A smoking ceremony was held on Tuesday 25 March 2025 at the old Grafton Gaol site in preparation for works set to begin on the $263.8 million Grafton Base Hospital redevelopment.
The ceremony was open to members of the Aboriginal community, the redevelopment project team and hospital executive.
Conducted by proud Gumbaynggirr man Dean Loadsman, the ceremony is part of preparing the former minimum-security prison for conversion to hospital administration offices and key worker accommodation.
Dean was also conducting the ceremony on behalf of the other First Nation Peoples of the Clarence Valley: the Bundjalung and Yaegl.
A Welcome to Country was given by Aunty Lana Cook, while Grafton Base Hospital General Manager Dan Madden outlined the redevelopment project.
Pictured:
Dean Loadsman with Aunty Lana Cook, who did the Welcome to Country