Western Australia Edition 03 | August 2015 - October 2015
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TRUST NEWS|WESTERN AUSTRALIA EDITION 03 | AUGUST 2015 - OCTOBER 2015 ABOVE: Smoking Ceremony at the Old Observatory during reconciliation week. M Poon LEFT: Irene Stainton is the first Aboriginal person appointed to a National Trust Council. M Poon Irene Stainton joins National Trust Council GINA PICKERING Irene Stainton, who is the first Aboriginal person appointed to a National Trust Council has a long standing commitment to Aboriginal heritage. She is a Trustee for the WA Museum, a member of the Aboriginal Advisory Committee for the National Museum of Australia and has presented papers at the United Nations. Ms Stainton has also served as Chair Ms Stainton currently provides Ms Stainton acknowledged the of the National Trust of Western strategic advice as Senior Aboriginal benefits to reconciliation that Australia’s Aboriginal Advisory Affairs Advisor to Japanese oil and activities and public programs can Committee providing advice and gas company Inpex. bring through better awareness and leadership on programs and projects strong partnerships. Her first duty as new Councillor with which have created further the National Trust of Western A program of Smoking Ceremonies understanding and awareness of Australia was to meet Trust staff and is underway at National Trust Aboriginal heritage. Ms Stainton has take part in a smoking ceremony metropolitan properties as part of its extensive experience in the private during reconciliation week at the commitment to reconciliation. sector and with government, National Trust’s offices in West Perth. holding senior positions with the Whadjuk Elder Neville Collard led the Ms Stainton said she continued to be Department of Aboriginal Affairs process which filled the original encouraged by the manner in which including Registrar of Aboriginal 1897 Government Astronomer’s Aboriginal content in projects is sites and Chair of the Aboriginal residence and National Trust handled by staff of the National Cultural Material Committee. Headquarters with sweet smelling Trust. smoke from Balga resin and the “I have enjoyed a long association “Through my new role, I am looking foliage of Peppermint and Paperbark with the National Trust and one of forward to working on a number of trees. the main reasons that this projects with the National Trust relationship has flourished, is simply including implementation of the because they listen,” she said. Reconciliation Action Plan.” Inside this issue PERSPECTIVES INTERPRETATIONINNOVATION CATALYSTPLACES PLACES OUTOUT AND ‘N’ ABOUT ABOUT Perspectives The President’s Message PRESIDENT, MAX KAY AM CIT The National Trust of Western Australia was delighted to appoint Irene Stainton as its first Aboriginal Council representative in April 2015. Irene has a long and Noongar Elder Nev Collard led two The National Trust is also pleased to valued relationship with ceremonies over June at the Old have appointed Dr Ken Michael on the National Trust of Western Observatory and Peninsula Farm. Council and he is currently acting as Australia as a strong advocate for Apart from cleansing the the interim Deputy Chairman of Aboriginal cultural heritage. buildings with a Noongar practice, Council while Gregory Boyle is on the process supported the increased leave. She holds a range of advisory cultural knowledge of staff and positions at state and national levels Dr Michael served as Governor of volunteers at the properties. and brings outstanding leadership to Western Australia from 2005 to 2010. the National Trust in her continuing The National Trust of Western He graduated as an engineer over 50 role as Chair of its Aboriginal Australia also launched the short years ago and throughout his Advisory Committee. documentary Barnam Warra Kartaga distinguished career he has held key Longa Koort Boomgur (Clearing leadership positions including Irene’s commitment to better away bad memories pressed to the Commissioner of Main Roads, awareness and understanding of heart) on Youtube during Chancellor of the University of Aboriginal cultural heritage values reconciliation week. The Western Australia and Chairman of delivers reconciliation outcomes to documentary focuses on 57 Murray the WA Museum. the entire community. Street, Perth in which the offices of His tireless and respected Her expertise will greatly assist the Chief Protector of Aborigines AO contribution to many aspects of National Trust to increase and Neville were located. Policies and government, business and diversify strategic partnerships practices administered at 57 Murray community activity will add a wealth associated with Aboriginal heritage, Street impacted Aboriginal lives of knowledge and experience to the while her experience benefits throughout