Interpretation Plan

234 Pages·2009·4.21 MB·English

Interpretation Plan
for the Shire of

Cocos (Keeling) Islands

Paul Bridges & Val Humphrey
in association with Denise Cook
September 2008
Title page image, opposite:
 The end of the Jukong race, October 2007
 Home Island, 1987

Cover images:
 Jukong race winner, October 2007
 School tour dancers, April 2007
 Aerial mosaic image of Direction, Prison and Home Islands, 1987
Sections also used on title page and Figures 5,6,7 and 8.
Courtesy of United Photo & Graphic Services
www.unitedphoto.com.au T: [phone]
Interpretation Plan

for the Shire of

Cocos (Keeling) Islands

A guide to telling the stories of

the people and places of the

Cocos Islands, for the benefit of
visitors and for future
generations of the community,

using the Copra Industrial

Precinct as the hub.

Paul Bridges & Val Humphrey

in association with Denise Cook

September 2008

Cocos (Keeling) Islands – Interpretation Plan 2008
Wedding of
Jumanie and Jalfaizal,
May 2007
Interpretation Plan for the Shire of Cocos (Keeling) Islands

Part I: Project overview..................................................................1

1. Acknowledgements................................................................................. 1
2. Executive Summary................................................................................ 3
2.1 Background 3
2.2 Purpose 3
2.3 Key Themes 3
2.4 Implementation of the Interpretation Plan 4
3. Staging Plan & List of Recommendations................................................... 6
3.1 Stages of implementation and indicative costs 6
3.2 List of Recommendations 9
4. Background......................................................................................... 19
4.1 The Project Brief 19
4.2 Methodology 19
4.3 Existing Interpretation 22
Part II: The Plan 31

5. Purpose of the Interpretation Plan........................................................... 31
6. Interpretation Methods .......................................................................... 32
6.1 Overview of recommended interpretation methods 32
7. Themes, Stories and Key Messages......................................................... 36
7.1 Themes and definitions 36
7.2 Theme 1: Kampong life – the Cocos Malay community’s story 37
7.3 Theme 2: The Estate – the coconut plantation, boat building and copra processing 37
7.4 Theme 3: Isolation and outside influences - from dynastic rule to democracy 38
7.5 Theme 4: The Atoll Environment - Habitat for people 39
8. Story Locations, Place by Place.............................................................. 41
8.1 Home Island - Copra Industrial Precinct 41
Home Island - Information Shelters and Information Points 63
8.2 West Island 81
8.3 West Island – Shelters and Information Points 82
8.4 Direction Island 95
8.5 Horsburgh Island – Information Shelter, near landing site 100
9. Structures, Furniture and Design Format................................................ 102
9.1 External information points 102
Cocos (Keeling) Islands – Interpretation Plan 2008
9.2 Museum exhibition furniture 108
9.3 Graphic components 112
Part III: Sustainability issues.......................................................114

10. Future Projects................................................................................... 114
10.1 Research and collect information on language, history, oral history interviews and boat
building 114
10.2 Archaeological surveys 115
10.3 Oceania House 116
11. Education outcomes – working with schools.......................................... 117
11.1 School involvement in the development and production of interpretation materials 117
12. Community Arts................................................................................. 120
12.1 Puppetry workshops 120
12.2 Murals 120
12.3 Batik 120
13. Collection management....................................................................... 121
13.1 Curator 121
13.2 Conservation practices 122
13.3 Community support 128
14. Stages of Implementation..................................................................... 131
14.1 Making it happen 131
14.2 Suggested consultant brief for implementation of Interpretation Plan 131
14.2.a Curator will coordinate the production of materials for exhibition within: 131
14.2.b Curator will coordinate the production of site signage and self-guided tour material for:
132
14.2.c Curator will coordinate the following: 132
14.2.d The following stages of the Interpretation Plan 132
14.3 Funding options 133
14.4 Stages of implementation and indicative costs 134
Bibliography ............................................................................................... 77
Appendix I: Project Brief............................................................................ 142
Appendix II: Historical Chronology of the Cocos (Keeling) Islands.................... 146
Appendix III: Research for themes and stories............................................... 173
Theme 1 Kampong Life – the Cocos Malay community’s story 173
Theme 2 The Estate 178
Theme 3 Isolation and Outside Influences 180
Theme 4 The Atoll Environment 188
Cocos (Keeling) Islands – Interpretation Plan 2008
Appendix IV: Funding Opportunities for Implementing Interpretation Plan189
Lotterywest 189
Department for Culture and the Arts 193
Heritage Council of Western Australia 194
Office of Multicultural Interests 195
National Library of Australia - Community Heritage Grants 197
Sidney Myer Fund 197
Appendix V: Draft policies for consideration:................................................. 199
Cocos (Keeling) Islands Interpretation Policy 200
Cocos (Keeling) Islands Museum Collection Policy 203
Cocos (Keeling) Islands Conservation Policy 208
Appendix VI: Draft forms............................................................................. 210
Donor Form 211
Record of Loan of Item 213
Donation of Photographic Material 215
Appendix VII: Temperature and Humidity Monitoring - Home Island Museum...... 217
Appendix VIII: The Burra Charter.................................................................. 222
Appendix IX: Home Island Museum Collection Inventory.................................. 223
Home Island Museum Inventory software - Installation and Operating Instructions 223
Installation instructions 223
Entering and amending data 224

