The Friends of Nowanup became an incorporated organisation at the end of 2023, formalising years of dedicated support for Nowanup as a place of cultural renewal, healing, and connection. While the group was first recognised under this name in 2018, the spirit of friendship and allyship has been part of Nowanup’s story for much longer.

Early supporters, including Rod Safstrom with the Darlington Men’s Group and Bruce Anthony, played significant roles in walking alongside Eugene Eades and his family, contributing to the vision and growth of Nowanup. Many others have also come together over the years, helping to facilitate camps, projects, and hands-on work on Country.

At the heart of Friends of Nowanup is a commitment to relationship and process – working in circles, listening deeply, and ensuring space for all voices to be heard. Every camp and gathering has been shaped through conversations with Elders weaving together shared ideas and insights. Some plans emerge from the Elders visions, others from the broader network, but all are guided by dialogue, the needs of the moment, and the land itself. Flexibility is key, with each event evolving in response to the weather, the people present, and the spirit of the place.

In 2020, Friends of Nowanup successfully secured $6,000 in funding from the Wyemando Charitable Trust to support a Noongar language program led by Aunty Iris Woods. This, along with seasonal camps throughout 2021 and 2022, helped deepen cultural engagement and learning. A significant and ongoing part of this journey has been the growing involvement of Noongar families, shifting the focus from working bees alone to vibrant, community-driven cultural camps.

Now, as an incorporated organisation, the Friends of Nowanup continue to walk alongside Eugene, his family, and the wider community, strengthening a network of allies committed to cultural and environmental renewal.