by Laurel Lloyd-Jones | May 12, 2026 | Indigenous, Nature & Spirituality, Newsletter
Alice Williams is the (Former) Secretary, Brungle/Tumut Local Aboriginal Land Council.
A small piece of paradise is what most visitors to Elm Grove feel when they encounter the area for the first time. Our people occupied this little bit of paradise for many thousands of years.
It was and still is a special place for Aboriginal women and children. Where they connected spiritually with Mother Earth. Where they learnt to appreciate all aspects of their culture and appreciate the beauty and spirituality of the land.
Elm Grove is very sacred ground for the Wolgalu and is used often by the Aboriginal community to teach the young people respect for culture, the land and the interaction between the environment and people.
Once you encounter the spirituality of the area you often find yourself drawn back again and again. The spirit of the land has a powerful presence and offers the opportunity for deep reflection of one’s life path, a greater affinity within ourselves, and with Mother Earth.
Alice’s words written many years ago still hold the potent essence and importance of protecting and honouring the history of Elm Grove Sanctuary. Care for the deep spirituality of sacred places by hearts and minds that are open are indicators of our true humanity and connection to the wonders of the natural world of which we are an intricate part.
by Laurel Lloyd-Jones | May 11, 2026 | Articles, Indigenous, NEST, Newsletter
Such a privilege to have experienced this profound and deeply moving experience offered so graciously by Djinama Yilaga in a collaboration with Four Winds, at Barraga Bay near Bermagui NSW this Mother’s Day 10th May 2026.
The sharing of their personal stories brought forth recognition, grief, and such hope for the future with their closing ‘We Have Tomorrow and she looks good’. My lasting impression was the message – ‘we don’t carry the ashes – we carry the flame’. Their confidence, as they go forward, brings us all along on the journey of HOPE.
We congratulate them on their amazing success. It is with great appreciation that we offer our thanks to Djinama Yilaga for the sacred gift you gave us.
Djinama Yilaga ‘make happy’ in Dhurga language, is an intergenerational choir from the Far South Coast of NSW with singers aged from very young to ‘not so young’, united by a passion for song, culture and connection to Country, sharing stories and language of the Yuin nation through original music in Dhurga.
Together, they’ve created something truly special. From performances at Vivid Sydney, Parliament House Canberra, international performances in Poland and Washington, to commissions for the Art Gallery NSW and the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, their journey is one of celebration, resilience, and community. They are inspiring the next generation to carry their cultural legacy forward.
Follow their beautiful music, cultural stories, and joyful moments as they bring Yuin language and Dreamtime stories to life through song: https://www.djinamayilaga.com.au/
Barragga Yangga. Photo by David Rogers.
by Laurel Lloyd-Jones | May 11, 2026 | Articles, Indigenous, NEST, Newsletter, Projects
In 2024 Elm Grove Trust created an educational committee the Narooma Education Support Team (NEST) and we have seen the significant benefits to students at Narooma High School through exciting and innovative programs made possible by some wonderful donors.
In 2025 our Trust was fortunate to be awarded a grant from the Foundation for Rural & Regional Renewal (FRRR) to cover the materials to further develop the ‘Hands on Learning’ Program and ‘Murrawan-Dhanga Bush Nursery’ horticultural program which we have seed funded since 2018.
These out of classroom programs ‘Murrawan-Dhanga Bush Nursery’ covering horticulture, traditional bush tucker plants for food and medication, (including a green house and large covered potting-on area), and the ‘Hands on Learning’ woodwork and building program have both continued to excitingly expand.
Our newest project Native Bees has been to provide funds for the introduction of native bees for pollination in the horticulture program.
A traditional ‘bark canoe project’, in 2025 under guidance from an Indigenous instructor saw cultural pride and an impressive outcome that built confidence and self-belief in the young students. All of these programs are overseen by experienced and enthusiastic educators. Our Nest volunteers continue to support the school’s Breakfast Club project which runs every morning providing a healthy and supportive start to the student’s day.
We have offered Scholarships and Encouragement Grants for young people over the past five years. Some of those recipients have been students from Narooma High School and these funds have been supportively co-managed by the executive staff and the recipient to ensure maximum beneficial progression of their inspirational endeavours.
We have recently provided a scholarship fund for an exceptionally gifted Year 8 student, at Narooma High School. Millie has demonstrated outstanding talent and dedication as a pianist. Millie ingeniously created a paper keyboard and taught herself to play at home despite not having a piano. This gifted young girl’s passion has brought forth outstanding talent and remarkable promise for a future career in music. As part of Millie’s development, the school is looking to provide specialised tuition that will hone her skills to the highest level and foster her musical potential. Elm Grove Trust has happily committed to cover Millie’s estimated tuition cost of $720 each term for this year.
