Latest news with #Noongar
West Australian
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- West Australian
Katanning Noongar Centre KAARL Yarning and Koreng Art and Culture Centre opens after five years
The reopening of Katanning's KAARL Yarning Place and Koreng Art and Culture Centre drew a large crowd, including two State ministers. The brand new Katanning Noongar Centre was revealed on Thursday morning to about 120 people, after five years of hard work by the centre's board and Shire of Katanning to create a safe place for conversation, storytelling and connection. The purpose-built meeting place was backed by a $92,000 contribution from the State Government. A welcome to country by elder David Williams started the event at 11am, followed by guest speakers — Shire of Katanning president Kristy D'Aprile and Aboriginal Affairs Minister Don Punch. Mr Punch and Regional Development Minister Stephen Dawson then cut the ribbon. The outdoor area named KAARL Yarning — KAARL meaning fire in Noongar — features a covered shelter, fire pit and landscaping and pathways. It will host cultural ceremonies, performances and festivals while being an accessible space for all to enjoy daily. The Koreng Art and Culture Centre will display and teach all forms of art including dress, painting, dancing and more. Katanning Aboriginal Corporation chair Wendy Hayden said it was a privilege to have the ministers attend because it 'made our people feel important', plus they had purchased art pieces displayed at the centre to hang in their office. The centre's initiation involved storytelling, live music by John Ford and cultural food provided by local First Nations business Jeert Mia. Ms Hayden said they wanted to build a dedicated space for everyone in the community, Indigenous or non-Ingenious, to gather, heal, share stories and learn from one another. 'It's important to us to have a meeting place for our people, we want to create this safe space and a fire brings everyone together,' she said. 'A place to establish a good, strong relationship with the youth, mothers, men and elders. 'The goal is to work with the shire council, it's a new thing but it's time it happened. We're not rewriting the past but starting a new journey where we will walk side by side. 'It's important for our people to be occupied, needed and part of the bigger picture.' The property's land was once a camping area for Noongar mobs and Ms Hayden said 'it is a significant place of identity' and hoped to transform the entire block, including along the river. This latest development is part of the State Government's $15.72 million Katanning Heritage Centre investment, which included rejuvenating the town centre, advancing the Piesse Lake development, welcome precinct, botanic garden and recreation area. Mr Dawson said the opening was significant for the region. 'I congratulate the Katanning community for recognising the need, having the vision and seeing it through to fruition,' he said. 'This is a space that will grow with the community, and I look forward to seeing how it continues to evolve. 'The Cook Government is proud to support the Katanning Heritage Centre project which has delivered funding for a range of developments for the town to ensure it's a great place to live and visit.'
Newsroom
2 days ago
- Sport
- Newsroom
A Diamond recut: Mystics reignite Wallam's sparkle
Something clicked for Donnell Wallam this season with the Mystics – and it wasn't just the sound of her wrist breaking. It was as though she'd found her netball people. 'I've never felt so comfortable in a team before. I just relate to a lot of the girls so much more,' says the Australian Diamonds goal shoot, and proud Noongar woman, just days away from playing in the first elite netball grand final of her career. 'You know, the Aboriginal culture and the Māori culture are so similar. It's as simple as some of the language we use with each other, and I just felt at ease straight away. That's what I've enjoyed most.' Yet Wallam, unwanted in Australia's top league, admits she was 'initially scared' to join the Mystics, stepping into the giant shoes left by Grace Nweke. Then she'd barely got started before it all came crashing down – a fractured wrist in just the third round of the ANZ Premiership threatened to end her season. So when doctors gave her six weeks to recover, she told them she'd only need four – and slotted back into the Mystics shooting circle in round eight with little trace of discomfort. 'I think I've come over here, taken on the challenge and it's made me a better player. I've really developed my game here,' the 31-year-old says. On Sunday, Wallam will line up in the premiership grand final in a Mystics side who've been all the better for her presence. Assistant coach Rob Wright, also an Aussie, says the shooter known in the team as Nelly has been a joy to work with. 'There's something about Nelly. People really warm to her, she's really humble and understated, and then she backs it up on court,' he says. 