What Plants Teach Us

Step on Country with Geri Hayden and discover how the plants of Melville’s banksia woodlands, jarrah forests and wild bush teach us, feed us and connect us to Noongar knowledge. Learn what makes Noongars the “sweet water people”, how every plant – banksia, jarrah, peppermint, kangaroo paw, zamia, balga – was woven into culture, daily life and survival. Hear how burning, bush care and seasonal movement fostered a deep relationship between people, plants and animals. Geri invites you to think about giving back to Country – just as the old people did – and to see new generations stepping up as caretakers, ensuring boodja flourishes for all.

What is Place Names Melville?

Kaya Wanjoo! (Hello and welcome!) Are you ready to discover hidden stories embedded in Whadjuk Noongar Boodja, the traditional land of the Noongar people of the southwest of Western Australia? Then come walk with us through the Place Names Melville podcast.

Each episode invites you to listen deeply as Noongar Elders and community members share the rich spirit, memory and meaning woven into the placenames of the City of Melville, located in Western Australia’s capital city Perth. From ancient trails to familiar streets, you’ll hear voices that bring Country to life, reconnecting us all to culture and history in ways both heartfelt and powerful.

Created by Luisa Mitchell, the Place Names Melville podcast is more than an exploration of names; it’s an invitation to be part of a journey of healing, recognition and shared respect.

This podcast was recorded during Place Names Melville, a two-year Noongar-led community arts project that revived the traditional names and cultural significance of prominent locations in the City of Melville, a local government area in Perth.

Curious to know more? Visit placenamesmelville.com.au for an opportunity to engage with these stories further with an interactive map of the City of Melville.

If these voices and stories move you, help them travel further – share this podcast with your friends, family and community.

Place Names Melville is produced by Community Arts Network in partnership with the City of Melville, Moodjar and the Noongar community, with support from Lotterywest.

Presenters: Michelle White, Trevor Walley, Geri Hayden, Ben Ugle, Joseph Collard, Narelle Ogilvie, John Hart
Creator: Luisa Mitchell
Producer: Nduta Gathoga
Editor: Luisa Mitchell
Recorded at Magic Studios Perth
Theme music: Phil Walleystack