Maps and diagrams
Figure 1: Rice Shed-Home Island Museum, Stage 1 Theme Plan. 43
Figure 2: Rice Shed - Home Island Museum, Stage 1 Floorplan 49
Figure 3: Chula Shed floorplan 55
Figure 4: Copra Industrial Precinct 61
Figure 5: Location plan for figures 6, 7 and 8 63
Figure 6: Home Island central interpretation points superimposed on image taken 1987 73
Figure 7: Home Island southern interpretation sites superimposed on image taken 1987 75
Figure 8: Home Island northern interpretation sites superimposed on 1987 image. 77
Figure 9: West Island Interpretation points 93
Figure 10: Direction Island interpretation sites superimposed on image taken in 1987 94
Figure 11: External Information Point concepts 102
Figure 12: External Information Point components 104
Figure 13: Museum exhibition furniture components 108
Cocos (Keeling) Islands – Interpretation Plan 2008
Survival of the large boats in sound condition, with the stories of their
use, can communicate the heritage of the former Estate.

Sungguh Juga needs cover, support and protection to survive and tell

the story.

Continuation of traditional culture into the future, especially dancing,
was identified as very important to the Cocos Malay community,
during the compilation of this Interpretation Plan.
Cocos (Keeling) Islands – Interpretation Plan 2008
Part I: Project overview
1. Acknowledgements
The consultants acknowledge the assistance, advice and support generously
provided by the following people:
 Haji Adam - Former museum curator, now Centrelink manager
 Lionel Allen - Cocos (Keeling) Islands Historical Society
 Grant Barrons - Western Australian Director, Department of Infrastructure,
Transport, Regional Development and Local Government
 Iris Breadsell - West Island Visitor Information Centre
 Capstan bin Benjamin - Cocos Malay community elder
 James bin Benjamin - Cocos Malay community elder
 Siti Azia Bulka – Shire of Cocos (Keeling) Islands employee
 Malka bin Bynie - Cocos Malay community elder
 Alan Clark - Principal Works Supervisor, Shire of Cocos (Keeling) Islands
 John George Clunies-Ross - Cocos (Keeling) Islands Historical Society
 Clare-Frances Craig - Manager, Museum Assistance Program, Western
Australian Museum
 Ron Grant - Former Shire President and Islamic Council leader
 Cree bin Haig OAM - Cocos Malay community elder
 Adim Hajat - Community Project Officer, Shire of Cocos (Keeling) Islands
 Sally Harrison - Cocos (Keeling) Islands Historical Society
 Macrae bin Hedlan - Cocos Malay community elder
 Brydie Hill – Consultant to Parks Australia
 Valerie Hobson - Consultant to Frontier Australia
 Jamil bin Ibram – Shire of Cocos (Keeling) Islands employee
 Pak Jamil (Nek Falhannah) – Cocos Malay Community
 Nikki King-Smith - Conservator, Department of Materials Conservation,
Western Australian Museum
 Lloyd Leist - Oceania House
 Melinda Lymon - Director, Finance, Shire of Cocos (Keeling) Islands
 Ismail Macrae - Parks Australia
 Haji Not - Cocos Malay community elder
 Bulka Raptikan – Carpentry and Joinery
 Jim Richardson - former employee Direction Island
Cocos (Keeling) Islands – Interpretation Plan 2008 1
Part I: Project overview
 Luluk Sloan - West Island Visitor Information Centre
 Michael Simms - Chief Executive Officer, Shire of Cocos (Keeling) Islands
 Avril Whyte - Oceania House
 Parson bin Yapat OAM - Cocos Malay community elder
 Greg Wallace - Museum Consultant.
 Walter (Wal) Young - National Jet employee
 Cocos (Keeling) Islands Youth Council members
 Cocos (Keeling) Islands Tourism Association representatives
 Cocos (Keeling) Islands Meteorological Station staff
 Shire of Cocos (Keeling) Islands staff
In addition the consultants acknowledge the assistance and hospitality given by
numerous other Home Island and West Island residents, health professionals,
teachers, tourists and tourism providers.
John Davies assisted with design concepts and Ben Davies with computer
graphics. Additional thanks are due to Greg Wallace for generous assistance
with report quality control. However any errors are the responsibility of the
consultants.
Paul Bridges
Val Humphrey

After the race, October 2007. Jukong sailing is an important part of local heritage.
Cocos (Keeling) Islands – Interpretation Plan 2008 2
Part I: Project overview