Campbelltown 2020 Yarning Circle now open

Everyone in Campbelltown will be able to experience a part of Aboriginal culture and history after the Campbelltown 2020 Yarning Circle was opened in Koshigaya Park today.

The space was developed as part of the Campbelltown 2020 program to recognise more than 60,000 years of Aboriginal history in the region.

The Yarning Circle design is the result of months of consultation and collaboration with local Aboriginal Elders and community members.

A prominent feature of the Yarning Circle is a series of artworks and carvings depicting the lyrebird which in an Aboriginal Dreaming story that tells the story of the lyrebird as being an animal that was able to communicate with all the other animals to resolve disputes. .

Other features include a series of sandstone rocks, bush tucker tree plantings and messaging in Dharawal language.

“The opening of the Yarning Circle is a fantastic way to complete our Campbelltown 2020 program and recognises the impacts of Aboriginal culture in our region over more than 60,000 years as well as the many different Aboriginal cultures within our region,” Mayor George Brticevic said.

“Aboriginal people have used yarning circles for thousands of years as places to talk, learn and celebrate culture,” Cr Brticevic said.

“This is a space for everyone in our community to come together, speak with each other and  share our many cultures,”

The Lyrebird and Wiritjiribin feather artwork features within the space was created by Aunty Jenny Shillingsworth and Uncle Larry Hill.

The Campbelltown 2020 Yarning Circle is the first in the public domain in Campbelltown and the largest permanent traditional Aboriginal project completed by Council.

The Campbelltown 2020 Yarning Circle is proudly funded under the Australian Government’s Stronger Communities Programme and the New South Wales Government in association with Campbelltown City Council.