'And she always wants to be better.' Mystics veteran Peta Toeava has been like 'a big sister' to newcomer Wallam this season. Photo: Northern Mystics Wallam's success on court here – shooting 275 goals at 88 percent, even after missing four games, and seamlessly falling into sync with magical Mystics feeder Peta Toeava – has attracted attention across the Tasman. The Mystics offered Wallam a lifeline after she failed to score a contract with a Suncorp Super Netball franchise this year – let go by the Queensland Firebirds after three seasons, who signed up Ugandan star Mary Cholhok (they finished at the bottom of the table with just two wins). Wallam made headlines in Australia last week when she was invited back to the Australian Diamonds' training camps. This time, though, it's essentially as a training partner – losing her place in the national squad she's been in since 2022. 'It's a bit of a different role this time as an invitee, but I'm still grateful to have that opportunity again,' Wallam says, taking it all in her long stride. 'It's always an honour. 'There may be an opportunity to be elevated, otherwise you're in and around the environment still learning and developing your game.' Regardless of the outcome in the grand final against Tactix, a home game for the Mystics at west Auckland's Trusts Arena, Wallam will return to Western Australia with more than she arrived here with. 'I've got so much more family now. The Mystics are my family away from home,' she says. Donnell Wallam unbalances Tactix keeper Jane Watson during the Mystics's 70-56 win in their last round match. Photo: Michael Bradley Photography Defending premiership champions for two years' running, the Mystics had their doubters at the start of the season. 'I don't think many people picked us to make the grand final,' Wright says. 'They may have picked us in the top three.' You can blame it on the Nweke Factor. Losing the prolific Silver Ferns goal shooter was seen as a blow the Mystics might struggle to come back from. When Wright and Mystics head coach Tia Winikerei heard Nweke was signing with the NSW Swifts, they started their search for a new shooter. 'It's not easy to replace a 55-plus goal shooter,' Wright says. 'There was a suggestion Nelly wasn't going to have a spot [in the SSN league], and we were thinking she would be a really good pick-up for us – in terms of how our midcourt operates and how we play our games.' Megan Anderson, a former Diamonds shooter who played her final season of elite netball for the Mystics, coached Wallam at the Firebirds and is now her manager. That connection helped the Mystics coaching team make their approach. 'We were fortunate Nelly was really keen to come to us,' Wright says. Wallam met two ANZ Premiership teams. 'Once I spoke to Tia, I was initially scared. Like a good scared, though,' she says. 'That was a main reason I chose Mystics – I knew I'd be challenged in a different way. 'It was playing different styles of netball over here, being able to adapt to the moment, and not being that one-dimensional tall, holding shooter. So I don't become too predictable.' But there was one thing that made her think twice about joining the defending champions: replacing Nweke. 'I didn't want to go to a team where I had to fill the void left by Grace, because she's an amazing athlete,' Wallam says. 'But Tia reassured me they weren't looking to replace her; they wanted me to be me, and play to my strengths.' Immediately, the Mystics coaches were impressed by Wallam's 'thirst to improve', Wright says. 'You can tell her something and she'll go, 'Yeah, I'll do that', and she puts it into effect pretty quickly. She's easy to coach.' Wallam swiftly found her place in the shooting circle alongside Filda Vui, now in her fifth season with the Mystics. Vui has had one of her best seasons in 2025, thriving on her new responsibility in the circle, and the introduction of the super shot. The 29-year-old has sunk 28 two-pointers (with 64 percent accuracy), and some were game clinchers. 'Filly has stepped into a more influential role, more dominant, than previously,' says Wright. 'It means the opposition's having to worry about two targets, and especially with the two-point shot. It just keeps them guessing even more.' Wallam and Filda Vui have worked hard to keep defenders guessing this season, especially in supershot zones. Photo: Northern Mystics Wallam's been struck by how cool, calm and collected Vui has been, especially when the game is on the line. 'Nothing fazes Filda out there,' Wallam says. 'It's so nice to have such a confident goal attack to play with, who I can swing the ball out to for the supershot, and it takes some of the pressure off me.' And then there's pairing up with Toeava – one of the shrewdest, smartest feeders in the game. For years, her miracle passes to Nweke stole the spotlight, but she's proven she's no one-trick pony, setting up Wallam under the post with just as much flair and precision. Toeava and Wallam have spent a lot of one-on-one time together, honing exactly when and where to deliver the ball. 