Mullum Mullum Indigenous Gathering Place

The Mullum Mullum Indigenous Gathering Place (MMIGP) has been 'proudly supporting the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community in the Eastern Metropolitan region of Melbourne since 2005'.

MMIGP is an Aboriginal run organisation who help foster the promotion and strengthening of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural identity while retaining integral cultural knowledges. By providing a safe space for the Indigenous community members to gather, MMIGP plan and operate cultural activities for the members to connect with each other and reconnect with Country.

While I was at Ni Ni Well farm in Nhill, I met the men's group from MMIGP. They had been camping on the land and learning about bush foods from Matthew, the owner of Ni Ni Well. We all went on a tour of the farm where we were introduced to all the Australian native edible food crops that are being grown. The main crops were Acacia sp., Kunzea pomifera (Muntries) and Santalum acuminatum (Quondong).

It was so incredible to see this group of men connecting out on Country and participating in an activity to increase the bond shared by the men. With so many men in Australia suffering mental illness, and suicide statistics climbing, it is important for these community groups to continue. The connection these events provide is priceless.

When people connect with others, the feelings of loneliness and helplessness decrease exponentially. And when that connection extends to nature, the health benefits are immeasurable.

What the Mullum Mullum Aboriginal Gathering Place is providing for their community members is so important for cultural safety and protection of cultural practices. Not only are the events providing fun, engaging activities for their members, they're creating a space where continued knowledge sharing can occur.

Check out their website and socials for upcoming events and corporation information:

Home - MMIGP

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The men from the Mullum Mullum Aboriginal Gathering Place

Off on our tour of the Ni Ni Well farm

Beautiful Muntrie flowers. Mullum Mullum Men's group in the background.

CEO of the Mullum Mullum Indigenous Gathering Place, Trevor Pearce.

John - The modern day Aboriginal out bush. Sunnies and branches for fly protection.

Inspecting the Quondong plants on the farm. These plants had yet to fruit.

Inspecting the plants on the farm.

Picking Quondong off a mature tree.

Processing the Quondong. Removing the seeds and sorting the quality of the flesh into categories.

Learning about the processing of Quondong and bagging up some seeds for the Mullum Mullum women to make jewelry.

None other than the 'Legend' himself.....Dion Edwards :-)