Elimatta asgmwp.net Spring 2012 Aboriginal Support Group – Manly Warringah Pittwater ASG acknowledges the Guringai People, the traditional owners of the lands and the waters of this area SAVING ABORIGINAL LANGUAGE Introducing Tassie black fella talk The ears of the nation have unexpectedly turned to The committee wanted to know how Tasmania was Tasmania in an effort to save a language. leading the way in saving its native languages. A Federal Government hearing has recently heard that From ja (hello) to wulika (goodbye), palawa kani is many Aboriginal languages are in danger of extinction with a reconstruction of around 12 Tasmanian Aboriginal just 20 to 30 considered viable’. More than 250 languages languages and is taught to young children at the ACC were spoken in 1788 but the Australian Institute of that is located at Risdon Cove. Risdon Cove was the site Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies was able to of the first British settlement in Tasmania in 1804. It was identify only 145 languages in 2005. Of those, 110 were handed back to the Tasmanian Aboriginal community classified as severely and critically endangered. under the 1995 Aboriginal Lands Act. The standing committee for Aboriginal and Torres Listen again to the work being done in Tasmania to teach Strait Islander Affairs has been told it could cost $90 palawa kani and find out what our word of the day – nayri million to save the languages under threat. But Tasmania mapali. Download the audio file: has been leading the way with the teaching of palawa http://blogs.abc.net.au/files/palawa-kani-thurs-june-14-2012.mp3 The original Tasmanian languages became extinct kani, that translates to Tassie black fella talk. in 1905 when the last native speaker died. As part of Radio 936 Breakfast was joined by Aboriginal Children community efforts to retrieve as much of the original Centre’s Alison Overeem who attended the standing Tasmanian culture as possible, efforts are made to (re) committee hearing in Canberra to outline what we have construct a language for the indigenous community. been teaching Aboriginal children since the early 1990s. Damien Brown, 14th June 2012 GURINGAI PEOPLE ACKNOWLEDGED at Bilgola Plateau Public School Bilgola Plateau Public School celebrated NAIDOC one of the local animal totems. Craig sourced the 150 week with two special events. The first was an unveiling year old timber posts from Kempsey and had them ceremony for a sculpture constructed at the front of the transported down to the school. The indigenous students school to represent the partnership between the local at the school helped carve stingrays and Aboriginal Guringai community and the school. drawings. The tallest post represents the teachers, The sculptor, Craig Kerslake, is an Indigenous parent the middle post represents the primary students and of the school and a talented architect. Craig worked with the smallest steel post represents the infant students. the school’s Aboriginal Education Committee to create On another level, Darinyung represents the transient ‘Darinyung”. Darinyung is Guringai for stingray which is movement of the old people through Country. Craig wanted to leave the various bolts and notches in the timber as a mark of respect for the history of the timber posts. Darinyung is not finished yet and over the next few weeks they will continue to work on the carvings until Craig’s vision becomes a reality. Local descendants of the Guringai people were present during the unveiling ceremony to acknowledge the work done by the school as a sign of respect of the culture of the traditional owners of the land. Pictured: Craig and son unveil Darinyung Elimatta 1 ASGMWP Newsletter Spring 2012 PITTWATER COUNCIL VOLUNTEER AWARDS 2012 Our esteemed member Nancy has been recognised for her work, especially Nancy Hill Wood was nominated in advocating for the Indigenous community, particularly by Lizzie Landers on behalf of those involved in the struggle to gain rights for the the Aboriginal Support Group – Stolen Generations, Stolen Wages and Land Rights. Manly Warringah Pittwater for an Nancy became Chair of the NSW Sorry Day Committee award from Pittwater Council’s in 2005. She is a published poet and respected 2012 Volunteer Awards. elder in the community. Now in her seventies, Nancy Nancy was one of a number of people to be awarded continues to travel to Aboriginal communities across a Certificate for over two decades of service in Pittwater. NSW and southern Queensland sharing her stories and I was very fortunate to be invited by Nancy to be her experiences. guest at the dinner held at the Bayview Golf Club on 5 I am sure that all members of the ASG-MWP May to recognise wonderful volunteers in 10 categories. appreciate the way Nancy educates and informs us all on After a very nice dinner, the winners in all these Indigenous issues from her own life experiences. categories were asked onto the stage to receive their Well done Nancy and thanks to