A Noongar Meeting Place, a valuable centre for learning, sharing and healing in the South Coast region of Western Australia was officially opened by the Minister for the Environment, Hon David Templeman MLA at a function on 9 May 2007.

Eugene Eades, indigenous project manager said, "The Meeting Place is important as it enables Noongars to reconnect with country and to go through a healing of the land - Noongar way."

"This has been made easier as people feel better when they are in the bush.  The Meeting Place is not just about reconnecting to different family groups but what's also important is people connecting to the vegetation and natural environment.  It is a new space based on a traditional concept where people in the past would talk business around the fire," said Mr Eades.

Completed in late 2006 the Meeting Place, by word of mouth, has already attracted more than 600 Noongar and Wadjela (non-aboriginal) people of all ages who have experienced its significance.

"They come to hear and share stories with local Noongar people and enjoy the views of the breakaways, bushland and the Stirling Ranges in the distance," said Mr Eades.

The design and structure of the Noongar Meeting Place is unique and is believed to be the only one of its kind in the region.  It is made from natural stone, timber and brushwood from Greening Australia's Nowanup property on which it is situated, and is the result of the leadership of local Noongar leaders.

The construction was guided by project manager Eugene Eades, and included hard work by Community Development Employment Program (CDEP) participants, and co-operation and funding from a number of sources; the Southern Aboriginal Corporation, Shell Development (Australia) Pty Ltd (Shell) & Greening Australia (Reconnections Project) and South Coast Natural Resource Management (Restoring Connections Project).

As well as Noongar people, amongst the visitors have been heads and staff of international, national and state conservation groups, as well as philanthropic and industry representatives who have shared in cross-cultural exchanges.

The Meeting Place is also involving a range of schools from the district with elders participating in cultural presentations. 

"We are starting to call it the outdoor or "Bush University". Through the elders and others involved in conservation, we are able to lead the youth and younger children to learn more about how the land used to be and how we would like to reconnect it to the neighbouring bushland," said Mr Eades.

"What has been special about this process is that we're combining resources and knowledge between various people and groups, building on their different natural strengths to gain a better knowledge and understanding of how we can continue in this way to look after the land.  The land we see around us Noongars always had a strong connection and respect for the land we call Mother Earth," said Mr Eades.

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Oscar Colbung of the Southern Aboriginal Corporation said "We are pleased to have been part of this exciting project through the Great Southern Community Development Employment Program (CDEP). We thank all the participants and partner agencies and believe that this Meeting Place will serve as an inspiration to others": 

The cultural achievements of the Meeting Place are complemented by revegetation achievements made possible through a partnership between Greening Australia and Shell who are funding the Reconnections project for a period of 6 years. To date, over 500 hectares of revegetation has been completed and initial revegetation work has focussed on reconstructing tracts of native vegetation in areas strategic to Gondwana Link - an ambitious project working to connect vegetation and restore habitat initially between the Stirling Range and Fitzgerald River national parks.

Chris Gunner, Chief Operating Officer for Shell Development (Australia) said, "We are extremely proud of our Reconnections partnership with Greening Australia, now in its fourth year.  We believe in making significant long-term contributions to the local environment - not just through comprehensive revegetation and land restoration activities, but also by helping Noongar people to re-establish their links to the land by enabling this cultural Meeting Place to come to fruition."

Greening Australia WA CEO, Dr Robert Lambeck said the partnership with Shell in the Reconnections project goes beyond the traditional views of corporate social responsibility. "This is an innovative partnership between a large corporation and a progressive environmental organisation which delivers multiple outcomes for the environment, for the local community, particularly the Noongar community, and for Shell," said Dr Lambeck.

Chief Executive Officer for South Coast NRM Mr Rob Edkins said that their former Indigenous NRM Facilitator Ken Hayward worked closely with key members of the Noongar community. Respected Noongar, Eugene Eades, was instrumental in developing the concept and establishing the Meeting Place. 

"The project reflects a landmark in the integration of natural and cultural heritage management in Australia and we recognised that the Gondwana Link vision provided an ideal framework for developing the Meeting Place,” said Mr Edkins.

Contacts for media, photo opportunities and interviews:

Greening Australia: Birute Greenhalgh 0422 255 865 or Barry Heydenrych 0427 988 024

Shell: Anita Harben 0414 453 990