Women’s Network shares local history

ARCHAEOLOGIST Simon Coxe has some findings to show everyone.

On Friday, 29 July, Golden Plains Rural Women’s Network is inviting the community into the Rokewood Golf Club where Mr Coxe will discuss local artifacts he’s recently excavated.

The items were collected over the last two years while Mr Coxe, senior project archaeologist at Heritage Insight, was digging in preparation for the region’s wind towers.

He said they will highlight Golden Plains’ Aboriginal history.

“The Indigenous history of the land around Rokewood is rich in small treasures, personal histories seeded within the ground,” he said.

“The findings show how Aboriginal were connected to the natural environment, from knowing when and where to go to obtain foodstuffs, or hunting practices dictated by seasonal availability.

“I hope that people will gain a better understanding how Aboriginal people lived in a landscape that has seen many changes.”

Using representative artifacts, Mr Coxe will provide an overview of the findings, including Indigenous grinding stones and stone axes.

The presentation will be conducted via slideshow and using representative artifacts supplied by First Peoples – State Relations to give the audience an idea of the items.

Proceeds will go towards a memorial walk for Dulcie Long, a long time staff member of Hesse Rural Health and Leigh Community Care Centre who passed away in 2016.

Hannah Stevenson, president of the Golden Plains Rural Women’s Network said the aim of the event is to showcase what lies underfoot in the region.

“It’s about bringing an awareness and an education to what’s around under the ground we’re all walking and working on,” she said.

“There’s some pretty cool stuff to see and it’s not the sort of thing you find everyday so it’ll be interesting to see everything Simon has in store for us.”