Eidsvold’s new yarning circle received the resounding support of the town’s community at a launch event in late July.
The North Burnett Community Service invited Eidsvold residents to the grand opening of a yarning circle at its Munjoorum building on 22 July.
The event featured a barbecue, giveaways, a dance performance by a local Wakka Wakka dance group and an address by project mastermind and local elder, Ismay Law.
NBCS community development officer Nikki Briggs, who facilitated the building of the yarning circle alongside Ms Law, said the project came together in a flash.
Ms Briggs explained that the idea of creating a publicly-available yarning circle at Munjoorum first cropped up in May 2025, with eager locals immediately starting to brainstorm and work on the structure’s features as part of several working bees.
“There’d be people showing up just for a sticky-beak – and before you knew it they’d be on the tools,” she said, adding a number of community members further made donations to the project.
The community’s donations, Ms Briggs said, went a long way toward stretching out the funding for the project provided by Highways and Byways and Mundubbera’s Bendigo Community Bank.
Other large groups also pitched in: the Central Queensland Indigenous Development organisation and Christian faith group STORMCo helped to prepare the grounds at Munjoorum, painting totems and planting a garden of native bush tucker plants selected by members of the community at a prior workshop.
The yarning circle’s official opening on 22 July drew a similarly spirited crowd.
“The community loved [the yarning circle] and really embraced it,” Ms Briggs said.
“It’s something that obviously inspired them. It gave people a lot of pride and a sense of identity.
“Now it’s a space they can use. Even the kids go up there,” Ms Briggs said, adding that she had already received reports of community members using the space to connect.
The NBCS hopes to seize the momentum around the yarning circle: going forward the organisation hopes to install a shade structure at the yarning circle to give the community safe, year-round access to the grounds, as well as find a space for a barbecue grill donated by CQID.
Members of the public can use the Eidsvold yarning circle at any time, free of charge. However the NBCS urges any attendees to treat the grounds with respect.
Individuals or groups hoping to hold an event at the yarning circle should contact the NBCS on 4165 4690.
