Vicki Ward MP has thanked the Margaret’s Anglican Church Eltham Parish on their opening of their remarkable Yarning Circle – a gathering place to honour and pay respects to our Traditional Custodians, the Wurundjeri.

The Yarning Circle is part of St Margaret’s Reconciliation Action Plan, led by the Do Justice Group. The group has embraced and advocated for the idea of a Yarning Circle with an elegant Fire Pit created by Indigenous young men from Ararat Prison and made from discarded railway sleeper fishplates and spikes.

The concept was informed by and approved by Wurundjeri Aunties in conjunction with concept artist Emily Turkey.

The service attended by David Tuke, Chairperson of the Do Justice Group, and other members. Vicki Ward MP and Mayor Frances Eyre also spoke.

The Yarning Circle is an important symbol that recognises the legacy of the Wurundjeri people of our area of north eastern Melbourne – who are recorded as using the space between the church and the old Eltham RSL site as a camping area.

The St Margaret’s community have said “May Bunjil (eagle) and Waa (crow) watch over us at this time of healing and yarning time.“

Quotes attributable to Vicki Ward MP, Member for Eltham

“St Margaret’s has shown such leadership when it comes to inclusion, particularly Reconciliation. I know so many in our community are very grateful for their work. Reading renowned local historian, the late Mick Woiwod, we learn of the loss of Wurundjeri culture, language and life in our area. It is through the good work of community members such a s those at St Margaret’s that we can start to see the reemergence of this memory of that past, but also the past before white settlement, and the life of the Wurundjeri in the Diamond Valley.”