By Parker McKenzie
An area previously used for bird feeding at Grants Picnic Ground — before the activity was banned in February 2020 — will be used to host community events, including for First Nations people.
The former bird feeding area hosted a Walk and Talk event organized by Hills Walking Together on Saturday 11 September, a project aiming to create opportunities for First Nations peoples and local residents of the hills to “connect, respect, learn and celebrate Culture and Country.”
Founder of Hills Walking Together Shakti McLaren said Uncle Murrindindi — the Ngurungaeta of the Wurundjeri People — informed people at the Walk and Talk about traditional foods and medicine available in the area.
“He talked mostly about the indigenous foods available around the area,” she said.
“They don’t like it being called bush tucker, because it’s actual food that is growing there along with medicines as well.”
Parks Victoria stopped allowing bird feeding at the popular tourist destination following a study by independent wildlife consultants on the impact it has on the surrounding environment. The bird feeding area forms part of the lease agreement of the Grants on Sherbrooke tearooms and kiosk.
Justin Wicks, who runs Grants on Sherbrook with Belinda Hubbard after taking over the business in July 2022, said while bird feeding bought tourists to the area previously, they want to see the area used by the local community.
“Tourist groups see it printed on documents, social media and on the tourist maps,” he said.
“We have them come in disappointed, ranting and raving to us thinking it is our fault.”
Mr Wicks and Ms Hubbard also recently erected an Acknowledgment of Country sign developed by Hills Walking Together and the Upwey Community Group.
Upwey Community Group’s Jonothan Levin said it is great to see diversity happening in the hills, particularly in regards to First Nations people.
“It’s really positive and I’m excited multiculturalism is beginning to show its head,” he said.
“It’s nice to have a diversity of conversation starting to happen, my main focus is having it happen with First Nations people first.”
The signs cost $50 each, with the profits made from them being contributed towards the Mullum Mullum Indigenous Meeting Place in Croydon.
Ms MacLaren said a university course caused her to consider the needs of First Nations Peoples in the hills.
“I had to write a piece about would First Nations people feel welcome where I live and it got me looking around the villages to see whether I thought they’d feel welcome, I just felt like they wouldn’t,” she said.
“I wanted to have more artwork and more acknowledgement in the hills. We are a racist country and the sooner we acknowledge that the sooner we can tell the truth.”
Ms Hubbard said low-impact activities like yoga, healing ceremonies or walking groups are welcomed in the bird feeding area.
“If we don’t look after the forest, it won’t be here in 20 years for the next lot of people,” she said.
“There are still lots of people coming out thinking they can feed the birds and we still have tourists come up with boxes of food, so there is still a lack of education here.”
Another way the pair intends to embrace the Indigenous history of the area is by replacing the products in the souvenir shop with items made by local indigenous people.
Grants Picnic Ground is located 41km east of Melbourne at 70 Monbulk Road, Kallista and before the Covid-19 pandemic, 750,000 people visited each year. The original kiosk and tearooms were built in the 1950s or 1960s.
For more information on Hills Walking Together, you can visit the Facebook page or email hillswalkingtogether@gmail.com
