Transcript

Ganandhimila-nj – We learn

Song lyrics

When I look around my town, there are old ways to be found.

When I listen that's when I see, Mother Mountain lookin' over me.

Biinda old words make it new

Student

Welcome to Bermagui. Our town was settled by the Europeans in the 1830s. It was originally a gold mining, fishing, and timber town. Now it is very popular with tourists from all over Australia and the world. They come to see our beautiful beaches and spend time swimming, fishing, bush walking, and eating our famous local produce.

But underneath these layers is an even richer history. It's the history of the Yuin people. The local Aboriginal people have lived in and cared for this amazing landscape for thousands and thousands of years. Their history is all around us and under our feet.

Student

And looking over all this country and us as Gulaga, Mother Mountain. This mountain is sacred to us and the local Yuin people.

Student

A long, long time ago, there was a mother called Gulaga. She had two sons, and one day they went out collecting Bush Tucker. They set up a camp, not far from the ocean. The oldest son, Baranguba, decided he wanted to set up his own camp. So he moved a little bit away, nearby in the ocean. He laid down and turned into an island. His little brother, Najanuga, wanted his own camp too. But Gulaga said he was too little to go far. So he set up a camp at her feet and turned into a small mountain. Gulaga, turned into the big mountain. She's lying down, pregnant and sleeping. She's watching us, she's watching over us all. Just as Mother Mountain is sleeping, one of the languages of the Yuin people, Dhurga, has been sleeping too.

Patricia

It's called a "sleeping language" because not many people can speak it fluently. We can say words, and we can say a couple of words, but we can't really have conversations in sentences because Aboriginal people weren't allowed to speak our language for such a long time and quite a lot of it got lost.

Uncle Kenny

No, cause we just turned, we were taught to speak English that was it.

Aunty Deanna

Because they didn't have the things, the things they've got in the schools today, they didn't have them back in our days.

Student

But now Dhurga is being awoken again with the help of the students at Bermagui Public School.

Student

How do you feel about the kids at Bermagui Public School learning about Dhurga?

Aunty Deanna

I think it's really good because everybody needs to know everybody else's culture.

Uncle Gordy

It's important to me that we all learn Dhurga so that it isn't extinct. So that we can keep it alive, keep it, keep it useful, and using it every day. Also, it's important to me because a lot of people want to learn Aboriginal culture and want to experience Aboriginal culture and my belief, and from what I've learned is that you can't learn Aboriginal culture without learning Aboriginal languages.

Student

It's good to learn Dhurga because none of our family got to learn it when they're younger and if we learn it, we could keep our language alive and our Country. And also we get to teach little kids, like, 'cause they want to learn like more something interesting. And then we wouldn't have to have anyone come in to the school and teach us because we might, we would probably already know how to speak Dhurga.

Brendan

For students in our school it's really important to learn other languages because it's great for your brain and it stimulates learning. So we could look at other languages that they speak overseas, but we chose to go one that's local to our area because it's teaching us the history.

Uncle Gordy

Well, I love teaching Dhurga all together. I, I love to see the kids' faces when they learn Dhurga, and that they're excited that they have learned it but to teach it at Bermagui Primary School is even more special to me because it's a school that I went to and I know that it's a school where I feel and classify it as my school, my, my family school. A lot of my family went to this school.

Students

Walawaani, safe journey

Wayalad, cockatoo

dingo

Mara, fish

Ngayaga, I am Holly

Buru, kangaroo

Gugunyal, kookaburra

Djirawara, leaf

Djungga, octopus

Daarlawan, shark

Gari, snake

Bagaranj, sunset

Song lyrics

Biinda old words, we need you
Biinda, rise up, make it new
Biinda, rise, we need you
Biinda old words, make it new
Biinda old words, we need you
Biinda, rise up, make it new
Biinda, rise, we need you
We need you,
We need you,
We need you.

The lockdown glitch

Dad

Oh, I think we're gonna win.

Son

Really?

TV Announcer

The gold medal.

Son

It's glitching

Dad

Right, that's it buddy. Upstairs. Brush teeth. PJs.

Son

Oh, I have my PJs on. Mum, when is lockdown gonna end? It feels like the same day over and over again.

Mum

I know it's tough, bud. Hang in there. Hopefully not too much longer, okay? Night, night.

Mum

Morning.

Son

Morning.

Dad

Want a milo?

Son

What are you kidding? I already did this worksheet yesterday. Mum, I already did this worksheet yesterday.

Mum

I'm on the phone. I can't talk.

Son

No.

Hey Mum, what's for dinner?

Mum

It's Taco Tuesday.

Son

But it was Taco Tuesday yesterday. Did you change the date on your phone? I swear it's Wednesday.

Mum

Go off and have your bath please. Dinner's almost ready

Aren't you gonna watch the 1500 metre?

Son

We've watched this already. We win.

Mum

What?

TV Announcer

Win the gold medal.

Son

Come on, you're still glitching.

Dad

Right, that's it buddy. Upstairs. Brush teeth. PJs.

Son

I have my PJs on.

Mum

Morning.

Dad

Milo?

Son

I can't do this anymore. What? It's Tuesday again?

