“Space of enjoyment”, Getwajil Garden opens

TORQUAY residents will now have an additional place to gather at Nautical Linear Reserve thanks to the opening of a new and informative community-led project.

Getwajil Garden, named after the Wadawurrung word for ‘many’, was officially opened last Tuesday with shire councillors, water and energy representatives, and a community group in tow.

“The garden will help educate people so that they can understand what has been provided for us,” Ms Eccles said.

“Everything is here for a reason and holds a cultural significance purpose to the Wadawurrung, recognising Wadawurrung traditional foods.”

The garden features edible indigenous plants for locals to pick, eat and maintain, as well as an opportunity for people to learn from the garden.

Each plant has signs containing information about where it comes from and how it can be used in food preparation.

Torquay Lions Club representative Bill Ferguson was grateful to be part of one of the many community groups involved in the development of Getjawil Garden.

“Like the garden itself, many people came together to make this possible,” Mr Ferguson said.

“We held several working bees – from planting, selecting the rocks, and mulching days, we’ve been heavily involved. We think the garden will be a feature of Nautical Rise, and the Yarning Circle, a traditional place for First Nations people to sit and pass on knowledge, will be a place for the community to learn about the plants, and one another.”

Community groups also sourced additional funding from Energy Australia and Barwon Water to include a Yarning Circle and an irrigation system to the garden.

The yarning circle is based on the traditional meeting place of Australia’s First Nations where people share stories.