'I've got to give huge credit to Rob and Tia and the way they've structured our training so we've had the opportunity to gel like we have,' Wallam says. 'It's given us the upper hand; we know each other so well on court. 'Sometimes, I want to sit back in the goal circle and watch Peta do her thing, but then I've got to have my eyes open ever single time she has a hand on the ball – I have to expect the ball from anywhere. 'She's such a workhorse. In trainings, she sets the standard. She's someone you want to play for, like having a big sister in the team. I've loved playing with her.' A pained Donnell Wallam after fracturing her wrist in the Mystics' third round clash with the Steel. Photo: Michael Bradley Photography Wallam continues to play with a brace on her wrist since her unlucky break against the Steel in her third ANZ Premiership game. As she fell out of court, diving to keep a rebounded ball in, Wallam had a sinking feeling she'd broken a bone. 'I went off, strapped it up and tried to catch a few balls, but couldn't do it without pain. I was trying to convince myself and everyone around me it wasn't broken, just a bit sore. But I'd felt that kind of pain when I broke my arm a few years ago.' Wallam was in England in 2021, when she suffered a break to that same arm in her second game for the Leeds Rhinos. She was sidelined for seven weeks yet was rated the Super League's most accurate shooter at 95 percent. The following year she became the first Indigenous player in the Diamonds in 22 years. This year, x-rays showed she a small fracture in her left wrist – one she was determined wouldn't end her season. 'When the doctor said six weeks, I said 'give me four',' she says. She impressed the Mystics team by still turning up to every training and working with young shooter Sophia Lafaiali'i, called up from the Northern Marvels NNL side to fill the Diamond's role. She stood on the sideline yelling encouragement at home games. 'I didn't really like watching because I was just too close! I was a bit down on myself for that injury,' Wallam says. 'But it also gave me confidence we have so much depth in our squad that we can go to our bench no matter what. She credits the Mystics' medical team, as well as the Australian Diamonds' doctor, for giving her the right advice and getting her back on court five weeks later. 'I was just so happy to run out on the boards with the girls again, and to wear the Mystics' heritage dress, which meant a lot to me,' says Wallam. In three weeks, Wallam will return home to her 'puppies' – two miniature dachshunds. And she'll prepare for a couple of camps with the Australian Diamonds squad in September – one of four invitees who are essentially training partners to the 18-player squad. Diamonds coach Stacey Marinkovich told Fox Netball that after Wallam's disrupted season, she was 'keen to see what she's evolved in her game, what she's learnt playing in a different environment,' and how she can regain her connection with the squad. The 1.93m shooter could be a real asset for the Diamonds in the Constellation Cup in October, having got the better of New Zealand defenders throughout the premiership. Wallam's Auckland flat will soon disband, with fellow Aussies and Stars players, Remi Kamo and Charlie Bell, heading home too. 'It's been really fun living with them, having some familiarity over here, and bouncing our thoughts off each other after trainings, games and stuff,' Wallam says. Now Netball NZ has changed the Silver Ferns' eligibility rules, and Nweke could play another season in Australia and still wear the black dress, it's uncertain whether Wallam will return for another season in Auckland – especially with the future of the premiership here still to be revealed. But she's certain about one thing: 'I've absolutely loved it here.' Mystics and Tactix square off in the ANZ Premiership grand final in Auckland on Sunday at 4pm (the game will be live on Sky Sport). On the same day, Grace Nweke's Swifts will host the SSN preliminary final against the Vixens.
NZ Herald
4 days ago
- NZ Herald
Western Australia: an unspoilt land where summer never ends
Spotting a quokka - the 'happiest animal on Earth' - is one of many unique experiences in store for those venturing to the spectacular, untouched and unspoilt landscapes of Western Australia. The country's largest state, it boasts Australia's longest coastline and is a rich dreamscape for nature and wildlife lovers. It has an abundance of fresh air and wide, open spaces and, as the locals say, it is always summer somewhere in the state. The capital city Perth is Australia's sunniest capital and is home to 19 white sandy beaches and vibrant city streets. But back to the quokkas. One of the most memorable things to do while in Perth is to take a photo of the happy little critter. Around 10,000 of them live on Rottnest Island / Wadjemup, itself a slice of paradise