Lizzie Landers for certificates. Details of their volunteering were read out to nominating her. the large audience. Carol Ritchie Member ASG-MWP LOCAL SChOOL Initiatives “Under the Starry Sky” The Peninsula Community of Schools (PCS) Country by Neil Evers, a local descendant of the Guringai acknowledged NAIDOC Week 2012 with an event called people was given. Under the Starry Sky at Bilgola Plateau Public School. Parents, staff and students all enjoyed a BBQ dinner NAIDOC stands for National Aborigines and Islanders with delicious tomato relish. Following these activities Day Observance Committee. NAIDOC is a celebration students participated in Indigenous games and as the of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and an night sky unfolded students listened to Dreamtime stories opportunity to recognise the contributions of Indigenous under the Starry Sky. Australians in various fields. The next event was a film called My Place shown in The 13 schools from the PCS (three high schools and the hall and then Primary students were off to bed. ten primaries) nominated up to six students from their The High school students stayed up a little later to view school community and a staff member to participate in a Dust Echoes. series of activities to acknowledge NAIDOC Week. After a goodnight’s sleep, students enjoyed a The celebration was held at Bilgola Plateau Public breakfast of damper with jams such as Lilly Pilly Bush School and began with students pitching their tents on Tucker Conserve, Rosella Jam and Hibiscus Desert the school oval. This was followed by a performance Quandong accompanied with Wattle seed, Lemon by Didgeribone in the school hall and then students Myrtle, Aniseed Myrtle and Native Peppermint teas. participated in an artwork shop run by two of the Principals from the thirteen PCS schools were school’s art teachers. Students painted an indigenous joined by Rob Stokes MP, Mayor Harvey Rose Pittwater canvas which will be taken back and presented at their Council, Dave Lardner, DEC Aboriginal Education respective schools. Regional Support Officer, Ruth Tregale from Macquarie Following the indigenous art workshop the more University Widening Participation and other local formal part of the event began. A traditional smoking Indigenous representatives, parents and students. ceremony was performed by Uncle Max to ward off evil Then back to School. spirits. As the smoking ceremony took place two Bilgola Sharon Smithies students played the didgeridoo and a Welcome to Peninsula Community of Schools Coordinator Elimatta 2 ASGMWP Newsletter National COLOURED DIGGERS NAIDOC Awards MARCh Hobart 2012 – ANZAC DAY 2012 On Anzac Day this year Nancy Hill Wood and I again attended the annual commemoration to honour those This year’s NAIDOC Lifetime Achievement Award Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who served went to 62-year-old Mirning Elder Bunna Lawrie, who is a in all armed conflicts overseas over so many years from medicine man and songwriter. the Boer War, WWI, WWII and up to the Vietnam War. He grew up on South This special day for The Coloured Digger is always Australia’s Nullarbor Plain and very moving. is best known for founding the Starting from Redfern Park where there is a smoking band Coloured Stone, which ceremony, Welcome to Country, Welcome Dance, laying won an ARIA Award in 1986. of wreaths and the national anthem, a march begins to Mr Lawrie says young the Redfern Community Centre where a service is held. Indigenous people need to Special guests, the Governor Prof. Marie Bashir, be encouraged to follow their Hon. Tanya Plibersek, Hon. Victor Dominello and Hon. dreams. Linda Burney, spoke to the large crowd after Pastor Ray “It’s all about hope, inspiration and really help Minnecon had addressed the people. everyone to look at the right way to achieve what they The singing by Vic Sims of And the Band Played want to achieve in life and how to go about it without Waltzing Matilda and the song The Coloured Digger by drugs and alcohol,” he said. Warren Morgan and interpreted in dance by Terry Olsen “It’s all in my songs, you know.” were very moving. This year special mention was paid to honouring the The 2012 National NAIDOC Award recipients are: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Vietnam Veterans with them receiving a special art work in commemoration ★ Lifetime Achievement Award of their service. – Bunna Lawrie, South Australia This is a really wonderful afternoon and brings to ★ Person of the Year people’s attention the often unrecognised contribution of – David Wirrpanda, Victoria Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Veterans on behalf of our country. ★ Female Elder of the Year (shared) After the service, entertainment from Vic Sims and – Margaret Lawton, Queensland the every-year donation of meat pies from the owner of – Maureen Kelly, Western Australia Harry’s Café de Wheels were welcomed and enjoyed by ★ Male Elder of the Year the large crowd.