Hall and Prior Aboriginal co-ordinator Wendy Ashwin, elders Dulcie Ponton and Muriel Bowie and People Who Care chief executive Ali White.
Camera IconHall and Prior Aboriginal co-ordinator Wendy Ashwin, elders Dulcie Ponton and Muriel Bowie and People Who Care chief executive Ali White. Credit: Supplied/David Baylis

Elders gathering in Guildford a celebration of indigenous culture

Lauren PedenMidland Kalamunda Reporter

MORE than 60 people enjoyed traditional tucker, cultural dancing and crafts at an event in Guildford on Tuesday.

Charity group People Who Care hosted the Marmun Yorga Elders Gathering Group with Hall & Prior to bring Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander members together.

PWC chief executive Ali White said it was a wonderful day and nice to see smiles on faces.

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“It was really about bringing together Aboriginal older people who live in the community and reconnecting them with older Aboriginal people who are living in residential aged care who don’t often get an opportunity to come out and join in the community events,” she said.

“People Who Care and Hall & Prior as organisations are both strongly committed to providing Aboriginal services to older people in a way that reflects their connection to culture.

“So it was about remembering their Aboriginal spirit and bringing people together to celebrate the Marmun Yorga Elders Gathering Group.”

She said guests dressed honky nuts in their favourite football colours, played music games, won prizes and were entertained by the Kulbardi Boorndoorn Dance Group.

Lunch was a mix of traditional tucker, including homemade damper, emu sausages, kangaroo meatballs and various herbs, indigenous jams and spices accompanying the food.

“I’ve been speaking with Hall & Prior for a while about how we can work together and this is our first opportunity,” Ms White said.

“I thought it might be nice to bring their residents out to one of our day centres and they were really keen to do that, and so I think based on today, we may do that again.”

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