Reconciliation
Acknowledgement of the Traditional Custodians
Mornington Peninsula Wine acknowledges the Bunurong / Boon Wurrung people, who have been the Traditional Custodians of this land for many thousands of years, and pays respect to their Elders past and present. We acknowledge that the land on which we live, work and create is the place of age-old ceremonies, celebrations, initiation and renewal, and that the Bunurong/Boon Wurrung people's living culture continues to have a unique role in the life of this region.
A Brief History of the Boon Wurrung / Bunurong People
The Mornington Peninsula is located on the traditional lands of the Boon Wurrung / Bunurong people of the Kulin Nation. They are the Traditional Custodians of the land that covers the coast from the Werribee River in the north-west, down to Wilson’s Promontory in the south-east, taking in the catchments of the Old Carrum swamp, Kooweerup swamp (the great swamp), Tarwin River and Westernport Bay, and including Mornington Peninsula, French and Phillip Islands.
The Boon Wurrung / Bunurong people have lived in this area for over 40,000 years. Before the great pyramids in Egypt had been built, the Boon Wurrung / Bunurong people were here. They lived as all people of the Kulin nation lived, sustainably on the land for tens of thousands of years. People ate local animals, plants, fish and shellfish. They used boats, or canoes to frequent nearby islands. These canoes were made from bark and often were able to support a small fire in the middle for warmth and cooking fish.
They lived in small huts made from bark and wood from the trees. They made all of their tools from stone and wood. With these tools they caught all of the food they needed. Life depended on the seasonal availability of different plants and animals. The foreshores and creeks provided ideal places to fish and hunt for seafood and salt water plants. The creeks also provided drinking water, encouraged animals to the area and nourished other plants and trees, supplied ingredients for medicine and painting, materials for clothing and implements for activities such as hunting and aids for carrying babies. These were found locally or traded with neighbouring tribes.
They had a great respect for the land and all of the animals. The Boon Wurrung / Bunurong people are still here, looking after the land and their families. Today, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples from all over Australia live on the Mornington Peninsula.
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Source: Mornington Peninsula Shire’s ‘A Brief History – Fact Sheet’
Mornington Peninsula Wine’s Reconciliation Action Plan
Our Reconciliation Action Plan focuses on addressing the challenges in achieving reconciliation, particularly those originating from non-Indigenous Australia. Mornington Peninsula Wine has developed a 'Reflect' Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP), which has been officially endorsed by Reconciliation Australia. This 'Reflect' RAP signifies our initial formal stride in the journey towards reconciliation.
Our objective is to cultivate relationships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander stakeholders, actively engage in listening and learning, explore our vision for reconciliation, and assess our sphere of influence. Through this collaborative process, we aim to acquire the skills and knowledge necessary to initiate meaningful action.
As vignerons, our inherent connection to the land we steward is paramount. In our viticultural and winemaking pursuits, we strive to articulate the distinctive attributes of our vineyards, region, and the nuances of each annual growing season.
These intricate dynamics draw parallels to the profound connection that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have with Country. We acknowledge that our business activities represent a minuscule facet of a longstanding tradition wherein people have managed the land in our region for tens of thousands of years.
Click here to view our RAP and here to learn more about Reconciliation Australia