Walkabout Training

Congratulations Bundaberg Regional Council, finalists on the Outdoors Queensland Awards. It’s been a pleasure working with you. Walkabout Training has also scored a finalist spot in the workplace development category. Looks like everyone’s kicked a goal!

🚣‍♂️ BOOM Wardingarri | Three Days, Three Waterways, One Community 🌿
What a fantastic weekend.
Over three days, BOOM Wardingarri brought together community members from across the region to learn canoeing skills, reconnect with Country, share stories, and spend time outdoors on some of Central Queensland's most beautiful waterways.
📍 Day 1 - Fitzroy River
The weekend started before the canoes even hit the water, with an echidna casually trundling across the boat ramp as we unloaded equipment!
We spent time talking about the local environment, traditional uses of the paperbark tree, and the fish, turtles and other wildlife that call the Fitzroy River home. We also touched on crocodile awareness and the importance of respecting waterways, particularly in a section of river that is planned to host rowing events during the Brisbane Olympic Games.
Once on the water there was plenty of splashing, laughter, learning and teamwork. Sometimes it was difficult to tell which was which.
One highlight from the day wasn't on the water at all. When a young participant spotted a plastic cup floating down the river, they insisted we turn a canoe around to retrieve it and take it back to shore. I love seeing Caring for Country not just talked about, but put into practice.
📍 Day 2 - Waterpark Creek, Byfield National Park
Waterpark Creek is simply spectacular.
Crystal-clear water flowing through rainforest, abundant wildlife and plenty of opportunities to slow down and appreciate the natural world.
Along the way we shared stories about local bush tucker, including blue quandongs (the cassowary love them, most people don't!), native ginger, Dianella, Lomandra and the many plants that thrive in the Byfield area. Bush turkeys and goannas also made their presence known, keeping a close eye on any unattended picnic food.
What was planned to be a half-day activity quickly stretched towards dinner time because nobody wanted to leave.
Perhaps the best part of the day was watching friendships develop. Cousins who had never really known each other before the weekend were now paddling together, sharing stories and discovering that blood really is thicker than water.
📍 Day 3 - Causeway Lake
The final session shifted from fresh water to the coast.
As had become something of a tradition, we started with a bush tucker discussion, sampling fruit from the bush almond trees (Terminalia Catappa) before heading onto the water.
The wind had other ideas, blowing 25km/h and gusting considerably higher. While several canoes successfully reached the shelter of the far shoreline, one canoe found itself upside down in the middle of the lake.
Thankfully it provided a perfect learning opportunity, with Cert 3 student Luhan demonstrating excellent rescue skills and carrying out a calm and competent T-rescue in challenging conditions while Meredith, our other cert three student guided the remaining canoes to a nearby shoreline.
We adjusted our plans and explored a more sheltered bay instead, discovering rocky shorelines, watching stingrays glide beneath the surface and seeing flathead dart away from approaching canoes.
The paddle back home was hard work, but a feed of hot chips at the end soon restored everyone's energy.

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As I watched young people, Elders and everyone in between sharing canoes, conversations and experiences over the weekend, I couldn't help but think about the long history of people travelling, fishing and living along the Wardingarri (Dawson River) and waterways like it.
Programs like this aren't just about canoeing.
They're about connection.
Connection to Country.
Connection to community.
Connection to culture.
A huge thank you to everyone who participated and helped make the weekend such a success.
Thank you to Iman Wardingarri Aboriginal Corporation, Outdoors Queensland, our Cert III Outdoor Leadership students, and all the community members who helped create such a welcoming and positive atmosphere.
Here's to more adventures together. 🌿🚣‍♀️

Three Days, Three Adventures, Countless Lessons
The first three days of the Impact Community Academy Walkabout Leadership Program are now complete, and what a start it's been!
Our journey began in Mon Repos under absolutely spectacular blue skies. Students were challenged to navigate their way between checkpoints using maps and natural features, developing skills in dead reckoning, observation and landscape recognition. Along the way they explored different leadership styles, communication techniques and the importance of working together to solve problems.
The second day took us onto the Burnett River for our first canoe journey. Students put their newly developed leadership and teamwork skills to the test while battling some persistent headwinds. We also explored environmental management, discussed the importance of protecting Aboriginal cultural heritage sites, and gained a greater appreciation for the responsibility we all share in caring for Country.
Day three saw us head to Agnes Water where students completed the Red Rock Trail before enjoying some well-earned time at the beach. The swell was up and several students bravely tried their hand at surfing, with varying degrees of success! Thankfully there was plenty of laughter, persistence and encouragement along the way.
It's been fantastic to see students stepping outside their comfort zones, supporting one another and embracing new challenges.
We're only halfway through the program and already the growth in confidence, leadership and teamwork has been impressive.

