The floor of Eden Marine High’s art room was covered with tarpaulin, the art tables rearranged as trestles. Brushes and dotting sticks dipped in vibrant colours brought new artwork to life as students proudly expressed their culture. The room buzzed with deep concentration, shared stories, and laughter. In the centre of it all lay two unusual canvases — handmade by the students themselves. They had already been launched on the Pambula River. They were canoes.
The Eden Canoe Project, a collaboration between Anglicare and the Twofold Aboriginal Corporation (TAC), involves building, decorating, and paddle-touring canoes — but it’s aim is even more ambitious. The program seeks to strengthen Indigenous young people’s connection to culture and community, awaken skills, build self-esteem, and open new possibilities for the future. Over the past five years, Anglicare’s Community Chaplain, Revd. Michael Palmer, has walked alongside the Eden Indigenous community toward these goals.
Working alongside him is Uncle John Stewart, a mentor for the program whose connection to the local land and waterways goes back generations. His mother is Aunty Rose Mumbler-Stewart and his grandfather, Yuin leader, King Jack Mumbler, after whom Mubulla Mountain was named.
Recently, Uncle John and Michael were joined on the river by TAC Interim CEOs, Alison Simpson and Elvis Amair, Anglicare Chaplain Revd. Sue Robertson and Senior Manager of Communications, Helen Austin. As they paddled, stories that had passed down from parents, grandparents and earlier generations were shared.
When the group came upon a formation of large, jagged rocks, they learned that these were used as ancient fishing traps. The rocks, strategically positioned to work with the river’s current, allowed handwoven nets to be secured in place to collect fish drawn by the river’s natural flow.
Further along, they passed a single cherry tree growing between two larger gum trees and learned that strength and shelter provided by the gums allowed the smaller tree to survive in harsh Australian conditions. The image resonated deeply — a living metaphor for the way guidance, cultural knowledge, and community support help young people grow strong. It mirrors precisely what the Eden Canoe Project seeks to do: surround young people with connection, wisdom, and stability.
It is this knowledge—and act of passing it from elder to youth—that gives the Eden Canoe Project its special value. “John’s deep connection to Country brought an added richness to the canoe journey”, said Helen. “Having someone so deeply in tune with the land guiding us allowed us to truly sense the power of the water and the air around us. For the young people who take part, it offers a rare and valuable opportunity — to learn local history directly from those who hold it, and to connect with Country in a way they may never have experienced before.”
Revd. Michael is currently adapting the canoe workshops as a core component of TAC’s Career Choice Exposure Program (CCEP), which supports disadvantaged youth by helping them build employability skills and broaden their aspirations.
The Community Chaplain’s role is to embed themselves in community — listening, collaborating, and walking alongside others to foster belonging and hope. These are the foundations that enable individuals and communities to thrive.
To learn more about this community building initiative and sponsor a young person to participate, visit our Eden Canoe page.
