Roebourne Community Garden Comes Alive
Ieramugadu (Roebourne) locals and visitors will celebrate the launch of the town’s first Community Garden tomorrow, Tuesday 19 August, a project led by the Ieramugadu community.
When it comes to full maturity, the community-led garden will boost food security in Roebourne by supplying fresh fruit and vegetables for the town’s only supermarket, Ieramugadu Store Maya, a social enterprise. It will also serve as a collaborative hub for workshops, educational programs, cultural integration, mentoring, and community gatherings.
Sean-Paul Stephens, CEO of Ngarluma-Yindjibarndi Foundation Ltd (NYFL), said that the lack of access to fresh food is a major barrier for the Roebourne community.
The Ieramugadu community have championed Traditional Owner-led liveability, which in this community means more than houses and services — it’s about having spaces that nurture wellbeing and connection
“The Elders have been clear that place-based healing is a priority in Ieramugadu, and this garden is a direct response to that vision. It’s a living symbol of the community shaping its own future."
The garden is designed to be fully circular, with food waste from the Store and Café composted into mulch. Community members are also encouraged to bring their own food scraps to contribute to the composting efforts.
The garden is already sparking conversations about how culture, environment and community aspirations can come together. From traditional knowledge about planting seasons to innovative sustainability practices, this space brings people into dialogue about what a thriving and healthy Roebourne looks like,”
Roebourne Nannas, Nanna Pansy and Nanna Violet, and Senior men such as Senior Elder Timmy Douglas, along with emerging leaders from across the community, are instrumental in this project. In 2023, these Elders set out their vision for a community garden in partnership with Sodexo. As Elders, their cultural knowledge and ongoing guidance are invaluable, particularly in advising on seasonal plant varieties that align with traditional practices and the needs of the garden.
The garden features shade trees and native groundcover which create a microclimate, as well as fruit trees, bush foods, and popular kitchen seedlings such as carrots, tomatoes and cucumbers.
Since the idea was first discussed, Ngarluma woman Dolly Samson has played an active role to help establish the garden.
“It's good for community to have the garden. They know they have a place where they can go and enjoy food and grow whatever they want to grow. It's important for everyone to know that we are growing food for our community to share,"
Keith Weston, Managing Director of food and facilities management company Sodexo Australia said that he was delighted to see the community-led initiative come to life in Roebourne and that its concept stands as a symbol of women's empowerment, making it Sodexo’s first joint initiative of its kind under this banner in Australia.
Women play an essential role in the fight against hunger, especially in vulnerable communities. By empowering women and their communities, and ensuring access to food relief in remote and regional areas, we can make a meaningful difference. Sodexo Australia and Stop Hunger are deeply honoured to support this vital work,"
According to the WA Council of Social Service (WACOSS), rural and remote communities in the Pilbara are 30% more likely to experience food insecurity compared to urban households. Chronic food insecurity leads families to choose more processed, less nutritious foods, resulting in higher obesity rates and creating negative impacts on employment, education, economic prospects, and mental health.
The official opening of the garden will take place on Tuesday 19 August at 42 Roe St, behind the NYFL offices. The activities will begin at 9am with a Welcome to Country, followed by an introduction, tours of the garden, a community impact and partnerships discussion and a community BBQ. Everyone is welcome to drop in, have a chat and enjoy the garden. The event is free.
About Stop Hunger
Stop Hunger, Sodexo's unique philanthropic cause, is a global non-profit network working towards a world without hunger. Initiated in the United States in 1996 by Sodexo employees, its founding partner, the movement has expanded. By 2024, it has operated in 58 countries, working hand in hand with over 330 NGOs. Stop Hunger fights against food insecurity, firmly believing that empowering women and younger generations is at the heart of the solutions for a better future.