darrambyang, garrall, red-tail
peaceful, nice, calm
I see darrambyang and garrall
The budan tells me to respect the land.
I feel calm.
~ 'Garral' by Cooper, Year 4 Aurora Southern Highlands Steiner School
Celebrating the International Year of Indigenous Languages
Finding mirren in the bawa through poetry on Gundungurra land
In March 2019, Poetry in First Languages (PIFL) workshops were held on Gundungurra Country. Students aged 5 to 18 years from Aurora Southern Highlands Steiner School, Berrima Public School, Bowral Public School and Moss Vale High School found mirren (belonging) through poetry – exploring identity, culture, custodianship and garrall (the black cockatoo) conservation in the bawa (bush) and the karat (rain).
Workshops ran with guidance from Aunty Trish Levitt, Jacob Morris, Aunty Sharyn Halls and Kirli Saunders, in collaboration with Wingecarribee Shire Council and the Office of Environment and Heritage.
Read student poems
First Nations student poetry on buses
The powerful poems of First Nations' students were published on a grand scale on bus backs as part of PIFL Gundungurra in 2019.
Read more and see photos >