Traditional owners choose new road’s name in fitting tribute

The new road, which provides access to the site from Rosewood Drive and Eimeo Road, has been called Badyari Yalu Road (pronounced bud-jar-e yar-loo).

This translates to “little child” in the Yuwi Aboriginal language.

Mayor Greg Williamson said up until now the road had been known simply as J4 as work on the Northern Beaches Community Hub site got under way.

He said council decided it would be appropriate to consult with the traditional owners to come up with an appropriate and respectful name for the new road.

“The Yuwibara people have a strong affinity with this area through their families’ ancestors and they were honoured to be involved in the road’s naming.”

Yuwi Aboriginal language knowledge holder Deb Clark nee Hazeldean said the name was in recognition of the many young children who died during the years an orphanage was run at the Northern Beaches.

She and Aunty Veronica Ahwang said to this day many of those children silently remained in unidentified resting places on Yuwi country.

“On behalf of the Yuwi language knowledge holders, I would like to extend our sincere thanks and gratitude for reaching out and working collaboratively with us on the naming of the J4 road,’’ they said.

“The implementation of the name ‘badyari yalu’ also means it will stand as a reminder of a part of Mackay's sad but true early history.

“This project will provide acknowledgment, education and truth telling for all people to view and understand as we move into the future.”

The road is now open to the public.

Click on image to enlarge.

Background on the orphanage:

The St Joseph's (also called Merara) Orphanage, established in 1874, was in Bucasia and run by Father Pierre Bucas (in whose honour the suburb was named).

The orphanage cared for orphaned and abandoned boys and girls, but also cared for children from Aboriginal families taken against their will.

In 1885, when doctors and inspectors began recording the mounting deaths of children and the increasingly sickly appearance of others, the surviving children were relocated to a Rockhampton orphanage.

The cause of most deaths was malaria-related illness borne by mosquitoes from a nearby swamp. However, authorities at the time believed malaria was caused by "odours" which could be avoided by building on higher land elevation.

At least 23 children died during their time in the Bucasia orphanage, as well as 10 who died within six months of relocating to Rockhampton. – Source, ABC Tropical North.

More background:

www.mackayhistory.org/research/cemeteries/orphange

Deb Clark nee Hazeldean’s personal connection:

My great grandmother was one of the children who was later removed by the Aboriginal Protection Board of the time and transferred from Mackay to be placed in Meteor Park (in Rockhampton). She was fortunate to survive the silent and cruel mistreatment she experienced within the walls of this institution.

It is for all these children – the ones whose lives were lost and the ones that survived such harsh and cruel treatment in a place devoid of love and comfort – that we saw it only fitting to be able to honour and remember these children by naming the J4 road badyari yalu, little child/children, in remembrance of them all.