By JESSE GRAHAM
ABORIGINAL culture and language will be more accessible for children in the classroom, after the Yarra Ranges Council launched a package to teach the Woiwurrung language last week.
The Woiwurrung Language Resource for Early Years was launched on Tuesday, 6 October at the Healesville Indigenous Community Services Association (HICSA), bringing council and community representatives together.
The language resource was organised by the Yarra Ranges Council with HICSA and the Wurun Child and Family Place, and contains 45 language cards and an accompanying audio CD.
Woiwurrung is the language of the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin nation. The CD and artwork for the cards was organised by Aboriginal artist and Woiwurrung language specialist, Mandy Nicholson, who grew up in the Healesville area.
Ryrie Ward councillor, Fiona McAllister, who opened the event, said the package was the culmination of years of discussions and was an “incredible resource” for student.
Using the example of her one-year-old daughter, Lexi, learning to speak, Cr McAllister said language gave a connection to family, community, and the world.
“If one has a connection with words, motivation to learn, to explore, to share and to understand grows,” she said.
“These 45 words will open the door to a new world for these children, a world of culture, stories, and connections.”
Cr McAllister said she would be purchasing one of the resources to use with her children.
Aunty Joy Murphy Wandin, in a Welcome to Country speech, praised the work of the council in producing the resource and working towards reconciliation.
“Today is one of the moments in history I’m glad I lived for,” she said.
Ms Nicholson then spoke to the attendees, who had filled the Aunty Dot Peters Multi-Purpose Room, and presented a slideshow of each of the language cards while demonstrating the different sounds used when speaking Woiwurrung.
The crowd followed along through the presentation, mimicking Ms Nicholson as she explained the translations to Woiwurrung words.
The language resource was then provided to some education providers.
Council’s co-ordinator of early years development, Anne Monichon, said about 60 packages had been created – though more might be produced in future.
