Join us for an exhibition of Illustrations from books by the Wirlomin Noongar Language and Stories mob from the South Coast of Western Australia.
Wirlomin Noongar Language and Stories is a Noongar community group dedicated to preserving and revitalising their rich cultural heritage in south-western Australia. Led by community, Elders of the Great Southern, and facilitated by Kim Scott and Cass Lynch, the group engages in activities that foster appreciation for the enduring stories of the south coast. Through language workshops, storytelling sessions, and community events, the group consolidates and shares stories and songs to ensure their heritage is passed down to future generations. These efforts have led to presentations at schools and festivals, programs delivered at a regional prison, collaborations with ecological groups, and the publication of six picture books (with two more forthcoming in late 2025) presenting revitalised stories connected to ancestral places on the south coast. The books’ captivating tales include whale journeys, blue groper boys, spirit fights, and dogs that turn into seals. Illustrated in local workshops and first circulated within the community, these stories are now reaching a wider audience.
Exhibition Details
4 July 2025 – 7 September 2025
10am – 5pm, Mondays to Fridays
12pm – 4pm, Sundays
Closed Saturdays and Public Holidays
Free entry, open to the public
About the book illustrations on display
In Mamang a brave ancestor jumps into the blowhole of a whale and goes on a journey across the ocean to new lands. It is a story about the extensive Noongar kinship network on the south coast.
In Ngaawily Nop a boy goes looking for his uncle and finds himself tested on who he is. This story of the Blue Groper Boy shares the transformative power of connection to Country.
Noorn is the story of alliances between humans and other living creatures, in this case a snake. It tells of how protective relationships can be nurtured by care and respect.
Image: Whale Illustration in the book, Mamang, by Jeffrey Farmer for Wirlomin Noongar Language & Stories Inc.
