Creating Waves – Wednesday 31st August, 2022

UniSC Fraser Coast Campus, Pialba

Date:              Wednesday Aug 31

Time:             5:00pm arrival for speakers

Presentations from 6:00pm to 8:05pm

Venue:           Main Lecture Hall (room 104.2), Building B, USC Fraser Coast Campus, Hervey Bay, 4655

Tickets:          Free – Register your ticket below

Join us for a night of personal tales from those who are uniquely connected to Australia’s Humpback Whales. We will start with voices of our traditional owners who will explain the importance of the whales that visit the bay to the Butchulla peoples and how Whale Songlines connect First Nations along the entire East Coast of Australia. Learn how citizen scientists and technological advancements have been making it easier for individual whales to be tracked through “Happy Whale”. Finally, meet the researchers working out of Hervey Bay and learn about the pressures that our most treasured visitors must face, from climate change through to boat interactions. Together they are Creating Waves.

 Guest Speakers:

• Jade Gould – Presenting: “Welcome to Country” and “cultural importance of whales and connection to sea country”
• Dr. Kathy Townsend, (MC and WWHSSC/USC)  –  Presenting: “Introduction to The Whale Heritage Site Steering Committee and Hervey Bay’s Vision to be the World’s Pre-eminent Whale Heritage Site.”
• Dr Jodi Edwards (RMIT University) Presenting: “Whale Songlines that connect First Nations along the East Coast of Australia”
•  Dr. Wally Franklin (Oceania Project)  – Presenting: “Happy Whale: Citizen Scientist algorithm photo-matching platform and, collaboration with South Pacific Whale Research Consortium”
• Dr Olaf Mynecke (Griffith University) – Presenting:“Whales and climate change”
• Hansika Badhuge (Southern Cross University) – Presenting” “Investigating migratory patterns and interchange between breeding grounds by humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) visiting Hervey Bay”
• Dr. Barry McGovern (Pacific Whale Foundation) – Presenting: “Long term humpback whale research in Hervey Bay”
• Georgina Hume (University of the Sunshine Coast) – Presenting: “Dolphins of the Great Sandy Straights.”
• Melina Keane (University of the Sunshine Coast) – Presenting “The genetic population structure of Hervey Bay’s humpback whales.”

Creating Waves is proudly presented by Fraser Coast Tourism & Events, Hervey Bay Whale Heritage Site Steering Committee and UniSC.