Great Southern
Noongar Story Project
Project Purpose
The purpose of the Great Southern Noongar Story Project is to support Aboriginal people in retaining and strengthening connection to country, identity and culture.
The Project captures stories and knowledge of local Noongar Elders from the Great Southern region to protect, preserve and share.
Project Outcomes
The outcomes of this Project align to the identified outcomes of the grant sought through Lotterywest. This includes:
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Community is connected through local initiatives that strengthen wellbeing, promote participation and/or volunteering, and encourage re-connection after a period of distancing and isolation;
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Marginalised, minority and disadvantaged groups at risk of experiencing prolonged impacts of social isolation and discrimination are actively included in community;
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Aboriginal people retain and strengthen connection to country, identity and culture.
Project Deliverables
The deliverables aligned to this Project include:
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Documentaries and short stories filmed throughout the Great Southern region that can be shared through multiple audio-visual formats;
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Written biographies captured of each participating Elder;
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Written documentation relating to the project background, purpose and exposure;
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Still photography captured during the filming of the stories and cultural knowledge sharing;
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Web page development to access project information;
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Project Promotions Plan;
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Archiving filmed content (edited and un-edited footage); and
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Launch of edited documentaries and short stories.
Filming on Location
The regional filming tour for the Great Southern Noongar Story Project occurred from 23 April 2023 to 29 April 2023 capturing local Noongar Elders stories and cultural knowledge.
Each Noongar Elder had their own approach to delivering their story and their knowledge, which was self-determined. The film production crew considered the cultural business approach to speaking with Elders.
Albany
Albany and its surrounds is home to the Menang Noongar people, the area was historically called Kinjarling by traditional custodians, which means "the place of rain". The city of Albany is located in the Great Southern region, approximately 420 kilometres south of Perth.
Borden and Gnowangerup
Borden is located 400 kilometres south-east of Perth, it lies 120 kilometres north of Albany on a road which passes through the Stirling Range National Park. The Borden Aboriginal Reserve is located on the edge of the townsite.
The name Gnowangerup is derived from the Noongar word ‘Ngow,’ meaning Malleefowl. For thousands of years, the plains around Gnowangerup were home to the Goreng Noongars. Gnowangerup is located in the Great Southern region, approximately 350 kilometres south-east of Perth.
The Gnowangerup Aboriginal Reserve was located on the edge of the townsite and the Gnowangerup Mission was located 2.4 kilometres from town. Established in 1935 around Muir Hill, the Gnowangerup Mission existed on 61 hectares of land.
The Stirling Ranges is located within the Shire of Gnowangerup. Many creation stories reflect the Stirling Range, particularly Bluff Knoll. The Noongar people of the area referred to Bluff Knoll as Bular Mial (many eyes).
Kojonup
Kojonup is located in the Great Southern Region of Western Australia, 259kms south-east of Perth. It is situated on the Albany Highway, the main route from Perth to the major regional coastal city of Albany, (155kms south).
Kojonup is named after the ‘kodj’, which is the traditional Noongar name for the stone axe implement made and used by the traditional custodians in the area. Kojonup has a fresh-water spring located on the edge of the town, which holds historical significance to past generations of traditional custodians as well as to the European settlement of the area.
Marribank Mission
Marribank was where Aboriginal children were taken after being forcibly removed from their families and homes. These children are known as the Stolen Generations. The profoundly damaging impacts of the Stolen Generations on Indigenous people and their culture has resulted in the emergence of intergenerational trauma.
Located between Kojonup and Katanning within the Great Southern Region of Western Australia, the mission has had several names over the years. The place, now known as Marribank Mission, was originally named the Carrolup Native Settlement and was established in 1915. It became Marribank Mission in 1952 when the Baptist Union commenced operations.
“Carrolup Native Settlement was one of several settlements aimed at providing an integrated scheme for housing, education and employment for Aboriginal people; and in addition, from 1950 when the place became a mission for Aboriginal children under the Baptist Aboriginal Mission of Western Australia, controlling belief systems by Christianising them” (Heritage Council of WA, 2017).
Marribank includes a “number of relatively substantial buildings constructed from local materials by the Aboriginal residents of the settlement between 1918 and 1921, a considerable technical achievement in an isolated location in the south west of the state” (Heritage Council of WA, 2017). Additional buildings were erected throughout the history of the settlement, and later as a mission.
