Wardandi Memorial Park

Nidja Ngaalang Nedigar NgoorndinyThis is our ancestors resting

Wardandi Memorial Park

Nidja Ngaalang Nedigar NgoorndinyThis is our ancestors resting

Opening CeremonyWednesday 24 April 2013

Kaya ngalang Wardan Moort boodjawer boonan nidja Wyalup

Welcome to our country the Ocean people and the significance of this place of mourning

How it all beganThe idea to establish a Noongar Cultural Heritage Site in Bunbury first came about

in 1994, after road works encroached onto a site (Pioneer Park) that was identified

to be linked to ancient Noongar burial grounds.

The site identified for a Noongar Cultural Heritage Site was Lot 431- bounded by

Ocean Drive, Upper Esplanade, Wellington Street and Symmons Street, a recognised

site of cultural significance in accordance with the Aboriginal Heritage Act 1972.

The proposal was to develop the site and rebury the remains of ancestors that had

been unearthed in the region. These remains included:

• Ancestral remains discovered in Doungup, just South of Bunbury in July 1978

which were recovered by a team from the Aboriginal Sites Department of the

Western Australian Museum and lodged with the Museum’s Anthropological

Department to meet the requirements of the Aboriginal Heritage Act 1972;

• Two sets of skeletal remains uncovered during the construction of a building in

Prinsep Street Bunbury in May 2003, which were also kept at the Museum for

safekeeping;

• Nineteen sets of remains held at the WA Museum for three decades;

• Four sets of remains were held at the Bunbury Crematorium.

Turning of the sod.

While the idea was well received, it took 17 years of consultation between local

Noongar people, the Department of Indigenous Affairs and the City of Bunbury

before an agreement could be reached to develop the cultural heritage site. Once

an official agreement had been reached, grant applications were submitted to

various funding bodies at a State and National level to get the Project off the

ground. It then took a further 12 months of consultation and revision of concept

plans to ensure that the site design was culturally consistent and respectful.

To get started, a Project Control Group was set up to develop concepts and submit

further grant applications. The group initially consisted of the Goomburrup

Aboriginal Corporation, City of Bunbury and the Department of Indigenous Affairs

but as the significance of the project evolved, other stakeholders were engaged.

Parties to come on board included:

• South West Development Commission - Royalties for Regions

• Lotterywest

• South West Institute of Technology

• Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs

• Western Australian Museum

• Aboriginal Challenge Employment Service

• Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations

• Department of Corrections

• Jetline - Concrete Paths

• Concept Products

• Alan Walker

• Grass Tree and Plant Suppliers

• William Barrett & Sons

• Aboriginal Workforce Development Centre

Week 1: Clearing of the site begins.

How the park was createdWork began to transform the land into a memorial park in September 2012 and was

finished by April 2013.

In that time, more than 3,000 shrubs were planted in a design to represent the

six Noongar seasons, reticulation was fitted, an aggregate path in the shape of a

serpent was laid (as a connection to the Dreamtime), handmade seats and shelters

were designed, produced and installed and further landscaping and revegetation

was completed.

However, the most significant part of the project took place when 25 sets of

ancestral remains were reburied in a specially designated area within the park. The

remains were respectfully reburied in a traditional way. With each grave hand dug

and a small fire lit in the grave to enable smoke to cleanse the spirits. Once each

fire was naturally extinguished, each set of remains were wrapped in paperbark

and tied with string made from reeds. They were then placed in the graves filled

by hand. A spear marked the position of the male graves, and a digging stick

marked the women’s graves. Once all the remains had been placed into the ground,

two grass trees were set alight, with the smoke blowing over the burial site to

commemorate the remains being laid to rest for the final time.

An opportunity exists for more skeletal remains to be placed at the site and space

has been allowed in the design for future reinterments.

Week 3: Framework is layed out.

Week 6: Placement of the timber decking.

Week 11: The burning of the grasstrees.

Week 3: Eagle drawing. Week12: Installating the reticulation.

Project achievements• Six Noongar workers gained qualifications which has given them the

foundation to apply for and obtain future employment.