Hands on Learning Program
An excellent all-weather awning structure completed by ‘Hands on Learning’ students enhances their future employment prospects
Horticultural Program:
‘Murrawan-Dhanga Bush Nursery’ horticultural program’s new ‘potting on’ enclosure
In late 2025 students in this program travelled to Nowra to tour Waminda’s Kareela Ngura Garden in Nowra NSW. Kareela Ngura brings together permaculture and local Indigenous knowledge and practices into one community hub; and Yanaga Dhugan which encourages Aboriginal Women to enter the workforce within a framework. More information – https://waminda.org.au/
Students were introduced to native bees used for pollination and the decision to introduce them into their bush nursery at Narooma High was made. Our Trust was happy to provide the funding to purchase these bees, made possible by a generous and supportive couple who make regular donations in support of the Murrawan-Dhanga Bush Nursery horticultural program. This is now underway as plans are made for correct timing for separating the bees and training in the care of the bees and collection of the honey.
Under direction the students have now built a wooden hive to await the arrival of their bees
Some further exciting news – Presenter Clarence Slockee from the ABC Gardening Australia program has recently been to the school to film a future segment for their program. Students have been interviewed, and the background vision has been filmed, so we will keep you posted on this.
We reach out in the strong desire that ongoing funds can continue to be found. We have seen young people flourish and find hope for their futures when they know that they are supported.
If you are as excited as we are about supporting these programs and offering encouragement grants and scholarships, then please consider supporting us with a donation – small, large, one-off or regular. All donations are tax deductible. We cherish your support and offer our genuine thanks for your donations.
The primary purpose of the Elm Grove Sanctuary Trust is to offer support, encouragement and hope for all people, irrespective of race or creed, especially when in need. Based upon a deep compassion for all life and respecting the beauty of our natural world, it seeks to draw attention to ways in which we can live more simply, responsibly and harmoniously with each other and our Earth.
WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT
Your donation to ELM GROVE SANCTUARY TRUST will help us continue to enrich the lives of others. Your contributions enable:
- equity of opportunity in education for our younger generation
- encouragement through annual scholarships
- promotion of peace through relationship
- respect for diversity and inclusiveness
- responsible and innovative environmental projects
- support for other organisations that align with our purposes.
Please consider making either a one off, monthly or annual donation.
Your donation is tax deductible.
All amounts, small or large, offer a wonderful opportunity and they are receipted.
DONATE HERE
Join us as an Associate Member – we need volunteers to assist with administration and outreach, or subscribe and contribute to our quarterly newsletters to share ideas.
For more information email us – egstrust2@gmail.com
by Laurel Lloyd-Jones | Apr 19, 2026 | Articles, Indigenous, NEST, Newsletter
As a Franciscan and a Social Worker who has supported people over many years, I have seen the lasting effect that stress; feelings of powerlessness; and lack of care and support has on people’s lives. At this time, more than ever, people are grieving, confused and feeling totally powerless to change the tragic events, with genocide and wars occurring in our world due to the actions of world leaders playing dangerous power games.
Our everyday lives are being affected and despair is growing day by day. One woman recently expressed her despair at what is happening to innocent families affected by the war in Palestine and Lebanon which goes on without any restraints placed upon the US or Israel.
She said, “It is healing to surround myself with others who are heartbroken over the killing of innocent people, even though I still need to go and scream into the ocean on some days. I find that being with people with caring and just values for human rights does help me to carry on. Otherwise, I would actually go crazy. I mean – how do we see Israel drop 100 bombs in ten minutes killing over 300 men, women and children and just go about our lives as if nothing has happened? I need to acknowledge this madness that is taking place while our world sleepwalks through genocide. I need to share my feelings and to find a way to carry on.”
Hearing this statement, I asked myself how do we maintain a sane and caring presence in our lives here and now despite such madness? I believe that more than ever we need to come together to care for each other. In that caring and listening we can restore our integrity through action within our local community even if we cannot change world affairs directly. We can focus on the positivity of offering friendship and hope to those who find life almost too heartbreaking to function effectively at present. From this can come opportunities for us to reach out in supportive and positive initiatives to find ways to build stronger links, and to feel empowered to make a difference and enable a greater sense of purpose for our lives.
No matter what age we are, we all need a nest in which to feel safe and supported in friendship and caring. This is even more important in times of great uncertainty. This is affirmed in the comments of Darcia Narvaez, PhD –
“We are immersed in species-atypical spaces growing species-atypical human beings. Our baselines for what we think is normal have shifted so much we do not realize how atypical we are. Atypical environments leave us dysregulated, easily upset, and disruptive. Species-typical childhoods nurture a healthy neurobiology, sociality, and compassionate morality. Species-typicality, our evolved nest, is needed for species and planetary wellbeing.”
