Dog Park Officially Opens

Mayor Lorraine Rosenberg officially opened Minkarra Dog Park on the 15^th of September and was ‘pleased the park had been a success in its first fortnight’. The demand for use of the park has been overwhelming since its opening, which has been well attended by local dog owners and enthusiasts alike.

Mawul Rom

Johnny McIntyre has recently returned from a week in the Northern Territory tutoring for Charles Darwin University Masters Programme as part of the Mawul Rom/Master of Indigenous Knowledge’s intensive cross cultural workshop.

Mawul Rom explores a unique space made possible through the commitment of an organisational structure to respect both the separation of power and the fragility of duel pedagogy[i].

Mawul Rom brings two cultures together to share their different styles of teaching, learning, peacemaking and leadership.  There are rare occasions when the concept of the separation of power is applied in the creation of an educational structure but when you think about education it is actually the very process and practice of transferring power.  It is the action of empowerment.

In this case the separation is between two ancient, strong but equally under threat educational institutions.  It is a structural agreement that allows students from different sides of a divide (in this case Yolngu and Westminster education systems) to partake in the course with a sense of safety, comfort and belonging.  They are not asked to leave the refuge of their own cultural world view instead through collaboration; they are encouraged to explore the unknown.  It is this unknown that is always a challenge to humanity because it is sheathed by fear.

“Mawul Rom is a place that I have experienced the ‘Power of Dialogue’ as a bridge towards understanding and the importance of ’Listening’ as a skill towards wisdom.  These are skills essential to creative design and creating great people spaces.”

---

[i] Pedagogy is;  the holistic science of education. (wikipidia) the principles, science, practice, theory or profession of teaching. (Collins Dictionary)

Links

www.mawul.com

http://stapps.cdu.edu.au/pls/apex/f?p=100:31:8491135781699529::NO::P31_SEARCH_COURSE,P31_SEARCH_YEAR,P31_SEARCH_VERSION:MIKMR,2012,1

 

Paw Power

Minkarra Dog Park has been completed and is now open to the public. Following calls for a dedicated dog park from the local community and subsequent feasibility study by Suter Planners, WAX Design were engaged by the City of Onkaparinga to create a design. The regional attraction provides a 0.4 hectares of naturalistic, tree lined open space. Under the shaded tree canopies, a variety of dog agility equipment has been provided catering for a range of canine abilities. The natural play elements embedded in the site add diversity to the user experience. Scattered sandstone boulders incorporating carvings by local artist Lucas Robins and other features such as tyres, a tetherball and a sand pit create opportunity to explore, interpret and interact. The park provides the convenience of shelters and seating along a circular route pathway that links to the adjacent existing skate park and playspace beyond the boundary of the site. 

An opening event is being held on Saturday 15^th September.

http://www.onkaparingacity.com/events/2012/09/15/minkarra_dog_park_opening_event.jsp