Trail preserves cultural ties

Stories find their place on the map

ANGELIA Walsh from the Surat Aboriginal Corporation has joyful childhood memories of growing up on a camp on the edge of town, but at times these were clouded by fearful moments of hiding from the police who were known to take Aboriginal children from their families.

Those tales, both good and bad, are critical moments of time in Australia’s Aboriginal history and Ms Walsh felt the need to preserve not only her memories, but to help Aboriginal people in other towns in South West Queensland preserve their memories and stories.

Ms Walsh worked with Aboriginal community partners in six communities to develop the idea of an Indigenous Cultural Trail, where tourists and visitors could learn about Aboriginal history and culture through stories told by Aboriginal people.

University of Southern Queensland researchers, including specialists in cultural heritage, oral history, anthropology and ethnography, and psychology, were commissioned by SAC to support the development of the trail and helped with a story-gathering process across the towns.

This resulted in a website and brochure that tell the stories of Aboriginal people in each community.

Launched this month in St George, Surat, Roma, Mitchell, Charleville and Cunnamulla, the trail is now open to visitors and those eager to learn more about the rich Aboriginal history and culture of each community.

“The South West Queensland Indigenous Cultural Trail came about through the determination of Aboriginal people in several towns,” Mrs Walsh said.

“They wanted to record and share their culture and history before older generations passed on, and before more sites of significance were destroyed.”

“The trail has been a way to reinstate an Aboriginal past that remains all but invisible in many places, and it will also create employment opportunities for Aboriginal people in these areas and help the struggling economies of these towns.”

Dr Jane Palmer, from USQ’s Institute for Resilient Regions, said through a process of mutual discovery, the collaborative project was enabling elders, youth and other community members to re-connect with their heritage and to share it with visitors and the wider community.

For more information visit www.usq.edu.au/research/ cultural-heritagearchaeology/cultural-trail

PHOTO: USQ PHOTOGRAPHY PRESERVATION: Reviewing the South-West Indigenous Cultural Trail maps are (from left) Dr Jane Palmer from USQ, Angelia Walsh from Surat Aboriginal Corporation, Dr Celmara Pocock from USQ and Associate Professor Lara Lamb from USQ.