• A strong relationship was formed with the South West Institute of Technology:

Flexible learning was developed to meet the needs of both the Project and the

workers. Participants in the Wardandi Memorial Site completed requirements

for a number of units within the Certificate II in Conservation and Land

Management qualification. They were able to demonstrate the required skills

as part of their work on site. In most cases instruction was given by industry

experts employed by the City of Bunbury or by concrete path, irrigation and

timber construction contractors from the Bunbury community.

• Instruction in planting and laying turf was given by Tony Critchley a SWIT

Horticulture lecturer;

• The assessment of workplace skills was done by SWIT Conservation and

Land Management lecturer Rick Murray;

• The safe use of chainsaws was taught at the SWIT campus by horticulture

lecturer Allen Simms;

• Tony Critchley and Rick Murray also provided advice to the Project

Manager on scheduling work tasks, plant species selection and design

issues.

• A significant linkage between Wyalup – Rocky Point and the Pioneer Park (the

site of the original Bunbury European Cemetery) was created.

• A close working relationship was developed between the City of Bunbury, the

Goomburrup Aboriginal Corporation, Department of Indigenous Affairs, the WA

Museum and Government of Western Australia in the time it took to develop

and implement the Project.

• Noongar Elders had their wish granted after 25 years of lobbying to have the

remains returned to the ground in a memorial park at this location.

• Wardandi Memorial Park is a significant Project for the Noongar Community

and the people of Bunbury.

Week 11: Burning Ceremony.Week 7: Finishing the deck.

The end resultThe Project has made considerable inroads into building and sustaining

relationships between the City of Bunbury and Goomburrup Aboriginal

Corporation. Getting the project to the ‘shovel ready’ stage was at times

confrontational, as the City worked to ensure the park had a connection to what

Noongar people considered a place of reflection, respect and resting place of

ancestors. Some of the key outcomes of the project included:

• The development of the City of Bunbury Cultural Map resulted in consultation

between Noongar Elders and the City of Bunbury in October 2011. Clear

objectives and strategies and actions were agreed upon;

• A greater understanding of Noongar culture and historical links to the land

were realised by the City of Bunbury;

• A partnership between Federal, State and Local Government agencies, not for

profit organisation and building and construction companies were formed.

• Strong emphasis was placed on the project being delivered by Noongar

people, as a training and ownership exercise;

• Initially the Goomburrup Aboriginal Corporation were to be the host

employer, however as planning progressed, it was decided greater training and

development opportunities could be gained by the City of Bunbury employing

a group on mature noongar people for the works.

Week 10: Completing park furniture using Bunbury Jetty timber.

Important partnersThe $500,000 Wardandi Memorial Park was jointly funded by the City of Bunbury,

through the Department of Indigenous Affairs, the South West Development

Commission - Royalties for Regions, Lotterywest and the Country Local Government

Fund.

This project would not have been possible without the help and guidance of:

• Dennis Jetta (Elder)

• Troy Bennell (Co-ordinator)

• Karim Khan (DEC)

• Ken Ninyette (DEC)

• Harley Coyne (DIA)

• Robert Reynolds (DIA)

• Jay Cook (DIA)

• Rick Murray and Tony Critchley (SWIT)

• Noongar Work Team (Employed by the City of Bunbury)

• Thomas Dimer

• Leon Borlace

• Cameron Bennell

• Eli Hill

• Mervyn Bell

• Kris Penny

• Charles Pickett

• Royce Bennell

• Bud Coe (Goomburrup Aboriginal Corporation)

• Myles Bovell (Landscape Architect) and various staff at the City of Bunbury

• GeoMedia

Future development of the siteIn the future interpretative signage will be installed explaining the history of the

site and its connection to the Noongar Culture. In cooperation with GeoMedia,

filming of the Project will be finalised resulting in a documentary showcasing the

development of the park from start to finish.

Completed gardens.

Wardandi Memorial Park - a new Bunbury icon.

Burial site memorial.

City of Bunbury4 Stephen Street, Bunbury WA 6230

T 08 9792 7000 | F 08 9792 7184records@bunbury.wa.gov.au

www.bunbury.wa.gov.au

Thank you for attending the Opening Ceremony of Wardandi Memorial Park.