Article from The West Australian - 12th May 2017
https://thewest.com.au/news/regional/project-to-promote-aboriginal-culture-ng-b88472192z
by Chloe Fraser

Busselton’s Aboriginal community came together this month to brainstorm for a new collaborative art project combining nature and Noongar culture.The project’s focus is “standing strong to reclaim identity, spirituality and empowerment by connecting to country”.

Members of the community met at the Busselton Family Centre to plan and discuss connecting to country through art and planting native species.

Busselton-Dunsborough Environment Centre project officer Silke Rothkamm said while the initiative was still in the planning stages, she hoped it would address the lack of recognition of Wardandi people in Busselton.

Naydeene Edwards, who is heavily involved in the project, said the initiative aimed to put Noongar footprints back on the country.

“The key is recognition, which is what the community voiced quite strongly here today,” she said.
“By connecting back to culture it goes to show we are strong.”

Article by Taelor Pelusey - Published in The West
Picture: Taelor Pelusey featuring Naydeene Edwards, Lola Garlett, Gloria Hill and Silke Rothkamm.
https://thewest.com.au/news/south-west/art-looks-at-nature-and-noongar-culture-ng-b88451523z

Busselton’s Aboriginal community is urged to have a say on a new collaborative art project exploring the timeless link between nature and Noongar culture.Noongar women are working with the Busselton-Dunsborough Environment Centre, South West Catchments Council, South West Women’s Health Centre and BESS Home and Community Care to create an art project aimed at “standing strong to reclaim identity, spirituality and empowerment by connecting to country”.

The project is still in its early stages and proponents are calling for input and feedback from Busselton’s Aboriginal community.

“The project concept has two very balanced parts — rehabilitation of native bush and creating an art piece to express the goal,” BDEC project officer Silke Rothkamm said. “But we don’t know how it will look yet ... so we want come together and discuss it and hopefully create something beautiful.”

The Busselton Noongar Community Get Together day will be on Friday, May 5, at the Busselton Family Centre from 11am-2pm. Naydeene Edwards said the initiative aimed to reconnect the Noongar community to country while engaging young people. “It’s good for the community to work together and support each other,” she said. “And it’s about putting the Noongar footprint back on country.”

Lunch and morning tea is included and transport to the Busselton Family centre is available. For details, contact 9791 3350.

Article by Taelor Pelusey - Busselton Dunsborough Times - Tuesday 28th February 2017
https://thewest.com.au/news/regional/push-to-reduce-plastic-bag-use-ng-b88400298z

Community groups are pulling together to reduce the use of plastic bags, having earlier this year donated 200 returnable bags to West Busselton IGA.The City of Busselton recently donated 60 calico bags pre-stamped with the Boomerang Bags logo to Busselton-Dunsborough Environment Centre.
The centre then invited people to donate the bags during art activities held at the City’s annual Battle of the Bands competition in December.
The centre’s Silke Rothkamm told the Times youth and adults were called on to get creative with colour and explore positive messages while discussing environmental issues.
“The activities were a way of getting people talking about plastic bags and the impact they have on things like marine life and the bushland, ” she said.

“A lot of the children were already quite aware about the problems with plastic bags.”
Building on the 60 bags, Boomerang Bags donated a further 100 and City another 40.
The 200 bags were handed over to IGA on Tuesday for customers without their own bags to use and later return.
City youth development officer Angela Griffin said the initiative was an example of how non-profit groups and the City could work together for community betterment.
The Times understands the West Busselton store was selected because of its history of promoting reusable bags.

For an international baccalaureate project Scotch College student Alex Crump, 15, was inspired to help protect Cape Naturaliste. Alex, from Swanbourne, says he chose to help protect Cape Naturaliste because of a personal connection with the Cape. “I endeavoured to support the conservation of Cape Naturaliste, as it is a second home and given me so much over the years,” he said.

The project included the production of tee-shirts and a “look-book”, Keep the Cape Natural. Some of the proceeds of their sale was donated to the Busselton-Dunsborough Environment Centre. On completion of the project,  Alex’s final donation to the Busselton-Dunsborough Environment Centre totalled more than $660 and four copies of his book.

Environment Centre Convenor, Alison Cassanet, said that the organisation was grateful for such a significant donation from such a young person and heartened that Western Australia’s youth are concerned for the future of our beautiful natural assets. “That a high school student would go to such efforts to raise awareness and funds for Cape Naturaliste, and the environment in general, is both heartening and inspiring. “We are very grateful for the donation to our organisation and for the reassurance that there is awareness in the next generation of the need to conserve and protect our state’s natural environment ,” Mrs Cassanet said.

The Busselton-Dunsborough Environment Centre is using one of the four donated books, along with their own book, Experience the Ludlow Tuart Forest, as prizes in a forthcoming competition.  Watch for details on BDEC’s Facebook page.