Dale Ruska is a Goenpul Goori, Original First Nation owner of Terangerri (North Stradbroke Island), Moreton Bay and surrounding Islands. He has been a carpenter and wood craftsman for nearly 40 years. He has also been a strong advocate for Original First Nations Sovereignty for many decades.

 

All of the hand turned and polished wooden bowls and boxes are made at Moopi Moopi Pa (One Mile) on Terangerri. All the timber is collected from around the Island, the blackboy (aka grass tree) has to die and be burnt by several bushfires before it can be used. Other timbers come from dead or fallen trees. All timber collected is done from a First Nations basis, refusing all Government permits.

 

Blackboy can grow for hundreds or even thousands of years. Cypress can also grow for the same amount of time. Trees on the Island that have a trunk base greater then one meter have been dated over one thousand years old.

 

The plant environment of Terangerri is unique, known as a wallum environment specific to large sand dune islands off the east coast of Australia. Wallum environments grow in mostly sand, very slowly over long periods of time.