Year 5/6 Mainstream

Celebrating Learning

Darebin Yarning Conference 

By Gus and Felix

On Tuesday 22nd October, the year 5s went to Bundoora Park Farm to participate in the Darebin Schools Yarning Conference.

We got to school and immediately went inside and sorted out our bag pairs. After that we were told to get our posters and figure out our tram buddies. Later, a few people put sticks on their posters to make them easier to hold up. We all packed our bags and hopped on the tram and headed for Bundoora. 

When we got there, there were two people there to greet us holding up a sign, their sign read ‘Wominjeka Thornbury Primary’. They guided us to the shade sail where we sat down to listen. The first part of the conference was Grant and Jody (the conference leaders) introducing themselves. They invited Uncle Bill Nicholson up on stage to talk about his culture. Afterwards, Grant told everyone we would sing Talkin’ Treaty (a song by an Aboriginal band called Blackfire). All the schools joined in, and Bell Primary went up on stage to sing. 

Next all the classes split up and we had our activities. TPS’s activity was a walk with Uncle Bill. He told us some Dreaming stories of the animals that were native to this land and we also did a dance about animals and hunters. Then we returned to the shade sail, we got some free items including keychains and bags from the First Peoples Assembly of Victoria. We sat back down, and a few people went up on stage to read out their poems. From those people three were from TPS, Galnya, Bon, and Yossi. Their poems were very powerful and everyone cheered for them. 

After this Grant told us we were going to sing again. Bell primary went up and this time we did too. We went up on the stage to sing with Grant. After we had finished singing, there was a farewell smoking ceremony led by Uncle Bill. All the schools went one by one through the smoke from the fire, wishing us a safe journey home. We got back on the tram and came back to school. We got to take our posters home too! It was lots of fun and we found it very informative. Here are a few things that people have said about their experience at the conference:

Felix says, “ I thought it was very informative. I learnt a lot about the dreaming stories of the animals that are native to this country from Uncle Bill and I especially liked singing Talkin’ Treaty!”

Wolfie says, “ I really liked when we did the dance and walk with Uncle BIll Nicholson. I found it really fun how we learnt about the stories of the kangaroo, marram, and the wombat, warinj. I liked when they went around looking at people’s protest posters and sharing their slogans”.

Juneaux says, “I really enjoyed when we did the NAIDOC march around the farm. It was cool that everyone was marching for the same reason and it didn’t matter what school you were from”. 

Marley says, “My favourite part of the day was when we got to act out a Dreaming story with Uncle Bill Nicholson, I got to be a kangaroo and an emu!”

Wanda says, “I really enjoyed the singing and the NAIDOC march even though it was very hot!”

Kadel says, “My favourite part of the day was when I got to look at the emus”. 

Bon says, “I really loved getting to read my poem for everyone because it was the most people I have ever spoken in front of. I felt proud that it was a poem that I had made about my culture”.