The journey is as important as the destination
On Ngarluma land, Elders met with us to talk about a place where children could play and learn of their culture. A place that told the story of their land, the river and the sea. Where children could connect, through play, to the life of the people who had gone before. Play that would help each child know that they belong to an ancient story.
On the map of Western Australia, in the Pilbara, there is a small remote town called Roebourne. The First Nations people give it a different name. leramagardu. In 2020, local Elders met with One Tree to talk about setting up a bush kindergarten. It opened in 2024.
The Gurdawarnigu Bush Kindy is evidence of when we work together, listen and learn from each other, good things happen. One Tree Executive Manager Claire McManus and General Manager Sophie Martin said, “We learnt so much from the Elders about Aboriginal culture. It was such a privilege to spend time with these remarkable women on this journey.”
The bush kindy was developed by the leramagardu Pathways Program and funded by Woodside Development Fund.
Letter from Yandi for Change Elders Council
These initiatives are so valuable. It goes back to the community identifying what was needed, and One Tree genuinely engaging with the community. Their approach must be acknowledged, as the overall success came from their engagement, and ensuring culture was the centre of the work.”
This article was originally published in our 2024 Annual Report: Be National Act Local.
