NGARRANG, (lizard) Ngurang, (camp, town, nest or place). Whichever way you say it, or know it as, the area that sits near the Wiradjuri reserve has been, and is still, a big part of the Wiradjuri Mayiny (people).

Wiradjuri have camped at this spot near the Marrambidya Bila (Murrumbidgee River) for thousands of years. It is a place to come together, to learn and share stories and to connect to Ngurambang (country). A name change will see this area now known as “Marrambidya Wetlands”.

This place may have also been known to some as Narrung Street. It has seen the sale yards, rubbish tip and sporting grounds come and go. It is an area where our waste water is treated and then returned to the Bila (river) or used on our sporting grounds as irrigation water. Now, with the help of Wagga City Council, Riverina Local Land Services, Wagga Aboriginal Local Lands Council and others, this special area will be returned back to a place where learning and sharing can once again take place. As I’m on both committees of the wetlands and also Riverina Local Land Services, I write this column today not as a committee member, not as an Elder, nor an expert, but as a proud Wiradjuri Gibirr (man). I speak for myself and not for these organisations.

I have watched over the last few months a dead and sad part of our Ngurambang (country) being transformed into what will be an amazing area that will bring tourists, Budyaan (bird) watchers, and families and to the area. I will also use this area as well to take madhu Gudha (many children) and students to learn about bush tucker, plants and animals. The area will have a large undercover seating area, bird hides and fantastic walking tracks and viewing platforms.

We hope to also some areas where we can reconstruct Wiradjuri camps, dance grounds as well as signage about plant and animals that will return to the area. I believe that it will be a showcase of how an area can be returned back to Ngurambang (country).

I say Mandaang Guwu (thank you) to The Daily Advertiser for asking me to contribute my Wiradjuri Mabun (messenger) column.

But as always in life some oppose what you may think, and that is fine. Madhu Mayiny (many people) including Aboriginals have fought madhu (many) battles to make sure that we can have freedom of speech. To be able to have our say is what they fought for. We are all different but the same.

That is why places like Flowerdale Reserve, Bomen Axe Quarry, Kengal (The Rock) and the new Marrambidya Wetlands, to name a few, are so important to all people. They are areas that can connect all people to time and place. They are places where we can go to learn and share. They are places for people to respect and get an understanding of how amazing Aboriginal culture is. Wiradjuri tended and cared for this Ngurambang (country) for thousands of years. Now it is our turn to help.