Mum

I'm on the phone. I can't talk.

Son

It's glitching again. This day sucks. I might as well go to bed

Dad

Oh really?

Mum

Oh sweetie. You know what? Tomorrow is a new day.

Son

I really hope so.

Dad

Huh, looks like it just needed a reboot.

Mum

Morning, bub. You're up early.

Son

I wanna have a good day today. That's all folks.

The bored jar

Student

Everything is always shut, and there is never anything to do. No one is out on the streets, playing in the parks, or catching trains anymore. I was always bored, with nothing to ever do. Every day I felt like staying in bed until midday and watching TV. But I knew I needed to do something productive. One day when I was texting my friend, we thought of an amazing idea. We would start the Bored Jar. I found it so fun and motivating. However, we felt like we could do better.

So we decided to film our Bored Jar choices and turn them into short, funny videos we would send back and forth to one another. I would always be so excited to see what she picked out of the jar. We would film ourselves shaking the jar, choosing an activity at random, and doing what the Bored Jar says. We made about 30 videos each in just a few weeks. We made sure that most of the activities in the jar were able to be done outside, so we could get some fresh air as well.

At first, the Bored Jar video making was entertaining, but now we realise that the video making was what helped us get through these tough times. Thankfully this lockdown is nearly over.

However, I now know that whenever I am bored, I will return to making a Bored Jar episode. The challenge of making new and unique videos every day was so fun that we forgot we were bored.

Living in lockdown

Vivi

Hi, I'm Vivi from Alexandria Park Community School. And here are some of the things me and my family have been doing to pass the time in lockdown. Movie time!

Woo hoo!

So, what should we watch tonight?

Well look at all the ones we've watched already.

I know. Maybe this one!

No.

No.

That one?

No.

No.

This one!

Yes!

Uh, we're missing popcorn.

Popcorn!

Together

Popcorn! Mum! Popcorn! Two, one, go.

Every day we’re going place

Student

What I want be when I grow up. A vet? Astronaut. Doctor, no, a nurse. No, a midwife. A judge on MasterChef? Policewoman? Owner of a shop that sells, uh, Lollies. A gardener? A teacher. I'd teach big kids, no, little kids. No, actually, I don't think I want be a teacher. A celebrity? Singer. A prime minister. Film director. Graphic designer? Builder. I'd build us a fancy house. A babysitter. A pet sitter. Illustrator? Inventor. Scientist. I'd definitely try to cure annoying viruses. Lifeguard? Photographer? Taxi driver, no, Uber driver. You get to choose your own hours. Party planner. Post lady. Horse rider, for the Olympics. Yes, an Olympic horse rider. A swimming teacher. Zookeeper. A mum. Toy shop worker. Knitter or a sewer. I might want be a sewer. A dancer. Dentist. Someone who helps people, anyone really. Just helps people who need help. A cook. A cake cooker. A make-up artist. Dog trainer. Body builder. The principal of a school. I wouldn't give any red slips. A gymnast. Circus performer, that's obvious. Yoga trainer. Cartoonist. Firefighter? Pilot or the person who drives that little truck with all your bags on it. But, most likely, a vet. Make every day count, 'cause you know what? We're going places.

Tramvale

Students

Long ago, before European settlement in Marrickville, the Bidjigal clan, the Gadigal people, lived in harmony with their wetlands called Gumbramorra Swamp.

It played an important part in Aboriginal life as a source of plants, shellfish, and animals.

It provided a habitat for birds, ducks, gulls, swamphens, and pelicans.

In the 1890s, the swamp was drained to make way for new needs of new factories.

Unfortunately, this led to the swamp not being cared for properly. It became a dirty and smelly place.

In fact, it was so bad that the only people that would go there were criminals that were hiding from the authorities.

European settlers began occupying the land and used the land underneath to make bricks.

They called the area Tramvale because trams were now running down Victoria Road to Marrickville and stopped nearby.

In May 1889, it rained on Marrickville for five days. The rain was so hard that over 500 millimetres fell on Tramvale, the area, and most of Marrickville was flooded.

The people had nowhere to go but the owners of the Royal Exchange Hotel on Marrickville Road, William and Lena Ipkendanz, were very kind and took in about 80 people to be looked after in their hotel.

There was a big outcry about the whole situation and so it was decided to create a system of drain to clear water in the future.

When you go on a train into Sydney, if you look out the window, on the left hand side, just after Sydenham, you will see a big concrete pond which is there to collect all the water that flows from around the old swamp after a big rainstorm.

My boring backyard

Daisy

Hi, I'm Daisy. I'm in lockdown at the moment so I thought I'd give you a tour of my garden. It's pretty boring and not that interesting but I thought I'd give it a shot. Here it goes. Over here are a bunch of trees. In the trees there live a bunch of birds. Birds eat worms, worms eat food scraps, blah, blah, blah, circle of life. Who cares? We've all watched the Lion King. What? That's amazing. All those animals were made out of Lego. Well, I guess that wasn't very boring. Anyway, over here is another boring part of my garden. There are so many boring parts.

Fairy

Hey, you there drop that camera. This isn't a reality TV show.

