A MONUMENT celebrating the traditional custodians of the Barrington River area was unveiled during a ceremony on Monday, 22 September.
The idea for the monument came from the Cook Family of the Barrington Aboriginal Corporation.
Those taking part in the event included descendants of the Cook, Springheel, Brummy, Syron, Clarke, Thorpe and Jonas families, as well as MidCoast Council Mayor Claire Pontin, Emily Suvaal MLC and Transport for NSW (TfNSW) representatives.
The memorial was funded by TfNSW.
Uncle Barry Syron opened the proceedings with an Acknowledgement of Country and talked about his Aboriginal parents and his life growing up.
A Member of the Legislative Council and Parliamentary Secretary for Trade and Small Business, Hunter-based MP Emily Suvaal then spoke about the connections of Aboriginal people to the area.
Robert Syron, who has written extensively about Aboriginal history of the area, spoke about the interactions between the traditional custodians and the waves of white settlers, which was followed by addresses from Springheel and Cook family representatives.
After white settlement the Cook family lived near the area which is now a camping reserve on the western side of the bridge.
“The Guringai, Guringay or Gringai people are the traditional custodians of the land between the Hunter and Manning Rivers, from the ocean to and including the Great Dividing Range,” Robert Syron and Luke Russell said in a statement.
The new memorial commemorates Jack and Jessie Cook and their descendants.
“In commemoration of Jack and Jessie Cook (nee Brummy) and their descendants,” says the plaque.
“The kabook and Watoo (wah-thoo or possum) people of the Guringay Tribe – The Cook family have lived continually in Barrington for over 189 years, recorded by the first white settlers in 1826.
“Jack Cook, a local Aboriginal Elder born around 1838, became head stockman for the Australian Agricultural Company at the turn of the 19th century.
“Jack Cook, a man initiated on the Barrington Tops, died on 7th of August 1925, aged 87 and was buried in an unmarked grave at Barrington West Road.”
The monument also provides information, including photos, about the history of bridges across the Barrington River.
By John WATTS
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