🚣‍♂️ BOOM Session 3 ✅ | Finishing Strong on the Burnett River 🌿
What a way to finish another BOOM (Building Our Outdoors Movement) program.
Bundaberg turned on a perfect winter morning for our final session, with a cool start of around 15°C, clear blue skies, a light breeze, and temperatures climbing into the mid-20s by the time we returned. You couldn't ask for better paddling conditions.
Launching from the boat ramp in town, we headed upstream along the river side of Harriet Island. With the tide too low to paddle around the back of the island, we took the opportunity to slow down and enjoy what was right in front of us.
🦅 A sea eagle soaring overhead
🐦 Welcome swallows sweeping and darting across the water
🌈 Rainbow bee-eaters spotted along the riverbanks
🏝️ A sandy beach at the top of the island that provided the perfect place to get out, stretch the legs, explore and enjoy the morning
From there we crossed back over the river and paddled beneath the three bridges, taking in the birdlife and appreciating the healthy waterways that flow right through the heart of our town.
A quick check on Google Earth afterwards showed we'd paddled 4.2 kilometres. Not bad for a crew who, only a week ago, were learning how to paddle in a straight line!
One of the things I love most about canoeing is how universal it is.
Looking across the water today, we had 23 people in 11 canoes.
We had:
✅ Under-10s and people in their 70s�
✅ Mums and daughters�
✅ Dads and sons�
✅ Husbands and wives�
✅ Friends paddling together�
✅ Complete strangers who introduced themselves at the start of the journey and were friends by the end

Some paddled hard for fitness. Others paddled slowly for mindfulness.
But everyone shared the same experience of being outdoors, connecting with nature, and enjoying time on the water.
A huge thank you to everyone who participated in BOOM. The enthusiasm, encouragement and willingness to have a go is what made the program such a success.
We'll continue to run the occasional Paddle & Connect social paddles, so keep an eye on this page for upcoming dates.
And if you're keen for more, watch out for the next round of BABA (Be Active Be Alive) in a few months' time. We'll share details here and you'll also see it promoted through Bundaberg Now.
Finally, thank you to Outdoors Queensland for funding the program and to Bundaberg Regional Council for helping promote it and supporting outdoor participation in our community.
Here's to getting more people outdoors, one paddle at a time. 🌿🚣‍♀️

🚣‍♂️ BOOM Session 2 ✅ | Exploring the Upper Burnett 🌿
This week our BOOM (Building Our Outdoors Movement) participants headed to Cedars Crossing for Session 2, with the group split across Wednesday and Thursday afternoons to ensure we had enough canoes for everyone.
Launching from Cedars Crossing, we paddled upstream through a beautiful stretch of the Burnett River. After the first bend, the traffic noise disappeared and we found ourselves immersed in the quiet of the river, with only the wildlife for company.
Along the way we pulled up on a sandy beach to stretch our legs, share a few stories, and enjoy the peaceful surroundings before turning around for the paddle back.
The wildlife didn’t disappoint 🦅
Wednesday’s group was treated to an unforgettable sight when a magnificent White-bellied Sea Eagle swooped down right in front of the canoes and sn**ched a fish from the water. One of those moments that reminds you why it’s worth getting outdoors.
Thursday’s crew spotted something surface briefly from the depths that sparked plenty of discussion. Was it a platypus? Was it a Ceratodus (Australian Lungfish)? After everyone had gone home, I stayed back for a while and was lucky enough to see a lungfish surface several times, so the smart money is on the kingfish of the Burnett River!
Most pleasing of all was seeing the improvement in everyone’s paddling. Canoes that zig-zagged a little during Session 1 are now travelling much straighter, paddlers are becoming more efficient, and confidence and fitness levels are clearly improving.
A big thank you to everyone who joined us this week.
We’re looking forward to bringing both groups together for our final BOOM session this Saturday, where we’ll put all those new skills into practice and finish the program in style.
BOOM is proudly supported by Outdoors Queensland and Bundaberg Regional Council.

🚣‍♂️ BOOM Bundaberg – Session 1 Complete! 🌿
A chilly, windy morning at Lake Gregory didn't stop an enthusiastic crew of paddlers from getting out on the water today for the first session of our latest BOOM (Building Our Outdoors Movement) program.
We had 23 participants join us across the two sessions, and it was obvious from the start that everyone was keen to learn, have a go, and enjoy being outdoors.
The wildlife certainly put on a show as well 🐦
✅ A flock of around a dozen black swans
✅ Pelicans
✅ Dusky moorhens
✅ Black ducks
✅ Wood ducks
✅ Darters
✅ Cormorants
✅ Grebes
✅ A majestic sea eagle soaring overhead
✅ Plenty of other birdlife around the lake
One of the things I love about these programs is that they provide an opportunity to slow down, look around, and appreciate the natural environments that are right on our doorstep.
A big thank you to everyone who came along and embraced the conditions with a positive attitude. The improvement in paddling skills over just a couple of hours was impressive, and I'm looking forward to seeing those skills continue to develop at our next session.
This is actually our second BOOM program in Bundaberg. The first was intended as a one-off, but thanks to the enthusiasm of participants and the positive outcomes achieved, Outdoors Queensland provided funding for another round. We're incredibly grateful for that support and encouragement.
Now we're faced with an important question... what do you call the second BOOM?
BOOM 2? BOOM Reloaded? BOOM Returns? Or simply BOOM BOOM? 🤔😂
Whatever the name, it was great to see all our enthusiastic participants brave the chilly conditions and get out on the water.
Our thanks to Outdoors Queensland and Bundaberg Regional Council for the opportunity and support.