Daisy

Are you a? No, no, that's impossible. But are you a fairy?

Fairy

No, I'm a garden gnome who's favourite TV show is Jeopardy.

Daisy

Oh, really?

Fairy

No you numbskull, of course I'm a fairy. And me and my fairy friends have just been in a very important meeting of our book club before you barged in.

Daisy

I'm very sorry to interrupt. I better go. Look, I realise that I promise that this would be boring and so far it's been kind of exciting. But I swear, The next thing we see is bound to be a total yawn. It could be grass with dirt. Somebody, anybody, help me.

Father

Oh, I'm sorry about my daughter. She doesn't know how to pounce on people properly yet.

Daughter

I so do daddy.

Daisy

Look, you, you, hold on. What exactly are you?

Together

We are the hermit family.

Daisy

Okay, okay just please. You are pouncing on me.

Daughter

Sorry. You can't promise to anything.

Father

Yeah, we got loads more people to pounce on today.

Daughter

Nice pouncing on you.

Daisy

Due to that mishap, I had to stop filming for the rest of the day. But now the fairies have gone to bed and the hermits are off chasing elsewhere. So it's safe to film, but since dark out I have to use my torch. Do you hear that? Who are you? It's a crop circle and all the sheep are dead. In theory we don't have any sheep, but if we did, I guarantee you they would all be dead. You have some explaining to do, you alien. I think it's time you go back to where you came from. Well, that was quite interesting. Maybe lockdown and my garden aren't so boring after all.

Open doors to possibilities

Students

School scares me.

Will I fit in?

I didn't know how to do it.

Will people like me?

Will I know what to do?

Am I known, valued, and cared for?

Do you feel alone?

School is scary sometimes.

Male voiceover

Sometimes when you feel like it's all too much, take a look around. A helping hand is not far away. School is a place that opens doors to possibilities. Make every day count.

Koori Rap

Song lyrics

Treat us equally, we're all one
Let us listen to where we come from
Black and white, we're all original
Belonging is a feeling, not a visual
And all the fun spirit is all around
Together united, the rhythm is loud
Salt water Country is where we're from
Go to Gujaga, we dance as one
We are all one
Give an opportunity to do a culture song
This has helped us all get along
Sanctuary Point teachers are really cool
Black and white, this is our school
Everyone has a right to be themselves
The number one rule is to love yourselves
At our school, we learn to resolve
This is how we grow and evolve
We all learn together, we succeed
This is our motto, we believe
Black, white, and deadly, this is our time
Together united rocking our rhymes
We are all one Bringing back traditions, memories we own
This is our dream time from long ago
Message from my people, we hear your beating heart
We share one soul together from the start
It's something we carry, it's in our DNA
It will take us far in this day and age
All of our family's standing up strong
Never apart, we are all one.
We're from the land and sea, one big happy family
Back to our dream time doing our corroboree
Biters and jitters, side by side
We learn on this promised land with such great pride
We are all one
From 9:15 to 3:00 At our school, our learning days rock
Working together on our homeland
Elders beside us starting our hand
Revitalise our language that was lost from long ago
We now speak Dhurga every day on the go
All of our classes have a Koori name
We are super proud and never ashamed
One last message to make a people proud
We are one, you will hear our voice loud We are all one

Masters of persuasion

Mean Girl 1

Losers.

Mean Girl 2

Nice bikes.

Zoe

I mean did you see how fast they were? They were real bikes, Alex. We're stuck with baby ones.

Alex

We have to do something.

Zoe

We can ask Mum again. I'll go.

Alex

Good luck with that.

Zoe

Mum?

Mum (on phone)

By tonight yeah.

Zoe

Mum.

Mum

Okay. I'm working please.

Zoe

I just need to talk to you about the bikes.

Mum

Zoe, please.

Zoe

Just one minute. I need to talk to you about the bikes.

Mum

I'm very busy right now. I need to send this before tomorrow. Get out of this room right now.

Alex

I got it. I got it.

Girls chanting

Buy the girls new mountain bikes. Buy the girls new mountain bikes. Buy the girls new mountain bikes. Buy the girls new mountain bikes. Buy the girls new mountain bikes.

Zoe

Do you think she's asleep?

Alex

Yeah.

Zoe

Are you ready? Let's go.

Girls chanting

Buy the girls new mountain bikes. Buy the girls new mountain bikes. Buy the girls new mountain bikes. Buy the girls new mountain bikes. Buy the girls new mountain bikes.

Mum

Girls wake up. We're gonna buy you mountain bikes.

When I grow up

Students

I wonder where that truck's goin'?

Probably to China!

I'm going to go everywhere. I'm going to be a helicopter pilot.

I'm going to be a dog trainer.

What are you guys doin'?

We're talkin' about what we're going to do when we grow up.

I'm going to be a star when I'm older.

Truck driver, that's what I'm going to do.

When I grow I'm going to be a movie star!

I want to be a rocket ship when I grow up.

You can't be a rocket ship, you mean an astronaut.

When I grow up I'm going to be a Lego master. But we got to be at school.

All together

Make every day count.

[End of transcript]