Giant Turtle Celebration for 2025

We’ve done it again! Over three hundred people joined this year’s Giant Turtle event on Woorim Beach to create a fabulous animated sculpture — a joyful celebration marking the start of the 2025–26 marine turtle nesting season on Bribie Island.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xocNvRZZj7k

Community United for the Turtles

This annual event helps raise awareness of the plight of critically endangered marine turtles, and the need for all of us to protect the turtles that nest in the dunes of Bribie Island.

It brings our community together in a memorable, creative way and builds broader support to strengthen the protections these ancient animals need.

How the Day Unfolded

The morning unfolded with clear skies over Yarun, and a warm and enthusiastic crowd gathering around turtle education displays from turtle volunteers and stalls from BIEPA, Unitywater and City of Moreton Bay Council. A Smoking Ceremony led by Uncle Ivan Pickering and the jarjums from the Pumicestone Indigenous Education & Employment Council (PIEEC) set a meaningful tone, followed by an uplifting performance from Born to Sing.

Soon the whole group flowed onto the sand, coming together to form the giant turtle and bring it to life in a wonderful, coordinated sequence captured by our drone photographers.

Fabulous collaborators

BIEPA gives heartfelt thanks to all the participants and the BIEPA volunteers who made the day special, and our friends including:

• Uncle Ivan Pickering and PIECC

• The Born to Sing choir directed by Ann Bermingham

• BIEPA-supported TurtleCare Sunshine Coast volunteers and Bribie Island Turtle Trackers

• City of Moreton Bay Council

BIEPA's Turtle Awareness Project is proudly supported by Unitywater through their Healthy and Thriving Communities Grants Program

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