Interpretive Signage, Birdsville
WYAC Traditional Stories and Information Shelter
An initiative to help describe the area from the view of the Wangkangurru Yarluyandi People.
This is an initiative to promote Wangkangurru Yarluyandi People and our culture and country to the tourists visiting the region either by travelling across Munga Thirri Simpson Desert or to The Birdsville Races or The Big Red Bash. This interpretive signage describes the area from the view of the Wangkangurru Yarluyandi People.
<THE BELOW ARE EXAMPLES OF THE SIGNS THAT ARE BEING DEVELOPED BY WYAC AND ITS MEMBERS - IS THIS RIGHT?>
The main aims of the project:
To develop interpretive sign boards that identify and promote Wangkangurru Yarluyandi country, culture and language; depicts historical events and Traditional Dreaming Stories.
Strategies addressed in the Wangkangurru Yarluyandi Working on Country Plan:
Install signage throughout Wangkangurru Yarluyandi Country highlighting Native Title boundaries, a description of Wangkangurru Yarluyandi People and culture, and historical events that have taken place.
Signage on the Birdsville Track and throughout Wangkangurru Yarluyandi Native Title land.
Birdsville visitor signage describing key features of Wangkangurru Yarluyandi culture.
Signs situated at all proposed traditional use areas describing Wangkangurru Yarluyandi culture and historical events.
Value of the project to Wangkangurru Yarluyandi Aboriginal Corporation:
Interpretative signs provide a written and visual history of Wangkangurru Yarluyandi People and culture. It informs visitors and provides a lasting reference for Wangkangurru Yarluyandi People to understand the past and look to the future, particularly young people. The signage boards depicting Wangkangurru Yarluyandi stories will be placed at significant sites on country. They will describe the stories and country associated with those sites and will provide learning opportunities and create a sense of belonging to country.
Location of shelter and signage:
It is proposed two key sites are initially considered for the Interpretive Sign shelters at Birdsville and on the Birdsville Track at the Queensland / South Australia border.
Shelter and Sign Specifications:
The shelter for the sign boards can be designed in a number of ways depending what is preferred. We have included a couple of ideas in this proposal. Dimensions for the shelter are also dependent on the information and graphics being represented. As a guide sign boards can be 1 large panel (e.g. 1400 high x 3000 wide – as seen in the example provided above) or 4 or 5 panels (e.g. 1400 high x 900 wide – as seen at Mungerannie) – but there are many other configurations that can work – depends what is decided by the group. The shelters are constructed from steel frames and the signs are manufactured using composite Aluminium Panels with clear coat for added protection so very durable in harsh weather conditions.
Suggested Story Ideas:
Story 1: Aboriginal stockmen and women
Story 2: Two Boys Dreaming Story
Story 3: Swan Dreaming
Story 4: Traditional language and history of Wangkangurru Yarluyandi country
Story 5. Early settlement conflict with Traditional Owners – the story of the Koonchera massacre
The Karawarra Eagle Sculpture for Birdsville
The Joanne Lewington Legacy raised enough funds to commission a sculpture works for Birdsville of Karawarra – Eagle who is protector and healer.
The design is taken from the Looking for Tucker book – so that the stories connect.
Made by a couple of Wangkangurru Yarluyandi women, the Karawarra Eagle sculpture has a 3.4m wingspan and is 1.4m from head to tail and designed so that Karawarra appears to be flying high in the air on a pole. There is also a sign nearby explaining the significance of the sculpture.
The sculpture has been made by Milynda Rogers who has documented the process of making through her Facebook site which is Scrapmetalsheila
Milynda has made a few videos as well as photos on Facebook.