Harden-Murrumburrah Community Garden Celebrates NAIDOC Week

IMAGE: Mitch Summerfield and his helpers tried out the community garden’s newly erected Gunyah to celebrate their efforts for NAIDOC Week.

The Harden-Murrumburrah Community Garden was filled to overflowing on Friday, July 21 in honour of NAIDOC Week.

Students from Murrumburrah High School and members of the general community witnessed a smoking ceremony and were involved in building a Gunyah in the garden thanks to Mitch Summerfield, his Uncle Lynton and other family members.

Speaking for the garden, Rita O’Connor said she had been to a few smoking ceremonies before, but this one was unique.

“What Uncle Lynton did really well was explain what each of the wood types was for and how collectively the smoking ceremony removed bad spirits and encourages a spirit of community and positivity,” Ms O’Connor said.

“One highlight was the beautiful way Mitch involved every child there to help build the Gunyah so that everyone present had some ownership of it.”

Mitch Summerfield did this by running an interactive activity with the hundred-or-so school students to build a Gunyah in the midst of the garden.

He also conducted a small-group activity with the students, teaching them about the Wiradjuri nation.

After the garden had been cleansed of any negative spirits and the Gunyah was built, the whole group celebrated with cake and sausages.

Ms O’Connor thanked Mitch Summerfield and his team, Uncle Lynton, and the Rotary Club for cooking the barbecue and for everyone else who came to what was an awesome event.

HM-Community-Garden-NAIDOC-2 IMAGE: the Harden-Murrumburrah Community Garden’s NAIDOC Week celebration.