YONGERGNOW NEWSLETTER No1

March 2007

The Yongergnow Malleefowl Centre officially opened its doors to the public on February 15th 2007. The opening was a huge success and catered to over 250 guests and dignitaries including special guest John Williamson, patron of the Malleefowl Preservation Group and Australia's original 'Malleeboy'. Noongar elder Alma Woods, who raised her family in the Ongerup district, welcomed the assembly in Noongar language and gave the Centre her blessing. Carmel Charlton charmed the crowd with her song 'Up, Down South' and the Ongerup Primary School children captured the crowds attention with an environmental song written by our local musician Ross Strahan called 'Who Cares?'.

The Centre is a non profit establishment owned by the community and is primarily staffed and maintained by a dedicated group of volunteers. We are open seven days a week between 9:30am and 4:00pm with an entrance fee of $6 for adults and $3 for children, seniors and large groups. Families are welcome to pay $15. Melissa Savage is the Centre manager and can be contacted at Yongergnow on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. There is also a weekend manager, Carolyn Duncan. Presently the Yongergnow cafe is being operated privately by Donna Hart and she is happy to cater for functions large or small. Everything from the bread to the delicious rocky-road is homemade.

The main building offers a fascinating Interpretive display that combines the use of story boards and compelling audio visual footage to follow the history of the local farming community and its unfortunate effect on malleefowl populations, the conception of the Malleefowl Preservation Group and ultimately the Centre itself. Yongergnow is truly a world class Visitor Centre providing insight into the little known world of malleefowl and housing two wild malleefowl in a huge aviary that spans the natural bushland.
 
Come and visit with us soon, you'll be glad you did