Welcome to Echo Creek’s Blog
Ernie Grant is an elder of the Jirrbal people from the Tully area here in North Queensland. He spent his first nine years living in the rainforest getting a grounding in the traditional life of the North Queensland rainforest people.
Many academic researchers have been keen to draw on his knowledge in the fields of ethno-botany and spirituality/mythology. Uncle Ernie (as he is commonly known) has had a long and varied career, and a lifelong passion for education and for sharing his understandings with educators.
For many years, Ernie has been working as a Cultural Research Officer in the Queensland Department of Education. He presents at numerous state and national education workshops and conferences. He has extensive knowledge and experience working within traditional Aboriginal, urban and regional Aboriginal, and the wider non-aboriginal communities in Australia.
Very few Indigenous educators have the knowledge and experience of both traditional lore and western academic approaches to education. Ernie brings this to his work and that underpins his Holistic Teaching and Learning Framework. The key to understanding the holistic framework is the primary relationship that Aboriginal people have between their Land, their Language and their Culture. It is the inseperable nature of these elements and the ways they depend on each other for meaning for which Uncle Ernie has a uniqueness.
Hi guys,
we did the echo creek tour today and we can tell: A MUST DO. When people come to Mission Beach and want to experience something about Australia, the echo creek-tour is the best thing to do. Ernie first took us into the rainforest and taught us about nature. Then two very friendly ladies took us up to the waterfall. They told us a lot about the rainforest, different plants and the wildlife in there. When we came to the waterfall, it was breathtaking. we had a little swim and relaxed afterwards.
Our advise: Skijump is an adventure you can do all around the world, but only here, you can experience real Australia. Go for it, it’s worth every minute.
Thanks you for an unforgetable day.
Yours - Elena and Tobias from Germany
How fantastic is it? I am a Bush Regenerator and found the walk and talk fascinating. Caroline and Alison were very informative and the scenery phenomenal. We are Australians from the Blue Mountains and have never seen such natural beauty - everything is so big!
Echo Creek is definietely an experience we will never forget.
Ok… so here’s the bottom line… beautiful, fantastic, stunning, moving, wonderous, overwhelming - we could go on for ever but what we really are trying to say is that if you have the time / budget to only do one trip whilst you are in the Mission Beach area - then this is definitely the one you should do!
Other brochures may claim to take you through unspoilt rainforest pah! - they simply pale into insignificance against what Caroline, Tonya and Sonya so kindly introduced us to. Sonya simply gushed with knowledge and enthusiasm for the trail as she drove us out to the centre; then Caroline and Tonya took us upto the falls and very gently made us realise that the rainforest is the most amazing place that should be cared for, valued and protected so that its wonders and treasures remain for many generations to come.
If you haven’t yet worked out that in going to the falls you will learn so much and appreciate what Australia really can offer and the immense knowledge the Jirrabal people can share with all of us willing to take the time to listen, then how about tha words of an eleven year old who walked the trail, “It wasn’t boring, it was actually very interesting and WELL COOL!”
Many thanks - and we can’t wait to come out to Mission Beach again and see how you guys are getting along - good luck to you all!
Thanks Gary, Vicki and Emilie, we throughly enjoyed your company and the opportunity to provide an insight into our culture. We’ll be waiting for your return, until then stay well!
Hi Sonya and family,
we hope, you remember us. We did the rainforets tour with your cousin Caroline and your daughter Jennifer on Friday, 14th August. It was one of the greatetst experiences of our journey through Australia. We often watch our pics and think about the great time with you. We told our daughter Anna and maybe she will join you in early october.
Thank you and kind regards
Angelika, Gerhard, Felix Frick from Germany
Hi everyone,
I am one of a group of Brisbane teachers who had the priveledge of travelling to North Queensland a couple of weeks ago to meet Sonja and Uncle Ernie and experience their camp at Echo Creek. I know I really enjoyed my couple of days there and learnt a lot. The surrounds are peaceful and beautiful and the people could not have been friendlier or more accomodating - their knowledge and enthusiasm is contagious. Thank you sincerely for an experience I know has changed me - I think it could only be beneficial for anyone to see and experience this place and these wonderful people. Hope to one day get back there for another look!