South Coast NRM recently supported early NAIDOC week celebrations at Frankland River Primary School and Cranbrook Primary School through the Noongar Kaartdijin program.
Mrs May Penny, a Noongar Elder from Tambellup Aboriginal Progress Association, was able to present Cultural awareness and stories from personal experience to captivate students from Kindergarten to Grade Six.
May’s wonderful stories from birds to bobtails created a lot of interest and sharing within the Frankland junior school group before exploring the nearby bushland with older students. May’s bushland knowledge added to the Frankland school’s Know Your Patch project supported by Gillamii and environmental scientist Wendy Bradshaw. Ashley Marjoram from Gillamii commented about the day “It’s truly a privilege having someone like May Penny pass on such precious knowledge.”
Students at Cranbrook Primary School heard recollections from May’s youth of bush tucker, cooking and memorable turtle stories which added to their NAIDOC school activities. The event finished around the school’s fire pit, along with representatives from the Shire of Cranbrook, ready for the students’ tucker to be cooked in the coals.
The Noongar Kaartdijin (knowledge) program is supported by funding from the Western Australian State Natural Resource Management Program and the South Coast Environment Fund with support from Commonwealth Bank. The program will extend in-school Cultural awareness throughout the Region. For more information contact Natalie Reeves, Noongar Kaartdijin Project Officer on (e) natalier@southcoastnrm.com.au (p) 9845 8537