28/10/2026
A Powerful Celebration of Culture, Community and Connection β Once Known
What an extraordinary evening for our community!
The launch of Once Known, presented by Gorenang Moortabiin Aboriginal Corporation in partnership with the John Curtin Gallery, was a tremendous success. To see so many people come together on Menang Country, filling the exhibition space with such genuine interest, respect and support, was something truly special.
Our heartfelt thanks to Uncle Lester Coyne for his wonderful Welcome to Country, which set the cultural foundation for an evening of reflection, truth-telling and connection.
A particularly special acknowledgement goes to our Elders and Noongar community members. Your presence meant more than words can express. This exhibition carries a deeply significant history for our people, and having our community standing together to honour the Carrolup children, their stories and their extraordinary artistic legacy was incredibly powerful.
We extend our sincere appreciation to the John Curtin Gallery for their partnership and commitment to bringing this important collection to Menang Country, and to the City of Albany and Albany Entertainment Centre for their invaluable support in making this exhibition possible.
To the many community members, families, organisations and supporters who attended in such wonderful numbers, thank you. Your presence demonstrated the importance of creating spaces where Aboriginal history is not only acknowledged, but heard, respected and shared.
The success of Once Known is not simply measured by the number of people who attended, but by the conversations it has opened, the connections it has strengthened and the history it has brought back into the hearts and minds of our community.
These were children whose voices were too often silenced, yet through their art, their stories continue to speak across generations.
We are immensely proud to have helped bring this exhibition to Albany, and even prouder of the community that stood alongside us to welcome it.
If you haven't yet experienced Once Known, we warmly encourage you to visit the exhibition at the Albany Entertainment Centre. Take the time to see the artworks, learn the stories and reflect on the remarkable legacy of the Carrolup children.
And there is more to come! We are planning a special closing event to bring our community together once again, to honour this remarkable exhibition and the legacy of the Carrolup children. Keep an eye out for further details β we look forward to sharing this special occasion with you.
This is more than an exhibition. It is our history, our shared responsibility and an opportunity to ensure these stories are never forgotten.
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Gorenang Moortabiin Aboriginal Corporationβ’