‘Cultural pride, self esteem, and community confidence are just a few of the aspects that a community garden will bring’, says Armidale Aboriginal leader Steve Widders.
In acknowledging his Aboriginal ancestry, Mr Widders reflected on the symbolism of the Aboriginal flag – the way it portrays the people and their relationship with the land, and with the giver of life, the sun. He emphasised that a communal garden would nourish these connections, and bring a new sense of unity, engagement and purpose.
Dr Kate Wright, who is undertaking a Postdoctoral Research
Fellowship in the School of Arts at UNE, agreed that such a project would have far-reaching benefits. The garden is not only about growing fresh produce, but will also promote Aboriginal environmental science and management through native medicines and foods, as well as foregrounding interactions between plants and insects, and the subterranean world of soils and soil organisms, to deepen understandings of ecology.
As they regenerate soils and vegetation, Widders and Wright hope that there will be much interest regenerated in a wide cross-section of the community, including school children, who can come to learn more about the environment, about Aboriginal Australian cultures and knowledges, and about how to grow fresh and nutritious food.
Widders and Wright are both members of a “seeding” committee who have been working to develop the garden project over the last 12 months. Members of the committee include representatives from Minimbah School, the Clontarf Academy, Jobs Australia, TAFE New England, Best Employment, UNE, the Oorala Centre, The Armidale School, Beyond Empathy, and members of the Aboriginal community. The seeding committee has arranged an Open Day with an invitation to all interested members of the public, potential sponsors and supporters, and volunteers.
The Open Day will be held from 1pm on Saturday the 23rd of May at the garden site, Mossman Street, East Armidale (near Doody Park Oval), with parking via Mann Street. The highlight of the day will be a visit from well-known celebrity gardener, Costa Georgiadis (ABC’s Gardening Australia). There will be performances by local musicians and dancers, farmers’ market stalls, speeches from local community leaders and Aboriginal Elders, a free BBQ and campfire cooking, and opportunities for guests to have their say about the future of the garden, and to sign-up to become garden members.
A public forum on community food movements and Aboriginal environmental knowledge, featuring Costa Georgiadis, UNE scholars and Aboriginal community leaders, will be held at the Oorala Aboriginal Centre, UNE at 11.30am on Friday 22nd May.
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