A culturally significant project has been completed at Mount Gambier Police Station, with today's official opening of the 'Yarning Circle – Ngathuwi Boandiku Mraatu'.
The name comes from a mix of English and Bunganditij languages, and translates to 'Yarning Circle – We Are On Boandik Country'.
Positioned on the station's front lawn, the yarning circle provides an inclusive space for Indigenous and non-Indigenous police and community members to connect, pause and reflect.
Police Commissioner Grant Stevens joined Mount Gambier police officers, local Elders, students and other community members at this morning's official opening, unveiling a plaque and acknowledging all involved in the project.
Boandik man Tim Brennan welcomed attendees to Boandik Country and a smoking ceremony by Uncle Doug Nicholls cleansed the space to officially open the yarning circle.
"Put simply, yarning involves building respectful relationships through dialogue," Commissioner Grant Stevens said.
"This space allows for respectful communication, along with preserving and passing on cultural knowledge, and is an example of another valuable collaboration between local police and First Nations people.
"Community cooperation has brought this project to fruition, and relationships will continue to build as people utilise the new outdoor wellbeing space."
Limestone Coast Crime Prevention Section worked together with Burrandies Aboriginal Corporation, local Elders, South Australian Aboriginal Secondary Training Academy (SAASTA) students, Community Constables and local businesses on the project's design and construction.
The community-based process involved in-depth research and extensive community consultation to ensure cultural appropriateness, and engagement with many stakeholders for materials, machinery, time and expertise; all of which were kindly donated to the project.
"To have local police working alongside Indigenous youth to construct Yarning Circle – Ngathuwi Boandiku Mraatu was a significant factor in this project to achieve togetherness, satisfaction and the strengthening of relationships," Sergeant Jade Hill, of the Limestone Coast Crime Prevention Section, said.
"It is a privilege to have the inaugural yarning circle on South Australia Police premises and to have it in a regional area such as Mount Gambier gives more pride to the local community and police who serve this community."
Yarning Circle – Ngathuwi Boandiku Mraatu was constructed on 4 August, 2023 to coincide with National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children's Day. It was formally opened to the wider community today (22 September) to acknowledge all involved in the project.
Phil Von Duve representing Burrandies Aboriginal Corporation and South Australian Aboriginal Secondary Training Academy (SAASTA), pictured with Alex, Noah and South Australia Police Commissioner Grant Stevens at the official opening of 'Yarning Circle – Ngathuwi Boandiku Mraatu' Friday, 22 September.
Yarning Circle – Ngathuwi Boandiku Mraatu' translates to 'Yarning Circle – We Are On Boandik Country'.
