Gaba Nginda (thank you) to everyone who helped us celebrate NAIDOC week with some great events. Firstly thank you for all the entries into the awesome facts competition about the traditional places on which people live, and for taking the time to make sure that the sources were Indigenous-informed. It is so important that we continue to amplify the voices of First Nations people, and learn directly from them as the sources of this amazing knowledge.
It was really hard to choose a winner, but we really love the information sent in by Sharmayne Fewings, Awabical/Awabikal Country, which she learnt by having a yarn with Aunty Selena Archibald:
Sharmayne spoke with an Aboriginal Elder Selena Archibald who is a family friend and also teaches at Morisset High School. She found some site information in her our local area in the Hunter:
Awaba (Awabical) mean “Land of Flat Place”.
Poobar Island was an actual sacred site for aboriginal men. This Island was used for rituals and initiation. Aboriginal women would stand at Shingle Splinters across the water and wave them off.
Freemans waterhole has a billabong known as Lindens. This billabong has many stories of aboriginal monsters that lived at this billabong.
Congratulations Sharmayne, who won the fabulous prize pack from Clothing the Gap!
We would also like to thank all those people who entered in The Trust sponsored virtual Country fun run/walk on 4th-15th of November everyone seemed to be having a great time.!
One of the highlights of NAIDOC week was when we launched a video of our Moruya cultural group from Yuin country and home to the people of the Bugelli-Manji clan.
The group is led by Uncle Tom who educates them on traditional Aboriginal culture. They come together to learn about traditional foods, languages, painting and more.
Some of our facilities have also been enjoying some different activities during NAIDOC week and special mention to the Parkside and Hunter houses who have enjoyed doing some NAIDOC colouring in activities, and cooking kangaroo sausages, and wattle seed and lemon myrtle cakes. Link to video
Also special thanks to Rachael McPhail from Trusted Support Coordination who provided her expertise and helped to organise all these events.
