Ahead of construction work starting on the Stockinbingal to Parkes (S2P) Inland Rail section in the next few weeks, the Forbes Wiradjuri Dreaming Centre has led an immersive cultural tour for staff of Inland Rail and S2P major contractor Martinus Rail.
The tour included a Welcome to Country and Smoking Ceremony, a lunch of native foods, and the Inland Rail and Martinus staff were hosted on a journey to see sites of cultural significance along Lake Forbes by the Wiradjuri Dreaming Centre team.
Aunty Wendy, from the Forbes Wiradjuri Dreaming Centre, said “We welcomed the opportunity to host the Inland Rail and Martinus Rail teams on a tour of cultural sites in Forbes. Together we spent time at the yarning circle and visited the bronze “Family Matters” sculpture and totem poles which tell stories from our community.
Melvyn Maylin, Inland Rail Director of Program Delivery for Albury to Parkes, said “Inland Rail will be consulting with First Nations leaders at every opportunity to ensure progress on the program of works in southern New South Wales is carried out in cooperation with those First Nations communities.
“The cultural appreciation tour was a great opportunity to discuss the history of our first peoples, be more aware of our environment and make conscious decisions about preserving cultural heritage going forward.
“We would like to thank the team at the Forbes Wiradjuri Dreaming Centre for a meaningful and positive tour, and we look forward to continuing this relationship between the Wiradjuri people and Inland Rail.”
For more information on how Inland Rail is working with First Nations communities, head to https://inlandrail.artc.com.au/building-inland-rail/working-with-communities/working-with-first-nations-communities/.