Acknowledging National Reconciliation Week, we invited the Symal team to immerse themselves in a very special tour to explore two culturally significant Aboriginal sites.

Guiding us on this tour is Wurundjeri man and our very own Wamarra employee, Daniel Ross. Daniel shared an authentic insight into the living context and legacy our world’s oldest continuous living culture. We had the privilege to hear about Daniel’s ties to Country and what it means to him as an Aboriginal man to see other cultures coming together to learn about Aboriginal and Torre Strait Islander history.

Our tour included a guided walk through the secluded bushland along the northern banks of the Yarra River, visiting a traditional gathering place for tens of thousands of years, ceremonial ground, and scarred trees to commemorate the families that comprise Wurundjeri. We heard about the traditional uses of plants, tools, and sustainable aquaculture. This parkland site is one of only a few known remaining eel traps on Country and holds an inspiring insight into the sophisticated sustainable agricultural systems that were first constructed over 45,000 years ago.

We continued our tour around the highly sacred Bolin Bolin Billabong wetlands trail in Bulleen where we were lucky to see such reminders of life before us. We learned the importance of maintaining cultural practises through a scarred red gum tree, removing bark to produce a traditional bark canoe.

We all have culture. It’s what makes us who we are. During Reconciliation Week and beyond, it is vital for us to learn more about our shared histories, cultures, and achievements. Together we are building a culturally respectful, inclusive and safe workplace that values Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and futures and making an impact on the wider construction industry

#MoreThanAWord