We celebrated Warrandyte's newest community park and playspace in style on 18 September, where hundreds of locals turned out for the official opening of wonguim wilam.
With tunes from our local musicians setting the mood, the Lions Club fired up the new barbecue facilities to host a sausage sizzle.
Now and Not Yet café kept the grown-ups topped up with coffee and donuts, while the kids did their best to reach the top of the tower in the incredible new playspace.
Our Mayor, Cr Michelle Kleinert officially opened wonguim wilam, saying that the occasion (on Sunday 18 September) was a fantastic way to celebrate the culmination of a journey that began five years ago.
“I’m pleased that we have created this beautiful, inviting, accessible and safe space for everyone to use,” Cr Kleinert said.
“The park has Indigenous vegetation, animal habitats, community art and shade. There’s space for people to walk away from the road, sit down, enjoy the outdoors, come together or have a barbecue. There’s equipment for people to get fit and an incredible playground for children. There are also signs to inform us of this place’s past, to remind us of its heritage,” the Mayor added.
The Woi-wurrung name, wonguim wilam (pronounced won-goom-wil-lum), translates to ‘boomerang place’.
The playspace upgrade was made possible through a $300,000 grant from the Victorian Government Parks Revitalisation Grants Program and a $45,000 contribution towards the exercise station from the Warrandyte Lions Club (co-funded by Manningham Council).
Cr Kleinert thanked the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung Corporation for its support and guidance throughout the naming process, and members of the project reference group for their time and leadership.
“The Lions Club also showed their willingness to be community leaders by supporting the park’s name change. Thank you for taking up this important opportunity in reconciliation and for your contributions to the park over the last 40 years.”
We received the ‘Excellence in Place Naming’ award for naming wonguim wilam at the Asia Pacific Spatial Excellence Awards earlier this year.
Learn more by visiting our Your Say page or check out the park in person at 225 Yarra St, Warrandyte.
