Vision for Reconciliation
At Amaroo EEC, we see a future based on genuine relationships between First Nations peoples and non-Indigenous people built on a foundation of mutual respect, trust and ongoing conversations. We share a desire to care for, and heal, Country in ways that are guided by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and their ongoing deep connections. We are committed to creating an authentic sense of belonging within the community and with this special place.
We acknowledge our responsibility to challenge existing injustices and to create an equitable future for all students.
Through our actions, we aim to amplify the voices of First Nations peoples and support all students to be champions of change as the current and next generations of custodians.
Acknowledgement Statement
Amaroo would like to acknowledge the Western Wakka Wakka Nation - the unceded Lands on which we learn, work, play and love. We thank the Jarowair and Giabal Peoples for taking care of the land and waterways; for generously sharing their cultures, traditions, knowledges and languages with us. We pay our respects to the Traditional Custodians of Gummingurru and honour their cultural knowledge and spirit of generosity.
First Nations Peoples Perspectives
For tens of thousands of years, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have maintained deep relationships with Country through knowledge systems that guide the sustainable care of land, water, plants and animals. These knowledge systems continue to shape understandings of place, community and environmental stewardship today.
At Amaroo, First Nations perspectives are intentionally woven throughout our programs. We seek to support students to understand Country through multiple ways of knowing and learning, drawing on relationships with Traditional Custodians, community members, volunteers and partner organisations.
Students may encounter these perspectives through stories, cultural knowledge shared by community members, literature, recordings and other resources that help bring Indigenous knowledge and connection to Country into the learning experience.
We recognise that this learning is ongoing. Amaroo is committed to building respectful relationships with local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities so that students can develop deeper understanding of Country, culture and the responsibilities that come with caring for place.
First Nations Mural
Amaroo Environmental Education Centre is honoured to feature a mural created by local Indigenous artist Kim Walmsley, commissioned to reflect the learning journeys that students undertake when visiting the centre.
In designing the mural, Kim drew inspiration from the landscapes surrounding Amaroo, carefully considering the local flora and fauna as well as animals and themes of significance to the Jarowair people, the Traditional Custodians of this Country. Her artwork brings these elements together to represent the deep relationships between people, place and learning.
At the heart of the mural is Cabul, the carpet python, a powerful symbol that weaves through the artwork. Along Cabul’s body are eggs representing the different stages of learning and growth that students experience as they return to Amaroo across the years, building deeper understanding of the environment and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives.
Cabul’s tail stretches toward the distant Bunya Mountains, a place of great cultural significance. For thousands of years, Aboriginal peoples travelled across this region to gather there during the Bunya season. These gatherings were times for sharing food, stories, music and dance, as well as strengthening community ties through ceremony, discussion and cultural exchange.
The mural invites students and visitors to reflect on their own journey of learning and connection to Country while at Amaroo EEC.
Yarning Circle
Amaroo Environmental Education Centre is home to a purpose-built Yarning Circle, a shared learning space designed to support reflection, storytelling and respectful conversation.
The sandstone border of the circle was crafted by local stonemason Dan Gill, who was commissioned by Amaroo to create a space that honours the cultural history of this place and the enduring connection of First Nations peoples to Country.
Yarning circles have long been used by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as places to gather, share knowledge, discuss important matters and strengthen community relationships. The presence of a yarning circle at Amaroo acknowledges that the centre sits on Jarowair Country, along the pathway now known as the Bunya Highway. For thousands of years, Aboriginal peoples travelled through this region to gather at the Bunya Mountains for the seasonal bunya festivals — important cultural gatherings that included sharing food, ceremony, music, dance and community decision-making.
The Amaroo Yarning Circle features a bed of sand surrounded by carved sandstone blocks sourced from the Helidon Hills. Dan Gill carefully shaped each block with motifs of local flora and fauna inspired by the mural created for Amaroo by local Indigenous artist Kim Walmsley. Among these designs is Cabul, the carpet python, a significant totem or yuri for the local Jarowair people and a symbol connected with the Rainbow Serpent in many Aboriginal cultures.
Through its design, the Yarning Circle brings together art, environment and cultural history. The carved stone reflects the local landscape, while the circle itself provides a place where students, teachers and community members can gather to listen, reflect and learn.
Today, the Yarning Circle forms an important part of Amaroo’s programs, supporting conversations about Country, culture, environment and community. It continues to be a space where thousands of students and visitors engage in shared learning and deepen their understanding of the landscapes and histories of this region.
Unveiling
The Amaroo EEC Stone Yarning Circle was officially unveiled on 21 July 2016, in a gathering attended by local Aboriginal community members, representatives from Toowoomba Regional Council and the Queensland Department of Education.
The ceremony began with a Welcome to Country by local Jarowair man Conrad Bauwens, followed by a smoking ceremony and cultural dances led by Damon Anderson. Artist Kim Walmsley, with the assistance of Paul Carmody, shared the story and meaning behind the mural that inspired the circle’s carved designs, before stonemason Dan Gill spoke about the process of shaping the sandstone blocks that form the circle today.
The unveiling marked the creation of a lasting space for learning, reflection and cultural connection within the Amaroo EEC and wider community. This reflects the power of collaborative, culturally respectful creative endeavours to nurture deep, place-based and enduring learning for all.