On 3 June, Menang, Goreng and Merningar Elders held an extraordinary event to celebrate two years’ work by Noongar people who love and care for Pallinup-Marra Country, north-east of Albany.

The Pallinup-Marra Elders Circle (PMEC) is comprised of many families, and they have just published a Healthy Country Plan called ‘Pallinup-Marra Bilya Wangee Moort Boodja’, which is available on the Gondwana Link website under the main tab ‘Resources‘ (where you can also access the ‘Stories of the Pallinup and Beaufort Inlet’).

With the support of the Gondwana Link team, the Elders Circle launched their booklet at the Boxwood Hill Sports Club to more than 150 people. Noongars from several generations spoke of the shared values and vision they hold for the river, and how they want to re-awaken the waterways and old pathways for the future of all our children and their children’s children:

“The health of the river directly affects the health of the people. The river and its creeks are the arteries and veins of the Country, sustaining all life. When the Old People walked along the river, they listened to it and knew what it needed to thrive.” (PMEC)

We heard from guest speakers whose families had lived and farmed on the river for generations, alongside a riverine geomorphologist and riverine ecologist who have studied the river, a community landcare co-ordinator, and people who have restored parts of the river system. The audience was asked to participate in a question-and-answer session and describe what it is that they love about the river, and what they can do to look after it better.

This event was not only the launch of a Healthy Country Plan, but also the beginning of the ‘doing’ stage of the project. The Elder Circle will now use the relationships built and momentum gathered at the event to inspire a collaborative group of landcarers, landholders, government people, NGO’s and educators to focus on healing the river together.

The preparation of the Plan itself included input and support from UWA Albany, Awesome Aboriginal Consultancy, Wagyl Kaip Southern Noongar Aboriginal Corporation, and the North Stirlings Pallinup Natural Resources group in Borden.

The project is supported by funding from the Western Australian Government’s State NRM Program and Janet Holmes a Court, and the event was also funded by the Great Southern Development Commission.

Heartfelt thanks to all the people who contributed to the launch event, including Robbie Miniter OAM as MC; all the Elders, speakers, participants and helpers; the musicians Uncle Eugene Eades, Bruce Anthony and Rhian Bethan; Table & Thyme Catering; and the Boxwood Hill Sports Club for providing such a great venue.

Thanks to everyone for the mighty team effort!