Stories Begin With Place
Magic Lands Alliance brings Traditional Owners, First Nations, regional and city communities together with cultural advisers, artists, educators, researchers, organisations and project partners — creating opportunities to share knowledge, strengthen understanding and develop projects with lasting cultural and community value.
Stories of Country should be developed with the people to whom those stories belong.
Cultural Leadership
Over more than six years of collaboration and consultation, MLA has engaged with 30+ First Nations representatives, including Elders, Traditional Owners, cultural advisers, knowledge holders, artists, filmmakers and creative practitioners.
Their knowledge and perspectives help guide cultural protocols, storytelling, language, history, education and connection to Country across MLA projects.
First Nations Collaboration
MLA's projects have involved consultation, participation and creative contributions from First Nations individuals and community members with connections across a number of Countries and communities, including:
Wathaurong Aboriginal Co-operative — Members, artists and Traditional Owners
Wadawurrung — Traditional Owners, artists and community members
Boonwurrung — Traditional Owners, artists and community members
Bunurong — Traditional Owners, artists and community members
Eastern Maar — Traditional Owners, artists and community members
Gunditjmara — Traditional Owners, artists and community members
Gunaikurnai — Traditional Owners, artists and community members
Yorta Yorta — Traditional Owners, artists and community members
Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung — Traditional Owners, artists and community members
Taungurung — Traditional Owners, artists and community members
Dja Dja Wurrung — Traditional Owners, artists and community members
Torres Strait Islander — Community members, artists and cultural contributors
Regional & City Community Collaboration
MLA works with regional and city communities, councils, landholders, organisations and local stakeholders to connect Culture, history, education, storytelling and place.
These relationships can support cultural exchange, community participation, research, tourism, education, environmental awareness and locally driven projects that strengthen connections between people and Country.
Community & Project Relationships
Steiglitz Community — Regional community engagement and historical connections
City of Greater Geelong — Regional and local government engagement
Golden Plains Shire Council — Regional and local government engagement
Bass Coast Shire Council — Regional and local government engagement
Barwon Coast — Coastal and regional engagement
The Granites Property, Anakie — Landholder and location collaboration
Tarnook Property, Steiglitz — Landholder and location collaboration
Murrangurk Property, Moorabool River, Golden Plains — Landholder and location collaboration
Wurdi Youang — Landholder and location collaboration
Coriyule, Drysdale — Landholder and location collaboration
Mount Rothwell Biodiversity Interpretation Centre — Location collaboration, conservation and environmental engagement
Parks Victoria — Location collaboration, parks and environmental engagement
Surfrider Foundation Australia — Surf Coast — Coastal and environmental engagement
Australian Marine Conservation Society — Marine and environmental engagement
Founders
Uncle Reg Abrahams
Founder/ Senior Culture & Heritage Advisor/ Producer
Elder Trevor (Uncle Reg) Abrahams is a proud Gunditjmara man with family connections to Chief Mannalargenna of Tasmania, as well as Wadawurrung, Bunurong, Yorta Yorta and communities of the South West Wimmera. With more than 42 years of cultural service, his work spans Culture, Country, heritage, truth-telling and community leadership.
His experience includes senior advisory and board roles with Eastern Maar Aboriginal Corporation and Wathaurong Aboriginal Co-operative, and participation in the Elder Standing Group for Treaty and Truth-Telling.
As a founding cultural leader of MLA and Senior Cultural Advisor to Magic Lands: Ngarram, Uncle Reg helps guide cultural direction, community relationships and the Alliance's long-term vision of reconnecting people, Culture and Country.
“Our stories carry the memory of our families and our connection to Country. This story has been carried through my family for generations — it is more than history; it is part of who we are. By sharing that knowledge and bringing communities together, we can strengthen Culture, understanding and connection for future generations.”
James Vegter
Founder/ Filmmaker/ Actor / Historian
“I believe stories and knowledge have the power to bring people together — helping us understand what came before, how we arrived here, and our relationship to place, identity and each other. By learning more about our shared history, the land, waterways and skies, Indigenous cultures, and the plants and animals around us, we can strengthen the connection between people, Culture and Country.”
James Vegter is an Australian actor, filmmaker, writer and creative entrepreneur with experience across Australian and international film and creative industries. At the heart of his work is storytelling and truth-telling — exploring history, Culture, identity, mental health, and the stories that connect people to place and each other.
Alongside his creative career, James brings an entrepreneurial approach to developing projects, partnerships and new ideas, combining storytelling, film, business and social impact to help turn ambitious creative visions into lasting cultural and community outcomes.
LinkedIn →
Collaboration In Action
MLA brings people together from project to projects — connecting cultural knowledge, community experience, research, education, storytelling and creative practice to create outcomes that can continue beyond the life of an individual project.
FIRST NATIONS COLLABORATION
FLAGSHIP PROJECT
WORK WITH MLA