We’ve been working with the local community to rejuvenate Tarlington Park in Bonnyrigg and, to mark NAIDOC Week, on Thursday 6 July we gathered there to unveil its beautiful new Dreaming Circle.
Our Maintenance team put in plenty of hours to get the project completed in time. What had been an overgrown and neglected parcel of land has been transformed into a pocket park that the community can once again take pride in.
Eight sandstone blocks have created a Dreaming Circle that’s set on a fresh base (which the local kids loved playing with) and the park’s existing artworks were repaired, reframed and will be given a coat of resin to protect them. “They had been in very poor condition and were rotting,” says Sarah Mulcahy, Lead, Connecting Communities for South West Sydney, who organised the NAIDOC Week event. “I’m glad we’ve been able to preserve them.”
This project represents many years of close work with the Aboriginal community in Bonnyrigg for Sarah and her team, and she was happy to be able to unveil this great new community asset. To celebrate, a smoking ceremony was held, followed by traditional dances led by Malcom Clayton.
The didgeridoo echoed across the suburb and then the kids who make up the Marrabang Wagagee dance group at Bonnyrigg Public School also performed.
Afterwards, the young dancers were presented with specially designed t-shirts and jackets provided by SGCH. “This is a token of our thanks for the amazing performances they do for us,” says Sarah.
The community was invited to press their hand prints onto the new park facilities, where they will remain as a memento of the day. Totem poles being painted by the Aboriginal community are being completed and will be installed as the final design element of the park very soon.
The theme for this year’s NAIDOC Week is ‘For Our Elders’ and we were delighted to have many Elders in attendance.
One very special Elder, Aunty Freda, told SGCH she looks forward to NAIDOC Week every year: “I love it, because it’s all about celebrating our culture. It makes me so happy, and so proud, to see the young ones continuing our traditions.”