After a leisurely breakfast on the balcony (more fine weather you see) we set off to explore the Wardan Aboriginal Cultural Centre. It looked fairly deserted when we arrived but another couple were talking to the curator who introduced himself as the local chief or elder, part Scottish, whose grandfather was a boxer and was willing to take us on a trail and story walk in the immediate vicinity which was an area of natural bush donated to the tribe by a wealthy American some 23 years ago.
If talking and spinning a yarn or two was an Olympic sport this man would be a serious contender. He was ful of insights into Aboriginal living and customs and the local flora and fauna and we had a very interesting and informative time. He referred to the 'invasion' of his land by the whites, the first time I have heard this phrase used, but true of course, as Britain in 1826 did not recognise the sovereignty of the Aboriginies or their laws and customs and considered the land uncovered and available for them to plant the flag!
He talked at length about the uses of various trees and bushes and how men and women spent their days. He lived in the bush till he was 13 but was clearly an educated man, though he tended to meander through subjects, apparently he has spoken at many events and visited several countries sharing the culture of his people. He also claimed to have 8 wives but we were not sure whether to believe him on that subject.
He also spoke a lot about the current climatic conditions and problems with the land which he said had been foretold as a consequence of the manner in which white people had not looked after the natural resources but squandered and exploited them to exhaustion in some cases and had seriously upset the balance and harmony of the land and sea, whereas Aborigines were taught from an early age to respect and nurture the land and maintain balance and order. He also spoke about the various spirits both good and bad that roamed the earth and watched and acted as they saw fit and in some cases punished wrong doers, It was a very interesting visit and we left with lots of questions.
We lunched on a tree shaded terrace at the Caves House Hotel and afterwards took a short walk and clamber over the rocks at Yallingup with amazing waves that had enticed some surfers into the water and more were arriving as we left. En route home we filled with petrol ready for a long trip tomorrow to the Valley of the Giants treetop walk at Nornalup near Walpole, but more of that tomorrow.
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