ROEBOURNE COMMUNITY GARDEN CULTIVATES FOOD, CULTURE AND UNITY
BY ASAD KHAN
Roebourne has sown the seeds of a healthier, more connected future with the launch of its first community garden, a Traditional Owner-led project bringing fresh food, cultural knowledge, and community pride to the heart of Ieramugadu.
A COMMUNITY-LED VISION
The project is supported through a $120,000 funding commitment over three years from Sodexo Australia and its Stop Hunger Foundation.
The community-led garden will supply fresh fruit and vegetables to the town’s only supermarket, Ieramugadu Store Maya, while also serving as a hub for workshops, mentoring, cultural integration, and community gatherings.
ELDERS SHAPE THE FUTURE
Local Elders, including Nanna Pansy, Nanna Violet, and Senior Elder Timmy Douglas, guided the project, advising on seasonal planting and cultural practices. Their leadership was supported by community members such as Ngarluma woman Dolly Samson, who said the garden creates a place for people to share food and grow together.
Ngarluma-Yindjibarndi Foundation Ltd (NYFL) Chief Executive Officer Sean-Paul Stephens said the initiative reflects a broader vision of healing.
“The Elders have been clear that place-based healing is a priority in Ieramugadu, and this garden is a direct response to that vision,” he said.
CULTURE AND UNITY THROUGH ART
In addition to planting, community members and Elders joined together to paint a wall beside the garden, symbolising unity and resilience. The artwork now stands as a visual reminder of the community’s shared commitment to healing and growth.
PARTNERSHIPS FOR WELLBEING
Sodexo Australia Managing Director Keith Weston said the company was honoured to support the initiative, describing it as a symbol of women’s empowerment and community resilience.
“As a food company that works globally, we want to do our part to support the communities in which we work, to help them be more secure from a food perspective and eradicate hunger,” he said.
According to the Western Australian Council of Social Service, Pilbara communities are 30% more likely to face food insecurity compared with urban households, often leading to poor health outcomes.
Limited access to nutritious food has been linked to increased obesity rates and broader social and economic challenges.
The launch event, held behind the NYFL offices on Roe Street, featured a Welcome to Country, garden tours, discussions on community partnerships, a unity wall painting, and a community barbecue.
Mr Stephens said the project is already sparking new conversations about the role of culture, environment, and sustainability in shaping Roebourne’s future.
Listen to Ngaarda Media’s Asad Khan speak with Sean-Paul Stephens and Sodexo Australia Managing Director Keith Weston: