Local company supports Darumbal Storytime

Published on 23 August 2019

Rockhampton Art Gallery is pleased to announce that local company Shanahan Swaffield Partners have become a sponsor of Term 3 of the Gallery’s popular Darumbal Storytime program.

Aimed at preschool age children, Darumbal storytime is an interactive program, led by Cultural Youth Leader Lelarnie Hatfield that fosters a greater understanding of Indigenous culture through the direct knowledge of living Elders and community leaders.

Cr Rose Swadling, Chair of Rockhampton Regional Council’s Community Services Committee congratulated Shannahan Swaffield Partners on their support for the program.

“Darumbal storytime provides a great opportunity for the local community to experience Darumbal oral history and this broadens community understanding and participation in local Indigenous heritage,” she said.

“It is through partnerships with local businesses that programs such as this can continue to be offered,” Cr Swadling said.

“Record numbers have been attending the Rockhampton Art Gallery for Darumbal Storytime. Bookings are taken in advance and currently the class is booked out with a group each week until the end of the term 3,” she said.

Anni Bastin-Byrne, Partner of Shanahan Swaffield Partners said that Shanahan Swaffield Partners were pleased to be supporting Darumbal Storytime.

“We see this as an active way that as a local business we can foster a greater knowledge and understanding of Indigenous culture. Our sponsorship enables this program to be offered by Rockhampton Art Gallery as a free family program,” Ms Bastin-Byrne said.

Shanahan Swaffield Partners has a long history of supporting Central Queenslanders. Originally operating as two well-respected local firms, Michael Shanahan & Co (founded in 1931) and Olive Swaffield
& Associates (founded in 1981), the two firms merged in 2008. Shanahan Swaffield Partners have a deep understanding of local community because they are local too.

Darumbal Storytime is held at Rockhampton Art Gallery every Wednesday during school terms.

Rockhampton Art Gallery has developed a foundation of corporate support through a wide range of creative and mutually rewarding partnerships with the corporate sector. Involvement with the Gallery take many forms and includes exhibition-specific and program sponsorship plus strategic partnerships. For more information, please contact the gallery on 4936 8248.

Rockhampton Art Gallery is owned and operated by Rockhampton Regional Council.