Johnny Boy's Walkabout Blog

Wednesday 16 April 2025: Aaron Chatfield’s Bush Tucker walk at Mulligans Flat, organised by NPA ACT. A short walk from the entrance on Amy Ackman St Forde to the woolshed, stopping at various points to hear explanations of bush tucker and aboriginal land use.

Photographs

View photographs here.

Trip Report

I am a repeat offender (attender) on this walk. Hats off to NA ACT and President Rosemary for organising this walk and getting so many kids and minders out on a beautiful day.

Aaron is so willing to share local indigenous culture and bush tucker usage with white fellas.

So what did we see and learn?

1 Mat Rush 

Strappy leaves (don’t get cut by the edges) for weaving. White base of leaves for a little oistureSeeds for grinding for flour.

2 She Oak needles beneath the tree makes a good place to camp once cleared.

3 Cassinia

The sticky longifolia variety makes a good band aid! Medicinal uses.

4 Stringybark

String making for nets etc from the cambium layer bark. Only one third of the circumference of the bark is harvested so that the tree is not ring barked.

5 Indigofera

Deoxygenates water causing fish to surface. Only take what is necessary, then let the stream flow again. Also for purple dye.

6 Ant nest

Ants bring darker coloured material to the surface to absorb heat in winter and lighter coloured material to the surface to reflect heat in summer.

7 Cultural burning for hunting

Aaron explained that a low-level burn reinvigorates growth. Kangaroos are attracted to the green grass and are more easily hunted.

8 Mistletoe club

The dead root ball of a mistletoe trimmed and still attached to a gum tree branch makes a great club.

9 Blackwood leaves soap up

Blackwood acacia leaves when rubbed with water will soap up for cleaning.

Seed are good bush tucker, but not from all wattles as some can be poisonous.

10 Dianella

Like Lomandra, Dianella is used for weaving. The leaves can be folded to make a high frequency whistle that some snakes can hear.

11 Mistletoe

Spread by the mistletoe bird rubbing its backside on boughs. A sugary treat can be squeezed from the fruit when ripe. Was it called “snotty-gobble”?

12 Tea tree

Tea tree oil. Medicinal uses.

13 Peppermint Gum

Crush the leaves. Very strong. Medicinal uses. Also as a drink.

14 Scar tree

There are many scar trees in and around Canberra. This recent one could have been for a coolemon.

15 The movers and shakers.

16 Hunting boomerangs

These are heavier and do not return. the “seven” boomerang is thrown at the legs of the prey.

17 Emu caller

A short, hollow tube. Hit the end with your palm and it makes a boom sound like an emu.

18 Grass tree glue

Xanthorrhoea (Grass tree) has many uses. The flower head produces sweet nectar eg. for a drink. The flower stem can make a spear. The nectar is heated and mixed with eg. ash to make a glue.

19 Grass tree flower stalk fire making kit

The stems are dried. The large base has the bottom flattened for stability and several holes. the thinner vertical stem is rotated quickly with its bottom in a hole. A two-person job – as one operator’s hands slowly descend the shaft, another takes over from the top. If the twirling stops, it’s not good. Eventially tip an ember out onto tinder.

20 Paper bark

A soft lining with many uses.

21 Smoko

Freshly made by Aaron this morning.

22 Boomerang throwing

 

Boomerang throwing vids

Further Reading

Ngunnawal Plant Use ISBN 978-1-921117-15-2 published 2014. So I don’t think I’ve given away any secrets.

Dreamtime Connections

Check out Aaron’s Dreamtime Connections here.