A wide range of fun activities were enjoyed at Neerim South Primary School last week to mark NAIDOC Week.
It was a wonderful opportunity for the students to learn more about Indigenous culture, history and knowledge.
Kurnai elder Linda Mullett kindly shared her stories and taught the students many different facts about connection to Country.
Linda collected some ochre for the junior students to crush and paint Coolamons with Indigenous symbols. The students loved this experience and will cherish their little clay Coolamons for years to come.
In keeping with the physical science unit of study about heat this term, the grade three and four students cooked damper in a camp oven on the open fire.
The students got to enjoy some homemade blackberry jam with their damper. Linda also brought different varieties of mint for students to experience the taste and smell of.
They also spent time in the habitat garden where Linda spoke about the importance of the blue wren, Yeerung, to the local Kurnai people. The respect and care for country and people was a significant teaching that Linda conveyed.
Older students got the opportunity for a question and answer session and then decorated their own tri-rangs, which are similar to a boomerang and return to the thrower.
After a big day, the whole school took part in a Welcome to Country ceremony, with earth, water, and fire elements.
The school said they were very grateful to Linda for sharing her time and knowledge with the school. The students appreciated their experience and are keen to learn more about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories and cultures throughout their schooling.