Reconciliation Week – green thumbs at Narrawong District Primary School
Early winter rain and wetter soil created the perfect conditions to plant out the indigenous resource garden at the Narrawong District Primary School. All of the students gave Nature Glenelg Trust’s Lauren K. a helping hand in planting some local and culturally important native species around the beautiful sculpture and paving installed earlier in the year. Project artist Catherine Bailey, as well as parents Wanda and Melissa, also came to assist the students; their help was very much appreciated.
Budj Bim rangers – Matt, Aaron and Josh, along with two work experience rangers, came to meet with the students and join in the planting. Aaron had a yarn with the kids about the roles of Indigenous rangers and caring for Gunditjmara country; particularly the local Budj Bim Cultural Landscape. The rangers and students shared what reconciliation meant to them as part of the Reconciliation Week event.
Narrawong students and Budj Bim rangers gather after an afternoon of planting
The plants in the resource garden have important traditional uses to the Gunditjmara, including food, fibre, tools, and medicine. You can see some of these plants and more pictures of the day in the image gallery below. We look forward more gatherings in the new outdoor learning space, and continuing to explore the importance of our connections to the local natural environment, and our local native flora and fauna.
We sincerely thank the Budj Bim rangers for such a great day. We would like to acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the land on which we met, the Gunditjmara. We would also like to pay our respects to their Elders – past, present and future.
(Left) Budj Bim ranger Aaron having a yarn with the students, (middle) the edible underground tuber, and the flower (inset) of the “Muurang” (Yam Daisy – Microseris walteri), (right) students carefully planting the Muurang.
(Left) the colourful display of the Bulbine Lily (Bulbine bulbosa), (middle) students enjoying a game in the garden, (right) the Native Hollyhock (Malva pressiana).
