Elder among last to remember Australia's forgotten 'parkland'
Menang elder Aunty Carol Petterson remembers when her family worked as shepherds, driving sheep through the bushland and along rivers towards the coast in southern Western Australia. Decades later, she recalls in vivid detail the natural abundance of the landscape.
Aunty Carol Petterson, a Menang Elder, vividly recalls her childhood in the bushland of Western Australia. At just four years old, she and her family worked as shepherds, trekking through the landscape towards the West Australian coast. The area, stretching about 200 kilometres southeast of Perth, was a sprawling parkland with no fences, dotted by yate trees and rich in natural resources.
Aunty Carol fondly remembers the lack of motor vehicles and the daily walks of up to 20 kilometres, driven by the family herself. She emphasizes the deep connection to the land, where landmarks and natural cues guided their way, similar to a Noongar language map. The family relied on the land for sustenance, gathering bush foods and salt, and she believes that today's diminished landscape lacks the richness and abundance of her youth.
Aunty Carol, along with her siblings, is among the last generation to remember the pre-clearing era. She hopes sharing her story will encourage modern Australians to reconnect with their land and understand its historical and cultural significance.
Written by urgent.news from ABC News AU's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
