COMPELLING new storyboards that share the stories and culture of Coffs Harbour’s The Old Camp Yaam Nguura Jalumgal and the Aboriginal families who lived there, have been unveiled at Fitzroy Oval where The Old Camp stood.

The updated storyboards are displayed on the sports pavilion alongside the two unique metal frieze artworks created by local Aboriginal high school students in 2017 after hearing stories of The Old Camp Yaam Nguura Jalumgal from Aboriginal elders.

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This initiative, in partnership with Coffs Harbour City Council and the Yandaarra Aboriginal Advisory Committee, supports the protection of local Aboriginal cultural heritage.

Traditional landowners established the site on Coffs Creek in the 1940s with up to 200 people living there at one time in shacks built from waste timber from the nearby sawmill, fibro, sugarbags and tin.

In 1955, following pressure to provide better housing – including from renowned Elder Aunty Grace Roberts – cottages were built at Wongala Estate and The Old Camp was demolished.

In 2017, the site was granted a dual name to ‘Fitzroy Oval The Old Camp – Yaam Nguura Jalumgal’ in recognition of it as a place of significance for local Aboriginal people.

Yaam Nguura Jalumgal is Gumbaynggirr for ‘The Old Camp’.

Speaking at the unveiling ceremony on Monday 22 August, Aunty Irene, who was born on The Old Camp, gave a heartfelt Welcome.

Aunty Irene talked about her experience living at the camp where her mum and dad had courted, and she was born.

She fondly remembers the friendships and happiness and lots of playing and swimming in the creek.

“We were all friends,” she said.

“We had a rough time, too; we were very poor people.

“I’ve always loved Coffs Harbour; this was my home.

“I know history, I grew up here.

“My dad said to me ‘never stand back because you’re as good as anyone else’, that still lives in my heart,” she closed.

Lloyd Lynwood, Chair of Yandaarra Aboriginal Advisory Committee, was master of ceremonies for the unveiling.

“It’s deadly to see these boards go up with the vibrancy and colour they needed,” he said.

“Yandaarra and Council (CHCC) working together for mob always delivers great outcomes.”

In developing the two new storyboards, Yandaarra became aware of more memories that hadn’t been told as people and family members came forward with their untold stories and now a third storyboard will be created with these further historic facts, recollections and photographs.

Lloyd Lynwood called for anyone in the community with stories of life on The Old Camp to contact Council – see details below.

“Council and Yandaarra will do the next round of consultation with community – for people whose family members’ names have been omitted, they will have the opportunity to be part of that consultation and add their family names to the third storyboard,” said Lloyd.

“We (Yandaarra) give our voice and advice to Council about the Aboriginal community, we’ve been around for over 20 years, with Richard Widders, in the role as Council’s Community Development Office.”

“It’s important for the history of The Old Camp Yaam Nguura Jalumgal – and its significance to those who lived there, their descendants and the wider local Aboriginal community – to be recognised and celebrated,” said Coffs Harbour Mayor Councillor Paul Amos.

“I trust that we have the courage and wisdom to work really closely together as we work towards our common community goals between the Aboriginal community and Council team…so this story can continue to be told.

“Acknowledging the past with these storyboards is something we need more of,” he said.

Gumbaynggirr artist Reece Flanders was invited to unveil his donated artwork, Spirit Tree, which will hang between the two storyboards in a space where the third storyboard will hang, once created.

Reece told News Of The Area, “The Spirit Tree stands for the connection between all our past elders and connection to family who have passed to the other side.”

Barry Powells, President of Coffs Harbour Regional Landcare was invited to speak.

“We had a wonderful Landcare member, Pia Dollman who developed a strong relationship with the local Aboriginal communities – sadly she passed away in 2019 – in 2011 she was successful in obtaining a grant which led to the establishment of these storyboards, and she worked very closely with the Aboriginal community obtaining photographs and stories to create the original storyboards.”

Chris Spencer, CEO at Coffs Harbour and District Local Aboriginal Land Council said, “This is an extremely important and historic day for our local Aboriginal community, and recognition to the wider community that we recognise our Aboriginal history in this place.

“The Old Camp is an area for us, as the younger generation of Aboriginal people coming through here, that is extremely important, recognised in our history as an area of survival.

“The area is extremely important to descendants of the people who lived in and used this place.

“My grandchildren’s great grandparents were residents of this camp until the 1950s.

“Being able to recognise and appreciate that past gives our younger people the ownership, understanding and appreciation that yes there is a history here, but we’re recognising that and yes it does make us sad, but it also makes us strong and makes us all come together as a community like we have today.

“It’s a very important step towards reconciliation,” said Chris.

Family members of those who lived or came to the camp are asked to contact Council on 02 6648 4850 to share their stories for the next storyboard.

By Andrea FERRARI