The Outdoors Great Southern team has embarked on a project to enhance understanding and appreciation of the Great Southern region’s history, culture and biodiversity via the Great Southern Treasures Bobtail Trail.
The project adds value to existing sites on the Great Southern Treasures Drive Trail by providing wayfinding and interpretive signage at each of the sites that make up a network of walking, cycling, and paddling trails and increasing both opportunity and inspiration to stop, learn more and be active at each site.
Over the next month, Outdoors Great Southern’s new Interpretation Officer Dr May Carter and Cultural Heritage Engagement Officer Robbie Miniter will make contact with local governments, Aboriginal and community organisations to confirm Bobtail Trail locations, and to start collecting stories and information to highlight key features and stories associated with each place on the trail.
It is expected that local residents will be invited to attend community meetings and workshops in each local government area before the end of this year. We invite you to share your memories, photographs, history and culture surrounding your favourite local places to make travelling around the Great Southern a more rewarding experience for residents and visitors alike.
Mr Minister said his work would focus on continuing consultation with local Noongar communities, bringing local Elders together. I have managed to work with elders to ask if they are keen share there knowledge along with capturing the significance of each place.
The ongoing consultation process would involve both group and individual opportunities to work with Elders, improving understanding and communication around the region’s precious cultural heritage.
The project is a partnership between the Shires of Broomehill-Tambellup, Cranbrook, Gnowangerup, Jerramungup, Katanning, Kent, Kojonup, Plantagenet, and Woodanilling; and involves the Badgebup Aboriginal Corporation, Gnowangerup Aboriginal Corporation, and Mount Barker Aboriginal Progress Association.