Ngarri Ngarri News
‘On Country’ brings rich history to life
Students at Greater Shepparton Secondary College took their studies into the heart of Yorta Yorta Country with a recent land and water excursion to the Barmah Forest.
The 27 students enjoyed a guided walk through the wetlands surrounding the impressive Dharnya Centre, and a boat ride aboard the Kingfisher along the Barmah Choke.
The students were able to see close-up this narrow, winding section of the Murray River and how water, fire and floods are so crucial to the flora and fauna of the Barmah-Millewa Forest.
It was a first for the students of ‘On Country’, a Year 9 elective subject at GSSC teaching Indigenous culture and history. They were joined by a number of First Nations students.
“The excursion allows the students to really relate to the content of ‘On Country’,” Humanities Teacher Chloe Morgan said.
“We teach First Nations history but always try to relate it back to this region to make it more meaningful,” she said. “There is so much local relevance here, like the Cummeragunja Walk-Off.”
Chloe has travelled extensively and has a passion for experiencing new cultures, which she brings to the On Country elective.
She draws on the First Nations knowledge of Leanne Sangster, Team Leader of the Koorie Educators at GSSC. With her mother among the Stolen Generation, Leanne considers herself an “adopted Yorta Yorta woman”, having grown up here, marrying a Yorta Yorta man and raising four children in Yorta Yorta Country.
Despite its proximity, Leanne said many of the students hadn’t visited the cultural hub of the Yorta Yorta and if they had, it may have been a return to Country for a funeral.
“So it was wonderful to go there as a celebration, with a traditional welcome and smoking ceremony, to see this living history, the land, and how we look after it.”
The cleansing experience of a smoking ceremony, led by Traditional Owner Ralph Hume, was the highlight for student Yulkirri Bamblett.
“I loved hearing Uncle Ralph speaking the language, it was a great reminder of how our language could be used more,” she said.
For Koorie Educator Tristan Miller, it was the “informative, peaceful and calm boat cruise” where he enjoyed “a mad laugh with our tour guide”.
On Country will again be offered as a humanities elective available to GSSC Year 9 students in 2026, providing an overview of First Nations history after European settlement with a focus on the experience of Greater Shepparton traditional owners, the Yorta Yorta and Bangerang peoples.
