The Stirling Range, also known as Koi Kyennu-ruff, is an important part of the environment of the lower Great Southern region of Western Australia. It is over 60 kilometres wide from west to east, and is protected by the Stirling Range National Park, which was gazetted in 1913, and has an area of 1,159 km2.
I took Noongar sisters Treasy Woods and Averil Dean to the Stirlings to allow them to tell the stories about why the various peaks in this mountain range are important to them and their families. This video, in particular, focuses on Toolbrunup and Bular Mial, or Bluff Knoll.
It was wonderful to sit with these women and hear the stories that have been passed down to them for generations. While we sat quietly looking at Bular Mial, a tourist coach arrived, and a group of overseas visitors got out of the bus, walked to the viewing platform and began taking selfies. After a few minutes, they were back on the bus and heading off to their next stop.
Treasy and Averil quietly told how this mountain peak is a respected location because it is the place where the spirits go when they die. Bular Mial means eyes, and they told me that the shapes on the mountain represent the eyes of their ancestors watching all who come and go. Sadly, the visiting tourists missed that as they snapped their selfies.
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