History
In 1994, Victor Wright through his work with Corrective Services NSW and working with Aboriginal Offenders, had a vision to establish a place of cultural healing, and alternate to gaol concept. Recommendation 187 of the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody report was the underlying purpose and intent to pursue this vision.
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The land application process involved six years of historical cultural research by Tammy Wright and Louise Campbell of the Newcastle, Lake Macquarie and Hunter Regions and securing community support from peak Aboriginal organisations and Local Aboriginal Lands Council within those boundaries.
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At the time of our initial research and application of our land acquisition in 1996, apart from the Local Aboriginal Lands Councils, Koompahtoo (Now Biraban), Batabah, Darkinjung and Awabakal, there were no known traditional owner groups, bar the exception of the Wonarauh Traditional Owners.
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Through the tireless efforts and vision of Victor and Tammy Wright and Louise Campbell, the property “Kywong” was purchased by the Indigenous Land Corporation in 2002 on behalf of Yulawirri Nurai Indigenous Association, now known as Yula-Punaal Education and Healing Aboriginal Corporation.
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The Property was divested to Yula-Punaal Education and Healing Aboriginal Corporation in 2013 and now trades as the Yula-Punaal Centre.
Conservation and Land Management.
In 2003 , Yula-Punaal became independent ‘Aboriginal Land Owners’. Over the course of 10 years, the organisation primarily restore the property back to it’s natural heritage and to maintain it as such by way of re-establishing native riparian vegetation & to re-vegetate the wetlands and the two natural billabongs located on the property, which had intrusion from neighbouring cattle and feral deer which roamed freely. The waterways are home to many native flora & fauna species, and they continue to do so today.
Our early Yula-Punaal Native Arboretum project was very important as it promoted and presents Aboriginal knowledge linked to the wider community through the botanical identification and Aboriginal interpretation of the food sources of Aboriginal tucker, and the medicinal purpose and uses of Aboriginal bush medicine, Aboriginal flora essences and Aboriginal essential oils within Aboriginal industry and cultural tourism. An understanding of land conservation and wise water usage. It is also important that Aboriginal groups work together with the community and this project allows such joint ventures.
It is also very important part of our peoples healing process to remember and understand Aboriginal ties to the land and to Aboriginal lore. Learning Aboriginal Knowledge and Culture and understanding the healing powers of our ancestors is all part of the Yula-Punaal foundations.