Twenty preschool children joined two kindergarten classes at Bellambi Public School for a very special morning in June. (Watch the video above or find the film on YouTube.)
Sharon Hanlon, Aboriginal education officer at the school, welcomed the wide-eyed kids into the rich world of our local indigenous culture in a special hands-on session. As the children filed into the classroom, Sharon and her kindergarten classes greeted them with “Yalunga!”, which means hello and welcome in the Dharawal language.
Yalunga is also the name of the large classroom. Here two students gave an Acknowledgment of Country with a didgeridoo and clapsticks. The kids were surrounded by photos, boomerangs, the indigenous flag, kangaroo hides and a lot of indigenous art works by students. A sign read: “Student work in progress, be deadly, be daring!”
The preschoolers were handed clapsticks and learned a song, helped by the older children. An emu egg went round the circle, handled more gently than the clapsticks. The four-year-olds also learned about the many uses of banksia, which can double as a hairbrush and a fire-starter.
Megan Dodds, director at KU Corrimal East Preschool, said the kids were ready to learn. “They understand that before shops and things like that, Aboriginal people would have looked in the bush for all their needs: for medicine, for food.”
When the traditional walk during National Reconciliation Week could not go ahead because of Covid restrictions, Megan and Sharon put their heads together to organise an activity for the children. In the past, the walk has attracted thousands of people. It is an important event.
Megan believes responsibility for reconciliation lies predominantly with non-Aboriginal people.
“We have a commitment to show our support. It’s more than words. It is about showing up in public and demonstrating that we believe that there are still a lot of things that we can be doing. Days like today – in our little setting it is about sharing culture – and having Aboriginal people in particular share aspects of their culture with our children is particularly important.”
Sharon agreed. “I work closely with Aunty Shaz and with Uncle Richard, local elders who have a strong connection to Bellambi and to Bellambi Public. It is so important for us to actually have elders within our school, so that our community and our children get to connect with them.”
Outside in the yarning circle, surrounded by eucalyptus trees, all the children listened to the Dreaming story of Gang Man Gang (the name for Windang Island). Some rested their heads on a little neighbour’s shoulder as they soaked it up.
