Local school kids got out in the sun last week to learn about respecting country and gathering for a yarn in the new excursion program run by local landcare and Bunurong Land Council to connect more schools to the land and indigenous culture.
Labertouche and Jindivick Primary School students arrived at Cannibal Creek Recreation Reserve on Thursday 9 May to tour its diverse range of natural scapes that have been carefully cultivated and protected.
The day was lead by Sue Finley, landcare facilitator at Western Port Catchment Landcare Network, Garry Burns from the Cannibal Creek Recreation Reserve Committee of Management
and Kobi Sainty from Bunurong Land Council.
Students learnt of the seven different seasons in the calendar of the eastern Kulin people and Bunurong language as well the variety of different flora and fauna at Cannibal Creek.
The reserve also has art dedicated to its natural importance and beauty including a work by Janine Good showing the seven seasons. Students were tasked to see how many animals and plant life they could see.
The students and teacher afterwards gathered for a yarn at the reserve where they produced art on cards for local members of the community.
There was also a lesson on Bunurong language led by Mr Sainty where students learnt to say ‘womenjeka watayulyul wonthalong Bunurong Bik Bik’ or ‘welcome our many friends to beautiful Bunurong Country’ translated to English.
This program will span the next month including many schools with the aim to bring community and the land closer together through encouraging students to tell their stories connecting language, culture and country.
Titled ‘Caring for Country Landcare Connection – Community – Meeting, Yarning and Creating’, this program is run in collaboration of Western Port Catchment Landcare Network and Bunurong Land Council with funding from Park Victoria.
It will include 10 excursions in total which will culminate in a forum on Thursday 20 June at Deep Creek in Pakenham.