Mt Barker and Porongurup
It is believed that the name ‘Porongurup’ is derived from the Aboriginal name Purringorep. Porongurup National Park is located in the Great Southern region, approximately 40 kilometres north of Albany. The Range is twelve kilometres long and 670 metres at its highest point.
Located at the base of the Porongurup range is the Bolganup Homestead. It is on this site that Traditional Owners, Shirley Williams and Bobby Colbung, were camped as children and spent their early childhood exploring.
Mount Barker is located in the Great Southern region, 360 kilometres south of Perth, within the Shire of Plantagenet. Mount Barker is situated on Menang Noongar country and is located between the Stirling Ranges to the north and Porongurup Ranges to the south.
The Mount Barker Aboriginal Reserve is located on the edge of the Mount Barker townsite. Buildings that once existed on this Reserve have since been removed or demolished, leaving some remnants of concrete floorprints that have been overgrown with vegetation that has encroached on the site.
Nowanup
Nowanup boodja (country) is located on Normans Road in Gairdner, approximately 160 kilometres north-east of Albany in the Great Southern region. The land is surrounded by red ochre in ancient breakaway country and is known as a place of healing.
Nowanup was purchased in 2004 by the National Trust of WA for the purpose of protecting its 400 ha of bush and restoring the 350 ha of cleared land as part of the Gondwana Link program. Under the stewardship of Eugene Eades, Nowanup has received over 16,000 visitors – through camps, cultural programs, many youth at risk programs, and eco-art programs.
Walitj Mia Mia Farm
the Walitj Mia Mia Farm was the first Aboriginal-managed farm on the south coast of Western Australia. Located in the Narrikup/Redmond area, approximately 20km North of Albany, the Walitj Mia Mia Farm is approximately 600ha of land used for sheep farming as well as community, connection and caring for country activities.
Owned by the Walitj Aboriginal Corporation, membership is based on kinship connection to the Colbung family. The Colbung family is recognised as a Traditional Owner within the Menang language group area of the Wagyl Kaip and Southern Noongar region.
The walitj totem is inherited by the Colbung family members clan and is their spritural emblem that has been handed down through generations. Walitj is the Noongar name for Eagle which represents one of the most powerful birds and this also represents our family status in Noongar lore and culture”.
The farms success has enabled the people associated with Walitj to reconnect with their traditional land, preserve the groups heritage and culture as well as generate significant social benefits.
Introducing our Elders
The capturing of stories for the Great Southern Noongar Story Project centred around the following 13 Noongar Elders associated with the Great Southern region.
Elsie Penny (DOB: 26/10/1959)
Elsie was born in Gnowangerup in Goreng Noongar country and spent 11 years of her childhood at the Marribank Mission. Family is extremely important to Elsie, with five children and eight grandchildren that she holds close to her heart. The brothers and sisters of Marribank are part of her family and she hopes that bringing Marribank back to life with the ‘Healing Marribank’ project will benefit all the Marribank kids and their families.
Elsie is a strong Noongar women that loves working in Aboriginal health and strives for the best in all that she does. She is currently working at South West Aboriginal Medical Services.
Her advice for our younger generation is to always show respect for Elders and people, always listen to Elders as this is how you learn the stories, be kind and considerate, and work towards getting a good education to set you up for the future.
Elsie is an inaugural Director of the Marribank Aboriginal Corporation as well as a member of the Goomburrup Aboriginal Corporation.
Caron Wynne (DOB: 03/03/1962)
Caron was born in Wagin however was taken to Marribank Mission on the 18 December 1962 and spent over 17 years there. Caron wants people to know that “life can start out in the worst way possible, but it doesn’t have to define the rest of your life. Opportunities today for young Noongar people are endless”.
Connecting with her own family and her Marribank family is a significant part of her life as well as her Christian faith. As the founding Chairperson of the Marribank Aboriginal Corporation she holds the importance of sharing her family’s stories and history and having a voice for them as they were silenced.
Caron has worked in education for nearly 40 years and is currently a Senior Lecturer at Curtin University. She states that “education drives change as a positive pathway for the future of Aboriginal people”.
