More than 700 primary school students were immersed in Aboriginal culture for a day in Wingham's Central Park on Wednesday, July 3.
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Wingham High School's Wakul Gudida ('one mob') group hosted the day as a combined schools' celebration of NAIDOC Week.
The festivities opened with Uncle Russell Saunders performing Welcome to Country, both in Gathang, the traditional language of the Biripai people, and English.
Three Aboriginal dance groups from Chatham High School performed, with some of the dances accompanied by Uncle Russell on didgeridoo.
After the opening ceremony, the children took part in a large variety of activities that were stationed around the park, including contributing to Aboriginal dot paintings, colouring in and listening to Elders Aunty Isabell and Aunty Denise telling yarns. Uncle Russell also told stories, and taught the children some words in Gathang. Traditional crafts such as weaving and stick covering were also taught.
There were also more physical games and activites, one of the more interesting ones being throwing spears at a 'kangaroo'.
Two Wingham High School year eight girls, Matilda Horsington-Williams and Bella Flewitt, held a stall selling Aboriginal-themed jewellery, keyrings and cushions that they had made themselves during Sista Speak, a program for young Aboriginal women at the school. Funds raised from the sale of the items go toward buying further jewellery supplies for the Sista Speak program.
When you look at the primary school kids' faces, it's all worth it.
- Numea Meaney, Aboriginal Education Co-ordinator
Numea Meaney, Aboriginal Education Co-ordinator at Wingham High School, organised the event with input from the Wakul Gudida group.
"We are celebrating NAIDOC with our whole community. I can see a few people who look more like parents, which is really nice. We want it to be an open event for everybody," Numea said.
"Our school group really really worked hard. They did all the bunting, all the painting, all the setting up.
"When you look at the primary school kids' faces, it's all worth it," she said.
All Wingham and Upper Manning schools attended, with Harrington Public School making the trek to join the festivities.
NAIDOC Week (this year from July 7-14) always falls during school holidays, so schools traditionally celebrate either before or after the holidays.
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Julia Driscoll
Julia Driscoll has worked as a journalist for the Wingham Chronicle and Manning River Times for seven years. She values the deep connection with community that being a rural and regional journalist brings. Career highlights have involved environmental stories - bringing the plight of the little known endangered Manning River helmeted turtle to the attention of the public, resulting in wide-spread knowledge in the community and conservation action; and breaking the news of the Manning River ceasing to run for the first time in recorded history.
Julia Driscoll has worked as a journalist for the Wingham Chronicle and Manning River Times for seven years. She values the deep connection with community that being a rural and regional journalist brings. Career highlights have involved environmental stories - bringing the plight of the little known endangered Manning River helmeted turtle to the attention of the public, resulting in wide-spread knowledge in the community and conservation action; and breaking the news of the Manning River ceasing to run for the first time in recorded history.
