Nakunbalook Environmental and Cultural Education Centre was officially opened last month, with a series of free activities celebrating the centre’s beginnings as a place to learn about, connect with, and protect our local environment and culture in Wellington Shire.

A week filled with learning, the activities included a history and nature walk guided by Wellington Shire Council’s Manager of Natural Environment and Parks Tim Rowe, guided tours hosted by Friends of Sale Botanic Gardens volunteers, a propagation workshop held by Seed Community Garden, a yoga session, and screenings of the short film, Regeneration Australia.  

Gunaikurnai Land and Waters Aboriginal Corporation’s General Manager of Culture Grattan Mullett delivered a well-attended presentation about the work the organisation does, and how its projects connect community with Country, while an evening panel discussion hosted by Gippsland Climate Change Network’s Darren McCubbin, saw Wellington Shire Council’s Open Space Planner Liam Cole, EcoGipps’ Loulou Gebbie and the Network’s Project Manager Esther Lloyd speak to climate change action on the ground across Wellington Shire.

The younger generation got in on the action too, attending a film screening for school sustainability leaders, a nature kinder session, and Sale Primary School students were lucky enough to help plant the Council’s 100,000 indigenous plant in six years on the banks of Lake Guyatt, as part of an ongoing regenerative planting project.

About 60 people attended an official opening ceremony for the $650,000 building, which began with a moving Welcome to Country and Smoking Ceremony. GLaWAC CEO Daniel Miller and Grattan Mullett joined Wellington Shire Mayor Ian Bye and John Leslie Foundation trustees Brian Castles and Helene Booth to cut the cake and declare the centre officially open

The week’s activities culminated in a community open day in the grounds of Nakunbalook and Seed Community Garden. Involving local environmental groups such as Gippsland Climate Change Network, Sale and District Field Naturalists, Gippsland Apiarist Association, Bug Blitz, as well as local organisations such as Parks Victoria and Ramahyuck and District Aboriginal Corporation, the weather held out for a spectacular day of learning, sharingsharing, and connecting.

The Council’s Waste and Sustainability team were on hand to answer any questions, hosting a recycling activity and displaying the Council’s electric vehicle, while local Indigenous artist Justin Kennedy worked on a digeridoo at the Ramahyuck information stand.

Into the future, the building will play host to events and learning programs with a focus on sustainability and culture, such as Council's Sustainable Living Education Program, community group meetings, workshops, citizen science pop-up labs and Aboriginal cultural experiences.

Nakunbalook Environmental and Cultural Education Centre is a joint project between Wellington Shire Council and GLaWAC, located in the Lake Guyatt-Guthridge precinct immediately adjacent to the SEED Community Garden.