Rock art expert recognised

The importance of rock art on the Dampier Archipelago has been emphasised by a local heritage specialist taking out a State heritage award.

Ken Mulvaney, who works as a heritage specialist for Rio Tinto, won Professional Heritage Individual of the year at the recent awards ceremony after being nominated by Friends of Australian Rock Art.

Mr Mulvaney said he initially did not know who nominated him for the award.

“My thanks go to Friends of Australian Rock Art.

It was a great surprise to learn that they nominated me, let alone that I won the award,” he said.

Co-convenor of Friends of Australian Rock Art Judith Hugo said Mr Mulvaney’s award was an indication of not just his achievements but the importance of the area.

“Nothing is more deserving of world heritage listing than the ancient rock art of the Burrup Peninsula,” she said.

“It contains the only continuous world record of mankind’s development over the last 30,000 years.”

Federal Environment Minister Tony Burke is expected to release a report from the Australian Heritage Council on the universal heritage values of the Dampier Archipelago in coming months.

Mr Mulvaney last year received his Doctorate from the University of New England in Queensland on the subject of the antiquity and amazing range of rock art in the Dampier Archipelago.