Narrogin’s Noongar community calls for respect over alleged illegal dumping at Kooraminning Reserve

Members of Narrogin’s Noongar community have called for a stop to disrespectful behaviour on the Kooraminning Reserve, including claims of illegal dumping. The site, which once was once home to about 100 Noongar people living in tin houses with two communal bathrooms and a hall, was populated from 1914 to the mid-1970s. It is now a dumping ground for rubbish with old tyres, home appliances and abandoned speedway equipment littering the area. Noongar elder Travis Abraham, a former resident of the area, said he was used to the treatment because they “were always treated like dirt”. He described how welfare bodies began forcibly removing Noongar children in the late 1950s, luring them in by telling them they were going on a picnic. “They took them to the Wandering Mission, that was the last to see of the kids for a long time,” Mr Abraham said. Noongar elder Marina Narkle-Abraham also grew up on the reserve. “It is terrible how it’s being let go,” she said. Ms Narkle-Abraham — whose parents died there, and her first cousins were forcibly removed — said she would like to see the land cleaned and the history recognised. Emerging Noongar elder Raylene Storey has taken matters into her own hands, painting the Aboriginal flag on trees to signpost the birthplaces of her family and a burial site. She said she had seen people driving through the reserve. “They don’t understand that families got memories on that piece of land,” she said. “You got young fellas going through on their four-wheel-drives doing whatever they want. “It’s disturbing the wildlife out there — the trees, the plants, the cultural grounds.” She said the treatment of the land was “racist” and accused the Narrogin shire of being “blindfolded” on the issue. Shire of Narrogin chief executive Dale Stewart said the shire has discussed cultural recognition projects with Noongar community members on several occasions and applied for grants to fund such initiatives, though these applications have been unsuccessful. “The shire strongly refutes the assertion that it is ‘blindfolded’ to the impact of events held at its recreation reserve,” Mr Stewart said. “We have openly and often engaged with stakeholders, including the one concerned Noongar emerging elder in an attempt to address concerns. “The shire is deeply troubled by any allegations of racism. We categorically refute such claims, as they do not reflect the shire’s values or actions. “The shire is committed to fostering respect, inclusivity, and positive relationships with the Aboriginal community.” A Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage spokesperson said the department was in consultation with the shire. “The department is consulting with the Shire of Narrogin regarding reports of illegal dumping at the Narrogin Kooraminning Reserve,” they said. “Dumping rubbish on crown land in Western Australia is illegal and should be reported to the appropriate authorities.” Illegal rubbish dumping should be reported to the relevant local government or can be reported anonymously to the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation’s Pollution Watch hotline 1300 784 782 (24 hours) or via pollutionwatch@dwer.wa.gov.au or Crime Stoppers WA.