Dysregulation involves sudden and intense outbursts of anger, sadness, despair or anxiety that are difficult to calm and these outbursts can lead to very destructive actions that compound the situation further extending the sense of isolation. Unresolved emotion can lead to physical and psychological illnesses and further disruption for our lives.
This is an important time for us all to reach out to others who are struggling with life and finding little purpose or power to change what has been the cause of their grief. All who care for human values, truth and justice and who desire to live in peace and understanding of others are seeking ways ahead to build hope and confidence for a better future. I would urge you to seek ways to come together with others who share these desires. Begin in simple ways through caring, sharing the pain and listening to each other. This will show you the pathway forward together that will rebuild hope and restore those true humanitarian values. Let us begin building nests all over to nurture, restore and transform uncertainty into love and action as a community of ‘Earthlings’ working as a team.
One way that our charity is seeking to build hope in our local community here on the South Coast of NSW is through support of our young people by funding educational projects and scholarships to enable equity of opportunity for students for whom these possibilities are too often denied. See: Projects undertaken with support from Elm Grove Trust’s NEST project.
As we gather to heal our shared grief and to restore our humanity together, let us look widely for ways that each of us might build nests of support and to find ways to restore hope at this time when our world for many seems to have lost its way. Create your own unique nest within your local community and begin the restoration of hope and purpose for the future of our world. In strength we can combine our voices to call our leaders back to humanity and lasting peace.
Sister Laurel Clare Lloyd-Jones lfsf
Executive Director
Elm Grove Sanctuary Trust
by admin | Nov 20, 2025 | Encouragement Grants, Indigenous, NEST, Newsletter
The Out of Classroom ‘Hands on Learning’ students have been hard at work building a protective weather awning for their classes. They’ve done a great job so far while learning new skills to enhance their future employment prospects. We congratulate them and their instructing Teacher on such a great outcome.
Our committee Narooma Education Support Team (NEST) were fortunate to be awarded a grant from the Foundation for Rural & Regional Renewal (FRRR) to cover the materials and along with the donations offered by our members this project is well under way.
Our warmest congratulations to Summer, Dominica and Aunty Karen Ella-Bird (L – R). Aunty Karen has given wonderful support for these two inspiring young women as they embark on their exciting futures. Summer and Dominica (here looking vibrant and lovely in their Year 12 formal attire) were the recipients of our two Encouragement Scholarships this year. They both are taking on tertiary education in 2026.
Summer will be studying full time at Moruya TAFE Aboriginal Art and Landscaping and Design and she is looking forward to further developing her inherent giftedness in these fields. We wish her every success.
Dominica has been accepted by the University of Tasmania to study a Bachelor of Natural Environments and Conservation followed by a Master of Protected Area. Dominica is a high achiever with resilience and determination to reach her goals. We believe that she will make a great contribution to the future.
Our thanks to those donors who have contributed to these Encouragement Scholarships. Your support has been greatly appreciated and most assuredly by Summer and Dominica.
by Laurel Lloyd-Jones | Oct 10, 2024 | Encouragement Grants, Indigenous
Our Trust is delighted to announce that our 2nd Encouragement Grant of $2,000 for 2024 has been awarded to Djinama Yilaga Choir which was established in 2019 as an Intergenerational Aboriginal Choir that is rematriating their Dhurga Language through song. They seek to build skills and confidence in their choir members, with a particular focus on their younger members, to support their language, music, performance skills and resilience to pursue their aspirations in music.
They have been able to support this development through public performances locally and by invitation to perform at significant events. This has included Sorry Day with the Cootamundra Girls’ Organisation, Reconciliation Day at Parliament House Canberra, 200 year anniversary of the opening of the NSW Parliament, travelled to perform and share their language in Song in Poland in 2023 and in Washington DC in July this year. They share a positive and fruitful relationship with Four Winds, the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, and other local musicians.
They recognise the importance of presentation when performing in public and particularly in prominent events, so they are currently seeking funds to enable them to create a new and unique uniform for their performances. Elm Grove Trust is very pleased to be able to award this Encouragement Grant to assist them to move a little closer to gaining their lovely new uniforms.
If others appreciate the inspiration of this lovely choir, then further donations can be made to EGS Trust in support of Djinama Yilaga Choir’s new uniforms.
EGS Project A/c: BSB 032766 A/c 139061
All donations are tax deductible – and please email your contact details to egstrust2@gmail.com for receipting purposes.
