{"id":377410,"date":"2026-11-05T18:52:26","date_gmt":"2026-11-05T08:52:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/?p=377410"},"modified":"2026-11-05T20:55:49","modified_gmt":"2026-11-05T10:55:49","slug":"yarning-circle-dream-becomes-reality","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/2026\/11\/05\/yarning-circle-dream-becomes-reality\/","title":{"rendered":"Yarning Circle Dream Becomes Reality"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"<\/a>
KSHS community education counsellor Toni Phillips-Petersen proudly adds her fingerprint to the yarning circle mural<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

November 5, 2026<\/strong><\/p>\n

A small smoking ceremony signalled the start of a celebration at Kingaroy State High School on Wednesday afternoon which was years in the making.<\/p>\n

Students, their families and the wider community were invited to attend the official opening of the school’s new Yarning Circle, its associated gardens and mural.<\/p>\n

The stone circle is situated near the Toomey Street entrance to the schoolgrounds.<\/p>\n

It’s surrounded by a garden of bush tucker plants, all neatly labelled, and a stand of older native trees.<\/p>\n

KSHS community education counsellor Toni Phillips-Petersen said the project to create the cultural space began almost seven years ago after a casual conversation with “Macca”, who was the school’s groundsman at the time.<\/p>\n

Toni told Macca she needed a space at the school as the number of Indigenous students was growing.<\/p>\n

He led her out to an area which “looked like a mess” … but they could see there was potential.<\/p>\n

Over the next few years, the weeds were cleared by students and volunteers, stone blocks were laid, bush tucker plants and trees were planted and then a mural was created …<\/p>\n

“We created something we can all be proud about. A place of connection, culture and community,” Toni said.<\/strong><\/p>\n

KSHS principal David Thomson joined Toni in cutting the ribbon to open the Yarning Circle area.<\/p>\n

He said it was a wonderful space for everyone to gather and strengthen connections to country and community.<\/p>\n

Students from Kingaroy State School and Kingaroy State High School performed dances in the circle to the applause of the crowd.<\/p>\n

Toni then invited everyone present to add a fingerprint to the mural wall.<\/p>\n

A special moment was the presentation of a framed photograph to Bernice Danahay, the mother of the late Jed Danahay who did much of the early preparation work for the Yarning Circle.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Jed, who worked to clear the area and place the stone blocks, was killed in August 2022 after volunteering as a combat medic in Ukraine.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Kingaroy State High School principal David Thomson and Toni Phillips-Petersen officially open the new Yarning Circle precinct, which includes the gardens and mural<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Kingaroy State School Year 4 dancers performed inside the ring<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
More action from the Year 4 dancers<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
The girls and boys from the KSHS Indigenous Dance Mob performed a Torres Strait Islander dance<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Visitors to the Yarning Circle opening were invited to add their fingerprints to the mural<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Eric Danahay with his mother Bernice and Toni Phillips-Petersen … Toni presented a framed photograph of Bernice’s late son Jed to the Danahay family<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Lockie Anderson, from Stanwell, with Toni Phillips-Petersen … Stanwell provided some financial support for the Yarning Circle project<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
The Yarning Circle is surrounded by a bush tucker garden, with each plant named, and native trees<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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