the state and over Council of the National Trust. National Trust publications and generations. programs including a current program of Smoking Ceremonies at National Trust properties. Dutch expertise comes to the Trust GINA PICKERING The National Trust of Western Australia has hosted Dutch national Frank Buchner over three months as part of a planning team focusing on the Royal Perth Hospital Precinct. The experienced urban planner from the Netherlands Cultural Heritage Agency was invited to take part in the project and share his international experience. Trust CEO Tom Perrigo and conservation architects Kelly Rippingale and Caroline Stokes met Mr Buchner in Rotterdam last year during an invitational fellowship with the Institute for Housing and Urban Development at Erasmus University at which the Royal Perth Hospital Precinct was a focus of their visit. Mr Buchner has provided valuable input on the contextual analysis of the precinct, including opportunities and constraints of the site and wider city area to develop an integrated vision for this important inner city area. He and his family are enjoying the ABOVE: Frank Buchner meets Noongar community representatives during his visit to opportunity to travel widely while in Australia. the National Trust including Jacob Lawrence, Neville Collard and Phil Collard. M Poon TRUST NEWS | 2 | WESTERN AUSTRALIA Perspectives Heritage Watch HMAS LEEUWIN NAVAL BASE (BARRACKS) lead to the simplification of a process that directly results TO BE SOLD in the destruction of Aboriginal sites under Section 18. Particular concern has been raised in relation to ‘sacred’ The Commonwealth Department of Defence has sites. Community objection to changes centres on the confirmed the sale of the Leeuwin Barracks (former naval decision making process. As proposed, a sole decision base) in East Fremantle. The Barracks sit near the Swan maker, the Chief Executive of the Department of River, on a 15ha site that overlooks Fremantle Port. Aboriginal Affairs, would be responsible for determining Reports state the site will be developed for exclusive if an Aboriginal site may be disturbed (potentially private housing. The Leeuwin Barracks have been the destroyed) or not. A petition signed by 1,600 people subject of negative reporting due to strong historical calling for the amendment to the Act to be dropped and associations with institutional abuse. The potential redrafted was presented at Parliament House by $100million development represents a significant transfer Aboriginal people. Community spokespeople have of riverfront property from the government (people) into emphasised the need for any changes to the Act to private hands, as was seen in the Elizabeth Quay include greater consultation with Aboriginal people in development. The base dates from 1940, when it was determining the significance of their heritage sites. commissioned during World War II as a naval depot to train reservists, people completing national service and HERITAGE HOUSING A POSITIVE FOR OWNERS then for cadet training. The barracks, used by the Army since 1987, retain a clear social, military and historic The demand for Perth’s heritage homes has bucked the connection to the Garden Island naval facility. Army downward trend of the housing market. Heritage listing personnel and equipment will be relocated to the Irwin of historic homes has erroneously been seen as Barracks in Karrakatta, prior to the sale. negatively affecting housing prices. However recent studies, both locally and internationally, show the value of REVIEW OF THE ABORIGINAL HERITAGE ACT these homes remains high. The purpose of heritage listings is not to prevent redevelopment or revitalisation Last year the WA Government introduced the Aboriginal but instead to keep what’s significant and manage this Heritage Amendment Bill 2014. The stated purpose of the change appropriately. Keeping our heritage places results Bill is to amend the Aboriginal Heritage Act 1972 in order in social, environmental and economic benefits. From to ‘improve its efficiency and effectiveness whilst warehouse conversions to small cottage extensions, the ensuring the continued and enhanced protection of scope for creating modern and comfortable living Aboriginal heritage’. There have been concerns raised by alongside character and history is great. Aboriginal people that the amendments as proposed will Inside this Issue 2 PERSPECTIVES 6 CATALYST 13 OUT ‘N’ ABOUT Irene Stainton joins National Trust New laws cast a spotlight on Dangerous driving pins Margaret Council Aboriginal heritage Medcalf Award The President’s Message Wanslea a winner Synergies on screen Dutch expertise comes to the Trust Vale Helena Murphy Guildford to Heritage Watch Volunteering – working together Gallipoli 4 INNOVATION 10 CONNECTIONS Oyster Harbour Aboriginal