Two people sitting closely together outdoors on a wooden bench, one person holding a wooden flute. They are smiling, with a background of trees and greenery.
Illustration of a potted plant with greenish-gray leaves and a tall, slender stalk.

● My Story

Meet JJ

Jason “JJ” Goodlad is a Wilman Noongar man born and raised on Wardandi Boodja in Goomburrup (Bunbury), where his connection to culture was always present, even before he fully recognised it. Growing up, his Noongar heritage was all around him, especially through his family. Over time, guidance from relatives helped shape the cultural values he stands by today, laying the foundation for his journey.

JJ began leaning into cultural practice during his early high school years, first through playing the didgeridoo. What started as a personal interest quickly grew into something more, leading to opportunities to perform and deliver Acknowledgment of Country at school and community events. Through these experiences, he developed a strong cultural identity that people have come to recognise and respect.

A diverse group of people, including children and adults, walking down a street lined with tall pine trees. One man is playing a didgeridoo, and another person is holding an Aboriginal flag. The scene suggests a cultural or community event.
A cartoon illustration of a hot dog sausage in a bun with mustard dots, on a black background.

● My Story

JJ’s Journey

As his journey continued, JJ built meaningful connections, strengthened his knowledge, and gained the trust and permissions to expand his cultural services, including conducting smoking ceremonies. Each step has been guided by respect for culture, community, and the responsibility of carrying knowledge forward.

As a young Noongar man, JJ is deeply honoured to share his culture with others. His mission is to keep the cultural fire burning, passing down knowledge from his elders and engaging with the next generation to inspire them to walk strong in their identity.

Today, through his business Noombat Cultural Services, JJ is committed to educating the wider community, continuing to grow his cultural practice, and making his family proud.

● My Inspiration

Why Noombat?

My greatest inspiration is my great grandmother, Sima Marie Kelly, known lovingly by our family as Nanna Sima.

Nanna Sima sadly passed away on Christmas Day in 2011, when I was only six years old. Even though I was young, I still carry strong and vivid memories of her. I remember her making cups of tea, cutting up oranges for us kids, and replacing her dentures with orange slices to make us laugh with her big grin. She had a way of bringing joy into every room she walked into.

She was the glue that held our family together, always gathering the kids and adults close. I remember sitting on her knee as a little koorlang, while she bounced me gently and sang that one song in rhythm to calm me down or make me laugh. Those moments have stayed with me all my life.

  • Nanna Sima was born and raised just outside of Narrogin on Noongar Boodja. When she was only a child, she and her younger brother Wickey were walking home from school when she was taken away and sent to Wandering Mission, also known as St Francis Xavier Native Mission. During her time there, she experienced many painful and traumatic hardships that no child should ever endure.

    Despite everything she went through, Nanna Sima carried herself with incredible strength, forgiveness and compassion. As she grew older, she married Bertie Khan to leave the mission and begin building her own life. She went on to study at TAFE and university, later becoming a Drug and Alcohol Counsellor to support our mob and community.

    Throughout her life, she held many important roles across both Collie and Bunbury, making a lasting impact on countless people. She worked alongside community leaders, shared lunches with the Mayor of Bunbury at the time, John Castrilli, and met with police leadership, always advocating for community, understanding and connection.

    What inspires me most about Nanna Sima is that she never let bitterness shape her spirit. She treated everyone equally, regardless of their background, and lived her life with positivity, kindness and forgiveness. “Never hold onto hate in your heart, it makes you sick.”

    Hearing her story and understanding the strength she carried has inspired me deeply. She is one of the reasons I began reconnecting with my culture, my country and my people. I do not wish to simply follow in her footsteps, but to continue the path she created in my own way, picking up where she left off.

    Through my journey, I hope to educate others while continuing to learn myself, and to honour Nanna Sima’s legacy by creating spaces of culture, connection and understanding for future generations.

    I acknowledge her story with pride, in the hope that it inspires many more young people, just as it inspired me.