated body with the fundamental aim of moving Kooma people into the future with strength, pride and courage.  Kooma Traditional Owner Cheryl Buchanan is the chairperson of KTOAI, and each of the 16 Kooma clans are represented on the KTOAI board to facilitate fair and inclusive discussions regarding the future of the Kooma nation.

In 2000, the Indigenous Land Corporation returned to KTOAI  87159ha of their traditional lands - two adjacent properties Murra Murra and Bendee Downs. Being back on their country continues to be a nourishing, powerful and positive step for Kooma people - Uncle Herb Wharton, a Kooma Elder, had not walked on his country for 50 years; the last time being when his people were used as domestics and stockmen by the white owners who ran the land as a cattle station. KTOAI have developed a long-term plan to manage their properties for cultural and natural heritage protection, and to foster their vision of having somewhere for their people to return to, and to reconnect with their land.

EWB is a not-for-profit volunteer organisation that started in 2004, and has approximately 4000 members Australia-wide. EWB welcomes engineers, anthropologists, journalists, designers, construction managers, water and environmental specialists, accountants, psychologists and many other professions into its team. The organisation works with disadvantaged communities across Australia, South Asia and South East Asia to provide access to knowledge, technology and resources necessary for communities to meet their self identified needs.

The relationship between KTOAI and EWB that led to the major milestone of the solar power system installation began four years ago. It started in a very special way, with two passionate people meeting and, after sharing time and conversation, they discovered that they had many things in common.  In this case it was between a Kooma Traditional Owner and an EWB volunteer Lizzy Skinner.  The relationship included the desire to heal and empower Aboriginal people, show respect and care for the land and demonstrate respect for each other as individuals; this relationship continues to grow and strengthen to this day.

EWB volunteers worked with Kooma for the first time in 2007 when KTOAI asked EWB to develop a waste management plan for their properties, which are recognised for their extraordinarily diverse range of wetlands, vegetation and wildlife.
 
In 2008, a formal partnership agreement between KTOAI and EWB was signed. The core principles of the partnership are: mutual respect, two-way learning, a shared vision, and the self-determination of Kooma people. The partnership agreement is an important component and is drawn upon to identify the key protocols for the projects that EWB and KTOAI volunteers can work on together.

Through the hard work of KTOAI and EWB, a grant application to Virgin Blue in 2008 was successful and the Kooma Energy Project was born. Brett Godfrey the CEO of Virgin Blue Holdings presented the $145 000 personally. Since then, EWB volunteers and KTOAI members have been working together closely to ensure the success of the project.

In the early stages of the project, lengthy discussions were had regarding KTOAI energy priorities, and how to best use the grant. During the initial scoping visit Cheryl Buchanan identified the following project goals:
•    Take care of the environment
•    Become self-sufficient
•    Reduce running costs
•    Lead by example
•    Improve reliability of electricity supply
•    Provide alternative sources of income.

Based on the findings of an energy audit undertaken by a small EWB team, a grid-connected solar photovoltaic (PV) system combined with significant reductions in current energy use (via education and energy efficiency measures), was found to be the most appropriate way to achieve these project goals.

Phase 1 of the Kooma Energy Project was completed in September 2009. For over a week, Kooma and EWB volunteers worked together to prepare the old tennis court at Bendee Downs for its new role: as home to the 9.8kW solar system. Trees were removed, grass was dug up and re-laid, fences were painted and re-sized, trenches were dug and re-filled, frames for the solar panels were configured and re-configured, water tanks were moved and cement foundations were laid. Infinity Solar had the glamorous job of installing the solar panels and the associated wiring; but ask any of the Kooma and EWB volunteers on the ground and they’ll tell you that by then all of the hard yakka had been done!

The completion of Phase 1 was a fantastic milestone for the Kooma Energy Project and the Kooma-EWB Partnership. To celebrate, KTOAI hosted a Commissioning Party on Friday September 5th. The party was a great success with over 60 people making the journey to Bendee Downs to attend the ceremony, including: many Kooma people and Kooma Elders, neighbours, local media, the Kooma Energy Project team, EWB staff, and Green School facilitators and participants. Although a huge storm is not what one would naturally hope for when launching a new solar system, Cheryl Buchanan assured all party-goers that the black rain clouds were a good omen- the spirits are very pleased with what Kooma people are achieving.

Adventures, laughs, tears of compassion and understanding, cross-cultural learnings, kangaroo curries, friendships and more were shared over the nine months it took to get the Phase 1 of the Kooma Energy Project from conception to installation.

Kooma people extended their hearts and friendship, and generously shared their love of the country, significant cultural sites, Elder’s tales and some cultural practices. EWB members were shown fish traps, grinding grooves and stone tools amongst other valuable artefacts, and were invited to witness Kooma youth performing traditional dances. In turn, EWB volunteers donated many hours of their time to the partnership and project.

With passion, honesty, commitment, respect and humility, EWB and KTOAI members also ran activities with thirty Kooma youth during Emu fest, teaching them about traditional uses of energy, renewable energy and science; and worked together to produce the first Kooma Newsletter.

The experience of delivering Phase 1 of this project leaves a positive mark on the hearts and minds of all involved – both KTOAI and EWB members alike, which will no doubt be carried thorough Phase 2 of the project, and beyond. It is a testament to how positive change can occur in individuals, communities and the environment, when relationships between Aboriginal Australians and non-Aboriginal Australians are forged based on trust and respect. In the words of the KTOAI Chairperson; “together we will leave a footprint for future generations to walk in, with pride, dignity and respect.”

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