Rekindling the Wadawurrung Spirit
First Nations Cultural Heritage Grant Launch Speech
Hi everyone,
My name is Jo Chapman and I am proud to be one of the Visual Arts teachers at Ocean Grove Primary School. I just love my job! ☺️
Moving here from Melbourne in 2018, I remember noticing how there was a lot in the town around Methodist history, but limited information on the first people to live here: the Wadawurrung people. Scott, our school Principal, shared my vision to better recognize our Traditional Owners, supporting me by literally handing over our school front entrance gates and space in our new Inclusion Playground.
I have been incredibly fortunate to collaborate closely with Wadawurrung artist, Billy-Jay O’Toole, and the Wadawurrung Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation to bring to life our project, entitled, ‘Rekindling the Wadawurrung Spirit in Ocean Grove.’ We started this process over two years ago, and it has been the absolute highlight of my teaching career.
There were a number of aims of our project:
● To build stronger relationships with our local First Nations community.
● To mentor our First Nations students, building their knowledge and connection to Country.
● To deepen the cultural understanding for our school leaders and teaching staff.
The Wadawurrung Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation have been so generous with their time. Corinna Eccles, Trish Donovan, Dan Ducrou, and Ashley Skinner in the Education team, and of course BJ, who took time away from his usual full-time job at the corporation to work with us.
We are grateful for the wisdom shown by The City of Greater Geelong to make a project like this happen via the First Nations Heritage Grant. Julie Saylor-Briggs, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Senior Policy Officer, and Simone Budd at Geelong City Council have been so supportive over the last two years. It speaks to the value of these partnerships that Mayor Trent Sullivan and Councillors Jim Mason and Elise Wilkinson are here today.
We have also had the support of our Koori Education Support Officers and want to thank Ilona Sliwa and Nicholas Boseley for also being here today. The project enabled us to work with BJ, a talented Wadawurrung artist, to mentor our First Nations students, Inclusion Captains, Cultural Ambassadors, and Visual Arts Captains. These 14 fantastic students were: Lilley, Ethan, Jaxon, Delilah, Archie, Indy, Izabella, Poppy, Tulip, Skylar, Sadie, Patrick, Willow, and Jimmie, many of whom have come back today from high school to be here.
Over two weeks, BJ worked incredibly hard, arriving in the chilly early July mornings last year, and staying until late in the day to create our three stunning murals. However, it was always not just about the art. As BJ created with our students, he generously shared his own story and his culture, and lasting connections were forged. Our front entrance gates, now entitled Dja, meaning Country in Wadawurrung, welcome you onto Wadawurrung land with Bunjil, the creator of Wadawurrung country, Koonawarra, the black swan, and Waa, the crow, protector of Wadawurrung country.
In our renamed inclusion playground, Djila Tjarri (meaning Play), BJ’s work features on the two concrete tunnels. The earth-coloured tunnel, our final piece, was a collaborative design BJ created with our students, and each of their handprints is imprinted on the tunnel, a lasting memory of their time with BJ. BJ came back to visit the students after the project was finished and gave them treasured gifts, including a pendant bearing his artwork that I know these students still wear with pride.
Through this experience, I have reflected on my own education as a white Australian child at a country school in the 1990s. The sum total of the Australian history taught when I was at primary school was Captain Cook and bushrangers. Today, our children are learning a more accurate history, including uncomfortable truths that foster better understanding, empathy, and respect for the resilience, wisdom, and enduring spirit of our First Nations people.
During Reconciliation Week, I spoke to students about today and shared First Nations artworks and stories. Through this, I have again been reminded how meaningful and lasting change happens through education.
We want to express our deepest gratitude to our First Nations communities who continue to share their history, stories, and culture. Earlier this term, we had Ash Skinner from Wadawurrung working with our staff to deepen our understanding of First Nations’ perspectives, and we hope to have a community session later this year. It really means so much to have Corinna and BJ here today. Your generosity in sharing these gifts allows us to continue to learn, connect, and grow.
Nyatne (thank you)
