Kwinana’s Boola Maara Aboriginal Consultative Committee celebrated its first full year, believed to be the only one of its kind functioning in Western Australia.
Chaired by Deputy Mayor and Community Leader Barry Winmar, with Paul Garlett as Deputy Chair, the consultative committee provided invaluable perspectives to create a more inclusive and culturally safe community.
Key items reviewed by the Boola Maara in the past year include the City’s Aboriginal Cultural Protocols Guidelines, the Early Years Strategy, Arts and Culture Strategy, and the Writing Style Guide.
“Boola Maara also provided advice to the Koorliny Arts Centre about improving inclusivity and creating a culturally safe space with diverse programming,” Cr Winmar said.
“The consultative committee provided advice on events like Summer Sounds Leda to make them culturally inclusive, and were involved in the Apex Park upgrade and Zone community partnerships
“It also reviewed the Urban Forest Strategy, Economic Development Strategy, Environment Strategy and the Kwinana Trails Master Plan and has been a part of the naming of new community facilities,” he said.
Cr Winmar said Boola Maara also received briefings about the three-bin rollout, Kwinana Wind Zone, the Sites of Truth Telling Project and the mural at Kwinana Marketplace, and Regional Open Space.
Mayor Peter Feasey thanked all members for their time and insights over the last financial year, including Cr Barry Winmar, Paul Garlett, Cr Matthew Rowse, Doris Getta, Cindy Ballard, Marie Walley, Marianne Headland Mckay, and Lisa Garlett.
On 6 November, Cr Winmar and Mr Garlett were reappointed by Boola Maara as chair and deputy respectively, and Cr Ivy Penny replaced Cr Matthew Rowse as Council’s second representative on the consultative committee.
“We look forward to continuing to work closely with Boola Maara throughout the rest of this financial year and our relationship with the Nyoongar community has already been strengthened as a result,” Mayor Feasey said.
Boola Maara members were proud to be the first to receive new City shirts this month bearing the artwork of Tyrown Waigana who was commissioned to create Dambart Karlak which celebrates the rich cultural history of Kwinana.
City staff may also be seen in these shirts soon so to find out more about the artwork visit Dambart Karlak artwork.