Garry Ryder (DOB: 22/12/1955)
Garry was born on the North Hampton Reserve but spent the first 18 months (approximately) in hospital due to severe asthma. In 1957 Garry and his siblings were taken from their family and homeland in Geraldton and placed into the Marribank mission. Sharing his stories has helped him on his healing journey and it is important to him to see Marribank rebuilt and lived in. He wants to make sure his children and grandchildren know all about Marribank, what they did when they were younger and how much being outdoors and playing means.
As an inaugural Director and the Vice-Chairperson of the Marribank Aboriginal Corporation, Garry is working towards seeing the place he grew up in come back to life. Garry is also the Secretary of the Katanning Aboriginal Corporation, member of the Elders Reference Group for Curtin University, member of the Great Southern Aboriginal Health Advisory Committee, and member of the Wudjari Aboriginal Corporation.
Now retired, Garry has worked as an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education Officer and an Aboriginal Mentor in Katanning schools, Administration Officer for the Community Development Employment Program at Southern Aboriginal Corporation and a Supervisor at Centrelink.
Elvie Riley (DOB: 22/03/1937)
Born on ‘The Hill’ in Kojonup, Elvie grew up mostly in and around the township and used to go out on the farms a lot following the work where her dad was employed. Elvie feels that loving everybody and being happy are really important factors in life. Her love for her family is also important and she has five children and 16 grandchildren.
With a powerful message to the younger generation, her advice is to not drink or give it away if you are drinking and don’t do drugs, be strong.
Her husband worked for a transport company in Kojonup for 18 years but passed away quite young from a brain tumor. Elvie raised her children in the Kojonup community.
Patricia Michael – known as Patsy (DOB: 12/07/1934)
Patsy was born in Kojonup and went to school approximately 20km from the townsite. She also spent some of her childhood growing up in Boyup Brook in the South West region of Western Australia where she finished off her schooling.
Patsy has a kind and giving nature and is proud of her children. One of her children, Stephen Michael, was a very prominent player in the West Australian Football League for the South Fremantle Football Club between 1975 and 1985, playing over 240 games and was appointed captain in 1983. In 1999, Stephen was inducted into the Australian Football Hall of Fame.
Patsy’s advice for the younger generation is that whatever you are doing, do it with pride and look after yourself through doing your best.
Trevor Eades (DOB: 12/05/1941)
Born on the Kojonup Aboriginal Reserve, Trevor spent his youth in the area and shifted away in 1968. His family is very important to him, and he feels luck is on his side to come out alive following a vehicle accident during his work as a truck driver. He spent ten years as a truck driver in an era where “we didn’t get paid for the work we did, I came out with hardly nothing”.
He is a proud Noongar man and always has been. he has worked on many projects and contributed to many Aboriginal Boards, including Aboriginal Legal Service, South West Land and Sea Council and Southern Aboriginal Corporation to get the best results for other Aboriginal people and to preserve Noongar culture.
Trevor would like to see the younger generation thrive through working hard to get what you want and staying away from drugs and alcohol.
Shirley Williams (DOB: 29/08/1947)
Shirley was born at the base of the Porongurup Ranges close to where she grew up in her early years on a camp within the Bolganup Homestead site in Porongurups. Taking a walk down memory lane is very important for Shirley as it is a way of connection to country and people. Her family also holds a special place in her heart, including all the memories and moments.
Shirley is an honest and caring person who loves her country and loves her family. She wants people to share and preserve history. There are so many treasured memories but very few photos and information around from the past, it is important to capture moments when you can.
To the younger generation, she would like to let you know to work hard, get a great education, care for other people and be kind to yourself. Getting a good education will open up doors for you!
Shirley commenced study as a nurse when she was younger, working at the Plantagenet District Hospital and is alsa a member of the Wagyl Kaip Southern Noongar Aboriginal Corporation and the Karri Karrack Aboriginal Corporation.
David Colbung – known as Bobby (DOB: 10/01/1956)
Born in Mount Barker, Bobby spent a lot of his childhood growing up on the Mount Barker Aboriginal Reserve with his siblings. There was some moving around to where the work was and he helped his dad out on the farms in several areas to help support the family with rations.