just a 30-minute ferry ride out into the Indian Ocean from Perth's port city of Fremantle / Walyalup. While the island's 63 beaches have blindingly white sand and water so clear you can see down to your toes - all linked by paved riding and walking trails - it is the encounter with its cute inhabitants that makes a visit there so heartwarming. A small wallaby which grows to about the size of a domestic cat, quokkas appear to be perpetually smiling which is what earned them that sweet and fitting 'happiest animal on earth' moniker. Highly photogenic and friendly, they roam freely around Rottnest Island. They are found nowhere else on the planet. Western Australia is a place to recharge, connect with the land and experience otherworldly natural phenomena and for Kiwis wanting to travel there it is easy to book and plan holidays through YOU Travel, the New Zealand-owned and operated travel brand with 30 stores across Aotearoa. Among the many attractions, places to go and things to do YOU Travel suggests are: Walks with Aboriginal guides Gain insights into Western Australia's rich Aboriginal culture with walking tours over some of Perth's most iconic and scenic landscapes – and imagine the Noongar dreamtime stories passed down for generations. Walks are about 90 minutes long. Swimming alongside whale sharks at Ningaloo Reef About a 13-hour drive or two-hour flight from Perth, the World Heritage-listed Ningaloo / Nyinggulu reef plays host to gentle whale sharks from March to August offering an unparalleled opportunity to spot – and swim with – some of the world's largest marine animals. Humpback whales and manta rays also glide past as visitors dive, snorkel or swim among a colourful universe of coral gardens beneath the waters. The south west region's Cape to Cape track Giant karri forests and ancient limestone caves are waiting to be explored while visitors can also hike the famous 125km Cape to Cape track. One of the most outstanding walking trails in Australia it stretches from the Cape Naturaliste Lighthouse to Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse in the Margaret River Region. Moon in Broome At Roebuck Bay / Yawuru Nagulagun as darkness descends, experience a once-in-a-lifetime sight when the full moon rises over tidal flats, creating a stunning visual effect. Known as the Staircase to the Moon, it occurs on certain dates from March to October. A two-and-a-half hour flight from Perth, Broome / Rubibi is also home to the stunning pearls of the South Seas and has attracted pearl divers since the 1800s. Chinatown's dazzling pearl showrooms are a must-see. Horizontal Waterfalls, Talbot Bay Sir David Attenborough calls them 'one of the greatest natural wonders of the world' which must be seen to be believed. The falls are formed by massive volumes of water squeezing through narrow cliff passages with rapid-like formations creating a unique sideways waterfall effect. The Horizontal / Garaan-ngaddim falls are easily accessible by seaplane or helicopter from Broome or Derby. Lucky Bay Known as Australia's whitest beach, Lucky Bay is an incredible 5km stretch of long, white sandy beach near Esperance / Kepa Kurl, a part of the Cape Le Grand National Park / Mandoowernup. Brilliant blue and turquoise waters drift into the protected bay, one frequently inhabited by kangaroos looking to cool off. A 45-minute drive from Esperance, visitors can camp, fish, swim, go boating or bushwalking. Pink lakes at Port Gregory Sometimes bright bubblegum pink, sometimes lilac and occasionally red, the waters of Hutt Lagoon can be an extraordinary sight. A high level of salinity gives the lagoon its unusual hue and its vibrancy changes with the seasons and time of day. Best time to visit is on a clear day, around mid-morning or sunset. Hutt Lagoon is about a six-hour drive from Perth. Between July and September, the countryside is blanketed with 12,000 species of wildflowers. Cruising the Kimberley coastline The Kimberley coast is largely untouched with thousands of kilometres of red cliffs, pristine white sands and clear turquoise waters teeming with marine life. It is a wilderness few have experienced. One of the most spectacular ways to explore it is by expedition cruise ranging from boutique vessels to larger expedition craft. Some are topped with a helicopter allowing access to cliff-top waterfall pools, expansive views of island archipelagos and thrilling rides. Inflatable zodiac boats are used to explore remote island beaches, fishing spots and narrow river reaches. Margaret River Region – premium wine country The Margaret River Region is home to some of Australia's best vineyards and cellar-doors (there are over 200) and dining experiences. With a relaxed, nature-loving, artistic vibe its main street is dotted with diverse galleries, characterful cafes, surf shops and a pub with a 600-bottle wine list. Some of the region's top surf breaks are a 10-minute drive away while guided crawls through underground limestone caves are offered.
