Looking Back to Look Forward THERE ARE SOME EXHIBITIONS THAT ARE STORIES BEGGING TO BE TOLD AND SANDRA HILL’S CURRENT EXHIBITION AT THE BALINGUP PACKING SHED IS A PERFECT CASE IN POINT. By BEVERLY LIGMAN A DEEPLY PERSONAL account of being part of the Stolen Generation, the WadandiPibulmun Elder and Stolen Generations survivor Sandra Hill’s exhibition ‘Past, Present and Future – A Cultural Journey’ captures the history and lives of Bibbulmun (Noongar) people in the South West. It tells the harrowing story of Indigenous families’ separations, laying bare the emotional scars of that journey and the hundreds of lives that were irrevocably changed because of it. The exhibition is a timeline of Aboriginal history shared through written essays, historical photographs, art imagery and traditional artefacts that represent the culture and the collective experiences of the Aboriginal people of the South West of Western Australia. Sandra has described the culturally significant exhibition as being both about healing and survival. “We are trying to heal, but we can’t do that if you don’t know what happened to us,” she told reporters at the exhibition’s opening. “We’ve survived and we’re still teaching our culture and passing it on to our kids and sharing it with the wider community.” The exhibition shares Sandra’s personal accounts, photos, documents and artefacts with the public in an effort to share how being part of the Stolen Generations had shaped her life and inspired her work. 16
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FOUND | Issue 08
There are also historical elements of the exhibition which include some of the foods, traditions and clothes worn by Bibbulmun people before colonisation, plus an illustration of a cloak of one of Ms Hill’s ancestors, which had been hidden for the past two decades. Panels featured throughout the exhibition inform viewers of the Noongar Six Seasons, cultural practices of Aboriginal people before colonisation, the names of local places in traditional language, and maps detailing the 14 different language groups in the South West. Plus you can find written and visual information about tool making, fishing, hunting, clothing and ceremonial practices. The exhibition will be full of memories of missions, pain and sadness for many seeing it, but will also provide a cultural learning for younger generations who may never fully understand the significance of what happened to the Stolen Generations and their place in history because of it.
DID YOU KNOW?
While you’re there… A beautiful tribute to the sons and daughters of Balingup who served in the World War I, the Avenue of Honour located at the end of Brockman Street is a fitting tribute to those who lost their lives for their country. Names are engraved on plaques at the base of the trees and there are interpretive boards to walk you through the experience. When you’re done, why not enjoy a picnic and a moment of quiet contemplation to honour our fallen soldiers. And if you have the time stroll the easy 1.2km of the Balingup Heritage Walk Trail. There’s no better way to get to know the history of this South West gem and discover tales of a bygone era. There’s also plenty of cafés, wineries, galleries and arts and crafts stops to entertain you on your way. You might even find yourself at the Balingup Tavern to end the day, sharing a joke with the locals and enjoying a delicious glass of red. ‘Past, Present and Future – A Cultural Journey’ expertly weaves together history, culture and familial ties to create an important exhibition that should not be missed, lovingly sharing the story of Sandra's mob so that it can be cherished forever more. To find out more visit balinguptourism. com.au/aboriginal-cultural-heritageexhibition-open
The name Balingup was first recorded by a surveyor in 1850, and is said to be derived from the name of Noongar warrior, Balingan. Other research by Noongar academic and researcher Len Collard discovered the name derives from the Noongar language, meaning “one that is situated there at this place.”
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