A central focus to Bobby is his family and his cultural background, including his Elders and ancestors. Supporting cultural knowledge sharing to preserve culture is a way the Bobby works to assist others in their life journey.
Bobby is known to be a straight shooter and a hard worker and passing this work ethic to his children and grandchildren is important to him so that he can help set them up for their futures. He is proud of his children for working and making a better life for themselves and their families.
Making sure you treat others the way you want to be treated and showing respect and care for them is a good life lesson for our youngsters. He details that it is important to do your best and get educated so that you can provide for your families and give them the best life.
Bobby is a member of the Walitj Aboriginal Corporation and the Southern Aboriginal Corporation.
Eugene Eades (DOB: 22/09/1951)
Eugene is a carer of country and a freedom fighter. Born in Katanning, on the Native Reserve, Eugene moved around the region as a young child. Continuing to live a good life and remaining in good health is important for him so that he can continue his work caring for country and passing on the Noongar culture. He works to support healing and to advocate what is fair and just for Aboriginal people.
Eugene is also known as a state champion middleweight boxer who participated in 20 bouts at the championship level from 1972 to 1985.
Over the last 18 years he has looked after country at Nowanup and supported peoples journey back to caring for country and healing. He states that it has “been a joy, bringing people back to country and to be with the land, letting the land heal us as well. I have seen so many changes in peoples lives…they go away better than what they come in”. He wants the younger generation to know that the most important part of Noongar business is to respect the Elders and to not bring shame on the family name. There is no better time for healing, lets stand tall and proud together.
Eugene was appointed Adjunct Associate Prefessor from Curtin University in recognition for the work and support he has provided on multiple projects and initiatives. Whilst humble about this recognition he is still proud about this achievement, his approach is that if it makes people feel well about honoring what he has done then that is good but he states that “I am the same old me”!
Dallas Coyne (DOB: 27/04/1952)
Dallas was born in Albany and grew up mostly in the township but also spent time in his dads country, out around Borden. His schooling occurred in Albany, with a strong and clear message from his mother that he needed a good education. In his household growing up, his mother was a loving and authoritive figure to all the siblings, with her upbringing as part of the stolen generations having a profound infuence on the whole family. He carries a deep hurt for his mother and enormous respect that will be with him until he dies. He shares the stories of his mother and her experiences as stolen generations and the hurt that goes with it with his family, his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren so that it will not be forgotten.
Education and family have been an important driver in his life and passing cultural knowledge and stories to the next generations is something to be proud of. Dallas details that “it is how people live on, through preserving today for our future. Our future is all our little Koolanga (children). What we put into our future is what they get out of it, without our future, we have nothing. This is wisdom that is passed on from the Elders”. His advice for children and young people is to listen to your Elders so that the knowledge and stories can be preserved.
Dallas wants people to know that Aboriginal people were stolen in their own country. Some families talk about karnya (shame) and different families are effected in different ways. Some can talk about it, some won’t talk about it, however he was always told to speak about it because without passing the stories and the truth on about being stolen, it will be lost.
Dallas is thankful to have the opportunity to participate in a project that can help preserve a part of his mum and dad and the history of Noongar people to keep this alive. He feels that projects like the Great Southern Noongar Story Project need to occur more so that we can preserve our past using modern technology to honour all our Elders and those that came before us.
Aden Eades (DOB: 11/07/1939)
Aden was born on the Gnowangerup Mission and spent the first six years growing up on the Mission until his dad returned from serving in the war in 1946. The family then moved around and spent time in multiple other areas including Kojonup, Katanning, Manjimup and Boyup Brook before returning to the Borden and Gnowangerup area, where his grandparents were.
Aden considers himself to be a ‘back-bencher’. He has a humble approach to the many initiatives that he has contributed to and driven for the benefit of the community and Aboriginal people, including the development of the Gnowangerup Community Centre.
Aden wants people to know that he has lived a good life, even though some of it was hard times. There was a time in his young adult life that he wasn’t allowed to enter the towns after 6:00pm because of the colour of his skin. His dad could because he had served in the war and had the card (citerzenship) to allow him to walk freely. Back then, Gnowangerup was a racist town but he would ‘go with the flow and mix in whenever he could’. He worked with his dad shearing in the area and it was impossible when knock off was 5:30pm to get to town by 6:00pm to pick up supplies for the next day. The penalty for Aboriginal people who were caught in town without a card after 6:00pm was to be locked up, normally for around seven days and during that time you had to work for the police such as gardening around the police station.
