Bindjareb Elders give Food Innovation Precinct WA Noongar name in dual naming project

The much-anticipated Food Innovation Precinct WA has been given a Noongar name ahead of its opening later this year.

Shire of Murray councillors approved the dual name for the precinct on Thursday night and the shire’s chief executive will now work with the Peel Development Commission on a signage display strategy.

‘Mereny Bidi Boodja’, meaning ‘Food, Pathway, Country’, was selected after the PDC commissioned respected Bindjareb Noongar Elder George Walley of Mandjoogoordap Dreaming to consult other Elders on Bindjareb Country about a dual name for FIPWA.

Mr Walley spoke to Elders about their views and life experience to develop a cultural narrative that would inform the name, which Mr Walley then wrote up and submitted to the shire.

In their report to the council, shire officers said dual naming was “an important step in celebrating and preserving the traditional language of our First People”.

“The process of dual naming is intended to recognise and respect Aboriginal cultural heritage and provide the opportunity for an Aboriginal name to be assigned to a place as an official name,” the report said.