West Australian
15-07-2025
- General
- West Australian
Emma Garlett: WA's Aboriginal resistance heroes deserve a day to celebrate
Here's the good news: West Australians could soon be getting two extra days off per year. And the even better news: we get a say in what those extra days off will be for. West Australians have long been shortchanged when it comes to public holidays. We get 11 a year compared to 13 in most of the Eastern States. A shake-up of the public holiday calendar is set to rectify that, with the Government calling for input into the changes. Public holidays are more than just an extra day off work or school. They are a statement about who we are as a society. They announce to that society's members and the world at large the achievements and milestones that the community believes are worthy of celebration or commemoration. It's a fantastic opportunity for WA to officially recognise its Aboriginal history. We are talking about the custodians of the oldest continuous living cultures on Earth. Surely that's an achievement and a history that is deserving of a day off to celebrate? And there are plenty of moments in WA's proud Aboriginal history to celebrate. Yagan is a name that is probably familiar to Perth residents. Born around 1795, he was a Noongar leader and warrior is the namesake of Yagan Square in the CBD. He was initially friendly with the early settlers and was a champion of culture, place and authority in the early years of the Swan River Colony. To many Noongar West Aussies, Yagan is a symbol of our recognition and rights. Unfortunately, it did not end well for Yagan. He was shot in 1833 and his head was cut off and sent to England where it was kept at the Royal Institute in Liverpool until 1964. It wasn't until 1997 that it was finally returned to Australia and another 13 years before it was reburied. The date of that reburial — July 10, the anniversary of Yagan's last full day alive — would be fitting to celebrate Yagan Day. Alternatively, there's Fanny Balbuk, who was a Noongar woman born in 1840 on Matagarup (Heirisson Island). She was determined never to give up her land. She was resolute, even as Perth's settlement encroached further onto her lands. She continued to maintain her traditional rights, regardless of what was in her way. She would walk her lands, gathering foods, knocking down fences if she needed to. She was a true resistance fighter. Without the knowledge she passed down, the Noongar Native Title claim of 2006 may not have been successful. The date of that claim, September 19, could be celebrated as a day dedicated to Fanny's memory, to celebrate her commitment to fighting for her culture. This is not just about a day off. This is saying that we as West Australians recognise and value our Aboriginal history. Emma Garlett is a legal academic and Nylyaparli-Yamatji-Nyungar woman
ABC News
13-07-2025
- General
- ABC News
Rediscovery of original Noongar place names in Perth captured on film
A two-year project to rediscover the original Noongar place names in Perth's southern suburbs has been captured on film. The film, Boodjara, which premiered this week, tells the story of how 14 Noongar elders came together to share what they learnt from their own ancestors, painstakingly reclaiming the original place names of the Melville area, in Perth's southern suburbs. Through long, careful conversations, they found not just names but stories. Yagan Mia (Wireless Hill) means "home of the long-necked turtle", an important food source, while Niergarup is Point Preston, and translates as "place of the salmon". Lucky Bay was known as Margamangup, "the place where they catch fish by hand from a fish trap". The film shows the work of reclaiming culture playing out at the same time as the failed Voice referendum. The film, Boodjara, charts the careful work elders did mapping the area and was shot by Noongar filmmaker Hugh Sando, recording the conversations that led to the rediscovery of the place names. "It was beautiful to watch," Sando told Jo Trilling on ABC Radio Perth. "These conversations unfolded, these stories were being told and I was able to document that in a way that you could share with the community, share with broader Australia. The cultural mapping involved a physical linen map that was unrolled at every meeting and hand-carved clay stamps were made to represent different places. Slowly, the project came together. "I think whenever you're exploring something that has been affected by colonisation, there's always going to be challenges," Sando said. "Thankfully, we have a group of elders that were involved in this project that care so deeply about language and about culture. "And through that, there's robust discussion. There's critical debate." He said for any place, knowing the traditional names was a way into learning about the culture and history. "When Noongar people would refer to a place, it was more often than not a description of what was there, a story about that place. "For me personally, it's so important and I think it should be important for everyone." The name of the film, Boodjara, means country. Sando said he hoped it inspired curiosity for people to learn not just more about Melville, but places all over Australia. "Everyone thrives on the culture of the places they visit," he said. "I would ask one thing from everyone that watches the film — be curious. Where am I? What does this place mean? What was this place before colonisation? "And how is this place still important? For the Noongar elders who took part in the project, it's a restoration of culture that will be felt for generations to come. During the course of filming, Australia voted no to creating the Voice to parliament. Geri Hayden, the cultural advisor on the place names project team, told the ABC last year it was about bringing Noongar stories to the fore for future generations. "It's about reviving the Noongar place names and identifying them and telling the meaning so that our future generations know that we do have a culture, we do have a law," Ms Hayden said. "It's very important that people know about it and especially our children who grow up in the society and the world around us. "We learn about all this European history stuff but they forget about our culture and that means our history too." Hugh Sando sees his film, and the cultural mapping journey it documents, as a way for First Nations culture to become stronger, despite the obstacles. "It was a privilege for me to sit in on those conversations and be able to not only document, but witness that process happen," he said. Boodjara was a collaboration between the Community Arts Network of Western Australia, Indigenous consultancy Moodjar and the City of Melville.
