Memorial to Women of Pearling

It is with great excitement that Shinju Matsuri 2009 commemorates and celebrates the Women of Pearling.  The aim of this year’s theme is to recognize the contribution of women to the fabric of Broome and its multicultural pearling legacy whilst acknowledging the exploitation and suffering they endured.  The creation of public awareness and understanding of women’s involvement in the town’s history is something that the Shinju Matsuri board believe is more than worthy of festival recognition. 

In recognition of all women it is with great pride that we unveil a special monument on the foreshore across from Bedford Park during Shinju Matsuri 2009. This statue which has been a 10 year dream for Charles and Joan Smith; designers and sculptors of this incredible memorial; and the Broome Aboriginal Media Association will be created entirely in bronze and depicts an Indigenous woman emerging from the Indian Ocean offering a pearl shell up to the sky.

The statement that this permanent monument will make will acknowledge the town’s history, specifically the legacy of Indigenous women involved within Broome’s pearling industry as industry workers, partners and mothers of divers and to the overall development of the industry past, present and future.

The erection of the statue will compliment Broome’s existing public monuments acknowledging all the women who have contributed to the development of the pearling industry and have defined Broome’s persona and history since the 1860s.

The “Memorial to Women” project has received overwhelming support not only from Charles and Joan Smith who have donated much of their time in developing the design of the Women’s statue but from the Broome Aboriginal Media Association who have been the driving force behind this project since 1999. In addition the next phase of producing this memorial, its actual building, has only been possible through the generous financial support of the Western Australian Government through the Royalties for Regions scheme and the Shire of Broome who have not only provided financial assistance but will continue to maintain and look after the statue to ensure it is around for many generations of locals and visitors.