Kuku Nyungkul Traditional Owner and bush medicine guide Harold “Mooks” Tayley talks to Rossville Retreat owners Sandy and Dave Bates about the medicinal properties of cycads ahead of what is shaping up as a bumper season for his tours. Photo: Cape York Weekly.
A south-eastern Cape York bush medicine guide says he hopes sharing his knowledge and the stories of his grandfather’s Country will help both locals and tourists understand the importance of protecting the region’s pristine environment.
Harold “Mooks” Tayley is a Kuku Nyungkul Elder and Traditional Owner who runs a bush medicine and tucker tour business at Rossville Retreat, south of Cooktown, in the shadow of Kalkajaka (Black Mountain).
Born in Laura, Mooks has honed his encyclopaedic knowledge of traditional foods and medicine over nearly 40 years and said he still got a thrill out of helping people learn about their myriad uses over tens of thousands of years.
“I learned all my stuff from my grandfather, yep, and father,” he said as he described the healing properties of cycads.
“[The knowledge] was passed on down from them, and I’ve been doing this about 36 years now.
“First thing, before I take them (tour guests) on a walk is do a smoking ceremony with them; even after the walk, I do the same thing, and I still speak all my language, so, you know, it’s great.
“It’s a good feeling because, after my walk, people leave with a smile – they’ve never experienced these things before and that’s what people are looking for.”
The list of people who have shared Mooks’ knowledge reads like a celebrity A-list, with pop star Katy Perry, nine-time Olympic gold medallist and US swimming royalty Katie Ledecky, and British explorer and survivalist Ed Stafford among those who have experienced his hands-on guiding style.
Rossville Retreat owners Dave and Sandy Bates praised Mooks’ ability to engage with a diverse range of tour guests and said the “good friendship deal” the trio shared benefitted both businesses.
“For Rossville Retreat, it’s huge to have Mooksie with is – he’s a living legend, not just in Australia, but around the world,” Mr Bates said.
“You know, we have people from Europe coming over … for a month to come and see Mooks.
“Mooks’ business is here and our business is here, so the two companies have come together.”
Mooks said he believed getting tour guests into the bush to experience traditional food and medicine firsthand played a big role in educating them about environmental management and protection, and added he still enjoyed learning after almost four decades sharing his expertise.
“[The tours] are a bit of fun and they’re in nature, which helps them learn,” he said.
“I’ve been learning all these things since I was 15, so everything is just natural for me, you know; I spent 10 weeks in eastern Arnhem Land with one old guy out there, he’s passed away now, but he teach me a lot of stuff out there, too, in the dry country; Laura is more sandy country, similar to Arnhem Land.”
When asked what the future held for his incredible knowledge, cultural stories and tours, Mooks simply offered a wry smile as he bent down, picked a vivid purple snakeweed flower and asked whether I could taste its mushroom-like flavour.
For Mooks, there is clearly no time to waste pondering what is down the road when there is knowledge to be imparted on an audience thirsty to hear it.
Harold “Mooks” Tayley says he hopes his guided bush tucker and medicine tours can help reinforce the importance of protecting Cape York’s precious environment for both southern visitors and locals. Photo: Cape York Weekly.
Original Article published by Lyndon Keane on Cape York Weekly.
