Community project: Wybalenna Homestead
Note: this article contains an image of people who are deceased from the sign at the entrance to Wybalenna.
Refurbishing Wybalenna Homestead on Flinders Island
At This is Electric, we believe in driving sustainable change that prioritises people and the planet.
Along with providing our customers with high quality electrical services, we trade as a social enterprise, investing all our profits into community projects and educational initiatives.
Our recent volunteering effort to refurbish and upgrade electrical wiring and connections at the Wybalenna homestead on Flinders Island is a project we feel very passionate about.
A significant place with a brutal history
We’ve been learning so much since beginning work on this project.
The most informative resource we’ve found told from the perspective of Aboriginal people is available on the Orb (a Tasmanian Government education website): https://www.theorb.tas.gov.au/connection-to-country/wybalenna
Wybalenna was Australia’s first mission, and has a brutal but significant history.
The morality of a nation remains impaired until that nation deals honestly with its past
The land and site is now owned and managed by the Aboriginal Land Council of Tasmania.
Once the buildings are refurbished, Wybalenna can serve as a reminder of Australia's past and the treatment and experiences of the Tasmanian Aboriginal people. It can be a place where people can learn about the true history of Tasmania.
As Jim Everett says: ‘This is not just black fella’s history. Its everybody’s history.’
The buildings at Wybalenna have been neglected, and a recent grant from the Tasmanian Community Fund have enabled work to commence to upgrade the buildings so that they can be used by the community.
Wybalenna will not only be a place for community connections, but provide a space for truth-telling, allowing the community to connect, use the land and share their stories.
Mid-project, working on refurbishment of the Wybalenna homestead
Joining for a purpose
Our team of electricians joined a group of dedicated families and community members with skills and experience to lend a hand in this crucial restoration project.
The work is still ongoing.
Connecting wiring to the plumbing and septic tank system pumps
Putting people first
As a business, our core values include sustainability, community empowerment, and education.
Participating in the refurbishment of Wybalenna enabled us to put these principles into action.
Our commitment to supporting community projects is not only about upgrading structures; it's about fostering a sense of belonging and acknowledging the true history of Tasmania.
Continuing our engagement
We are profoundly honored to contribute to the refurbishment of Wybalenna.
As we move forward, This is Electric remains committed to supporting initiatives that amplify the voices of Aboriginal communities and support truth telling.
We will continue to invest in projects that empower communities and honor our shared history.
Wybalenna beach at high tide.