To commence our recognition and celebration of NAIDOC Week 2020 we take a macadamia moment with Delta Kay. Delta is a well known and respected Arakwal Bundjalung woman in the Byron Shire. She also conducts guided tours of Cape Byron and the surrounding area, you can learn more at explorebyronbay.com.
Where do you live and what makes it so special?
I live on my mum’s traditional campsite where she was born and raised with her twelve siblings, mother and father near Tallow Creek (Byron Shire, Bundjalung Nation).
What do you like most about your work?
I love the surprises you get when you’re exploring country and seeing what mother nature is offering, like noisy chattering lorikeets hanging upside down feasting on our abundant nectar trees or water dragons sunning themselves along our tracks!
What will you be doing over NAIDOC week this year?
My bushtucker tours will be kicking off our NAIDOC calendar on Sunday 8 November at Bangalow’s beautiful creek walk at 10am, then launching our NAIDOC Art Exhibition at the A&I Hall at 5:30pm with Tamara Smith MP for the national theme “always was, always will be”. Our NAIDOC calendar can be found on social media through Bunyarra Culture Collective (see link here).
Do you remember when you first tried a macadamia?
Yes, mum and dad were driving us kids to our favourite swimming hole at Possum Creek when they pulled over at the side of the road and got us kids to collect the nuts. Once we got to the creek mum showed me how to crack the nuts with a rock, I was hooked as a five-year-old.
What’s your favourite way to enjoy macadamias?
Raw.
What’s your favourite non-work thing to do right now?
Getting pippis and fishing.
If you were an ice cream what flavour would you be?
Davidson plum and vanilla.