Aden’s advice to young people is that if you want a good run at life and to live a good life then you need to build a good foundation. The way to do this is to educate yourself, stay at school for as long as you can and get qualifications then build on that – you can’t loose out as you will have the skills and knowledge. Knowledge is power.
Elizabeth Woods – known as Eliza (DOB: 08/05/1949)
Eliza was born in a tent in Katanning and whilst she spent some time there, most of her childhood was spent in Borden and Gnowangerup on the reserves, where she grew up in a warm and loving environment, in a family structure where everyone helped raise the kids on the reserve.
Eliza can be described as a well respected protector, someone who is a peoples person with a lot of love to give. She is a strong Noongar woman that sticks to the old ways and what she does comes from the heart. She has a strong Christian faith, who acts to make a difference for ‘our mob’ and she is someone that is always there to support whoever needs support.
Eliza discusses that in todays society, you have to work a little bit harder because there is so many distractions out there for our kids, this includes technology and all kinds of things that are happening out in the community. This is why family is so important, the kids need a good foundation for them to grow up in. Whilst some may drift away, they will come back if there is a solid foundation.
Her advice for the younger generation, especially young parents, is that there is always support around, just speak up and reach out, we will stand together. She believes that we need more action from everybody so that we can leave a good legacy and a good reputation. This can come from filling your mind with positivity and love.
Eliza studied at Curtin University, which was a challenge at the time due to previous schooling experiences. She believes that taking on this challenge also inspired her daughters to pursue education and careers. Eliza has also previously volunteered as the chairperson of the Gnowangerup Aboriginal and the Southern Aboriginal Corporation.
Oscar Colbung (DOB: 09/10/1958)
Oscar was born at the hospital in Mount Barker and mostly grew up in the Aboriginal native reserve located on the outskirts of the township and attended the local school. He is a proud Menang Noongar person with proven traditional connections to Menang, Bibbulmun, Wardandi and Ganeang Noongar language groups.
He is a strong advocate for the rights of Indigenous people and an exceptional leader in social justice and cultural undertaking. Oscar works in the social justice field for the advancement of Aboriginal people where culture matters for self-determination and self-management.
Passing on his knowledge and cultural skills to the younger generation will be part of his legacy. Oscar believes that if we can take what the Elders passed on to us and implement it in their lives, it will create a strong pathway forward. He is a thoughtful person who has always tried his best to support others to determine a pathway of increased connection, resilience, and knowledge.
Oscar has a Bachelor of Applied Science in Aboriginal Community Management and Development from Curtin University. He is one of the inaugural directors of the native title settlement board, Waigyl Kaip Southern Noongar Aboriginal Corporation and has served as the Regional Councillor for the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission (ATSIC) for three terms since 1990.
Oscar is also a founding member and current chairperson of the Walitj Aboriginal Corporation and has worked for the Southern Aboriginal Corporation in varying community development roles for over 30 years. His primary focus, as Deputy Chief Executive Officer at SAC, is to oversee the Family Violence Prevention and Legal Service that is delivered in the Great Southern region, South West region, Wheatbelt South sub-region and Perth metro areas, as well as undertake the role of cultural advisor of the organisation.
For Oscar, culture underpins the way he works together in the community and organisations, and it flows through proper governance arrangements, achieving persistent and innovative results. He makes sure all programs and decision making at SAC includes cultural competency.
Project Preview
Story Launch
Details of the launch event for the screening of the Great Southern Noongar Story will land here shortly. Watch this space!
Project Access
A ‘Request to Access Form’ and the ‘Great Southern Noongar Story Access Policy’ will land here shortly. Watch this space!
Project Acknowledgement
The Great Southern Noongar Story Project is proudly supported by:
Southern Aboriginal Corporation worked with Aboriginal Promotions and Production to direct, film, edit, sequence and archive the recordings undertaken for the Great Southern Noongar Story Project. We extend our absolute appreciation for the work that they have done and their approach to this project.
Southern Aboriginal Corporation would also like to acknowledge the associated Aboriginal Corporations for their contribution to this project.
