A special ceremony to reveal a much-loved community Dreamtime story illustrated on an iconic landmark took place in Bellbrook earlier this month.
Family and community members gathered in Bellbrook Park on Saturday 9 July to unveil a Nature Trails sign that shares the local Dreamtime story ‘The Goanna on the Mountain’ as told by Bub Bulla (grandfather Uncle Keith Caldwell) and features designs by Thunggutti artist Elwyn Toby.
Relatives at the ceremony included wife Aunty Patricia, children, grandchildren and great grandchildren, sisters Aunty Carlene ‘Ducky’ Uncle Malcolm ‘Tolly’ and family, Aunty Loma and family, Aunty Marg and Aunty Ruth.
For this significant event that brought family and community together from up and down the coast, a traditional Welcome to Country was given by Uncle Keith’s granddaughter Tashanah-Lee Daley Hampton who then read ‘The Goanna on the Mountain’ story as told by Bub Bulla. This community Dreamtime story has been shared with children for many years, passing on the knowledge and tradition to the next generation.
Following the reading, Uncle Fred Kelly performed a traditional smoking ceremony and Kempsey Shire Council Councillor, Arthur Bain, addressed the crowd thanking everyone for coming to this important event and the federal government for funding the project.
Everyone then enjoyed a delicious traditional lunch provided by James Pritchard of iCater4, who cooked up an indigenous menu featuring kangaroo soup, lemon myrtle soup and damper, and a yarn at Thunggutti Local Aboriginal Land Council.
The Nature Trails signage installation and marketing campaign has been funded under the Australian Government’s Regional Tourism Bushfire Recovery Grant. There are eight signs across the Kempsey Shire including Bellbrook, Willawarrin, Kempsey, Hat Head, Crescent Head, South West Rocks, Grassy Head and Stuarts Point.
Each trail and landmark have a rich indigenous history which can be seen and felt as you explore it through the eyes and words of its original indigenous inhabitants, the Dunghutti & Thunggutti people.
