Greater Shepparton Secondary College ‘On Country’ students took their studies into the great outdoors with a recent excursion into Yorta Yorta country at Barmah.
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Students from the Year 9 Indigenous culture and history elective subject were joined by First Nations students for a guided walk through the wetlands surrounding the Dharnya Centre, and a cruise on tourist boat, the Kingfisher, along the Barmah Choke on the Murray River.
Jeremiah Elrayah, Sunie French, Chance Cooper, Tobias Clark and George Nicholson during the cruise through the Barmah Choke.
The 27 students learned how the water, fire and floods are crucial to the flora and fauna of the Barmah-Millewa Forest.
“The excursion allows the students to really relate to the content of ‘On Country’,” humanities teacher Chloe Morgan said.
“We teach First Nations history, but always try to relate it back to this region to make it more meaningful.
“There is so much local relevance here, like the Cummeragunja Walk-Off.”
Having travelled widely, Ms Morgan is passionate about experiencing new cultures and draws on GSSC Koorie educators team leader, Leanne Sangster’s First Nations knowledge.
Despite the Dharnya Centre’s close proximity, Ms Sangster said many of the students hadn’t visited the cultural hub of the Yorta Yorta and, if they had, it may have been for a funeral.
“It was wonderful to go there as a celebration, with a traditional welcome and smoking ceremony, to see this living history, the land, and how we look after it,” she said.
Cultural officer Ralph Hume leads activities in the Barmah Forest.
Dharnya Centre cultural officer Ralph Hume led a smoking ceremony for excursion participants.
Tahlia Lammon with cultural officer Ralph Hume.
Student Yulkirri Bamblett said it was a highlight of the day.
“I loved hearing Uncle Ralph speaking the language, it was a great reminder of how our language could be used more,” she said.
Koorie educator Tristan Miller said the “informative, peaceful and calm boat cruise” where he enjoyed “a mad laugh with our tour guide” was his favourite part of the excursion.
Greater Shepparton Secondary College Koorie educator Tristan Miller.
On Country will be offered as a humanities elective to Year 9 students next year, which teaches an overview of First Nations history after European settlement with a focus on the experience of the Yorta Yorta and Bangerang peoples in the Greater Shepparton area.
The students took a cruise about the Kingfisher boat along the Barmah Choke, viewing lakes, flora and fauna.
The sap bleeds from a gum tree where sugar gliders have bitten into the trunk.
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