Topic:
Gnowangerup
Yarning about fire
This story offers so much! It is a heart-warming yet serious yarn that shines more light on a way forward with fire. Here's Uncle Aden: "Kaarl (fire) was always part of our life ... We had a good life in camps and the kaarl made sure we were alright. We had all the comforts thanks to the fire." Join Uncle Aden Eades, Aunty Eliza Woods and PhD student Ursula Rodrigues as they sit and yarn about fire.
Aunty Averil Dean: Rich rewards from family, culture and country
Averil is immensely proud of her Noongar culture, and teaching school children about it has been an important part of her life. Growing up in a strong, loving family, Averil’s home life was happy. But during this time, she knows that older family members were experiencing major oppression, and she remembers the painful school yard taunt of ‘nigger’.
Farming family maintains a landcare tradition
Kingsley Vaux, the Shire of Gnowangerup’s Citizen of the Year for 2023, is a passionate leader in landcare, instrumental in founding the Yongergnow Malleefowl Centre. Growing up immersed in the bush, Kingsley credits his mother, Kaye, for instilling a deep love for nature, and highlights the importance of community involvement in conservation. Kingsley recalls how the massive land clearing in the 1950s and 60s negatively impacted local ecosystems, a lesson he learned firsthand. Since then, he and his wife Sandy have engaged in tree planting and land restoration. Despite facing challenges like declining community engagement and climate concerns, Kingsley remains hopeful. The success of the Malleefowl Centre and the resurgence of the Ongerup General Store demonstrate the community's resilience and commitment to sustainability, inspiring him to influence future generations in conservation efforts.
Ezzard Flowers: Power drawn from his reconnection with country
Ezzard’s life began with family, culture and being on country, but he became a member of the Stolen Generation when he was taken from family at age eight and placed in missions for six years. Reconnecting with his family and country and the importance of working together for Mother Boodja are moving and powerful threads in Ezzard's story.
Ezzard Flowers: Reconnection and collaboration
As a child, Ezzard was taken from family and placed in a mission. Years later he faced the challenge of reconnecting to family and country, and charting his life. Now he’s a Noongar Elder with a powerful story about working together for Mother boodja - country.
Aunty Carol Pettersen shares her connection to Boodja
A Menang-Gnudju Elder, Aunty Carol Pettersen OAM JP has dedicated her life to Indigenous affairs, serving as a Justice of the Peace for 35 years and receiving numerous accolades, including the National NAIDOC Female Elder of the Year in 2008 and a Medal of the Order of Australia in 2022. Aunty Carol shares her deep connection to Boodja, or country. She emphasizes the importance of land, where stories of creation are woven into the landscape. Guided by the rhythms of flora and fauna, Aunty Carol learned the wisdom of her ancestors, passing down this knowledge through generations. Despite the challenges posed by colonial policies and environmental changes, she actively participates in land restoration efforts. She has witnessed the revitalization of the landscape and the return of native species, forging a powerful bond between her family and their country. For Aunty Carol, caring for Boodja is not just a duty; it is a source of identity and belonging.
