NAIDOC 2020 Activities
Wanyurr-Majay Aboriginal Corporation and Elders were invited by McDonnell Creek State School to celebrate NAIDOC Week, so back to school we went. McDonnell Creek State School consists of 12 children and 3 teachers positioned right next to the highway; this is a small school with generations of history with not only some of our elders going to this school but also some of their children.
We started our day of by having ‘welcome to country’ by Jamie Satani in language and then the opening the yarning circle. We spoke about the significance of yarning circles, music and NAIDOC week. As many of our Wanyurr-Majay members and elders are past pupils of this little school, Elders told stories including how they got to school as there weren’t cars back then, the ‘good’ teachers and of course the ‘bad’ ones. They reminisced about their time at school, the biggest changes and the memories they have shared here. To bring them back, and let them remember the good times they had here was so special to share with the students of today. After hearing all the stories, it was time hop up and move around by learning body parts in traditional language with Clive Murray. Words learnt included ‘Binna’ meaning ear, ‘Bunda’ meaning shoulders, there was a song and dance to go along with it which the kids enjoyed. Elders and members were then taken on a school tour, which again brought up many memories for our elders.
It was now time to thank the school for inviting WMAC to their school to celebrate NAIDOC week, we had goody bags filled with NAIDOC Merchandise and also a specially made NAIDOC Week T-shirt designed by our very own Ian Jensen. By this time we were all very hungry, one of our lovely elders supplied all of us with some damper and scones with honey and syrup like they used to have back in the old days, which were thoroughly enjoyed by all.
Following morning tea was tree planting with Mulgrave Landcare and Catchment. 25 bush tucker trees were planted in total, not only from the children but the elders and members. We talked about the importance of looking after the environment and bushfood, even had a lovely song about kookaburras by Rodney to end the planting. Time for lunch! While the McDonnell Creek kids played in the sprinkler, Principle Emma and her team cooked up a sausage sizzle to end our wonderful day with McDonnell Creek State School. Not only was the day enjoyed by the children but elder and members. A big thank you to McDonnel Creek State School for having us but also all of the Members and Elders who helped celebrate NAIDOC Week with us, it was truly special for all.
Many NAIDOC Week activities like this one would have been difficult to stage without monetary support, on behalf of all Wanyurr-Majay People we say thank you to the National Indigenous Australians Agency for funding this special day.
Kindest Regards,
Wanyurr-Majay Aboriginal Corporation RNTBC
Adrian Clive Murray (Director), Jamie Satani (Director), Ian Jensen (Director), Nathan Broome (Director), Andrea Robinson (Director), Shaun Mothe (Director)
