General News
2 April, 2026
Keeping place powerful, sacred
THE new Yung Balug Aboriginal Artefacts Museum on the banks of Lake Boort has been praised as home to a powerful and sacred collection.
THE new Yung Balug Aboriginal Artefacts Museum on the banks of Lake Boort has been praised as home to a powerful and sacred collection.
First Peoples’ Assembly co-chair Ngarra Murray on Friday said the vision and commitment of Paul and Cathy Haw gave protection to Aboriginal artefacts and create a place where future generations could be educated.
More than 100 people attended Friday’s official opening by Ms Murray.
She said the Haws had been generous in their commitment that she first experience 20 years ago. “(They have created) a place of learning, of respect,” Ms Murray said.
DJAARA chair Rebecca Phillips said the new museum beside the Haw’s home would be a place of learning and memory that would help “support continuation of culture”.
Paul said that the museum was part of a long-held dream to preserve indigenous history of the district. And he said there was a plan to retain artefacts that had been gathered over the decades in Boort. “I don’t want items to be sold (or dispersed), I want them to stay in Boort. And I want to make sure that happens before we go.”
Mr Haw and Aboriginal leaders have said they wanted major cultural centre in the town to preserve history and celebrate scar trees and middens.
Paul’s son Bradley, who compared the opening, paid tribute to his parents for encouraging awareness of culture and nature.
“On the farm at Yando, our whole life we grew up in touch with nature, plants and the history,” he said. “And as people left the area, Dad built up a collection of artefacts. With help from family and friends he has now built this new Keeping Place. Mum and Dad have put their own money into this.”
Ms Murray said the new keeping place museum was about identity, “the oldest living culture on earth and the environment.”
And former local Ian Whitehead premiered his new song at the opening celebrating the Haws and local Aboriginal culture.
Read More: Berrimal, Boort