Dinosaur group to bring family fun to Broome after securing more than $200,000 in funding

After millions of years, dinosaurs of all shapes and sizes are returning to Broome as part of a Dinosaur Coast Management Group program which recently secured funding. The Engaging with Dinosaurs program was given the go-ahead after securing a $264,850 grant from Lotterywest, bringing family fun and educational activities to Broome and communities across the Kimberley. The year-long program kicked off on Wednesday, with an opening ceremony in which Kimberley MLA Divina D’Anna presented DCMG chief executive Micklo Corpus with the grant certificate. But a sudden interruption in the proceedings saw two dinosaur skeletons chase the representatives away from the podium and down on to the beach. Fortunately, a group of children paddling on the beach stole the dinosaurs’ attention, allowing Ms D’Anna and Mr Corpus to return to the ceremony. This was the first of many dinosaur sightings expected in Broome, with dinosaur displays, puppet-making workshops, guided tours and a palaeontology session set to pop up around town over the next year. School holiday immersion programs and a regional community roadshow are also planned for later this year, strengthening connections with schools and educating students on the science behind the dinosaur tracks. The upcoming Shinju Matsuri festival celebrations are also expected to host a special dinosaur encounter session, promising to be “exciting and terrifying”. Lotterywest chief executive Susan Hunt said the grant would help reconnect the community through environmental and educational activities. “It provides support to share the amazing natural history of our Kimberley coast, thanks to the dedicated volunteers who have brought this project to life,” she said. Ms D’Anna said the program would support sharing the natural history of the coastline, both old and young. “It’s groups like this in the Kimberley which make our region so unique,” she said. Mr Corpus said the group had been working hard to put the program together. “Our hope is that every-one, locals and visitors alike, can have a good time learning about and celebrating our national heritage-listed dinosaur tracks,” he said.