2019 High Aims Transition Program at Merimbula Public School: Excursion to Bournda National Park

Merimbula Public School attended an excursion to Bournda National Park as part of the High Aims Transition Program facilitated by David Dixon from Campbell Page Eden, along with Ellen Mundy, John Aldridge and Warren Foster Snr and Warren Foster Jnr.

The students had a bush tucker and medicine walk and a yarn about animals and caring for the environment. The students learnt some traditional dances with Warren Snr and Warren Foster Jnr, including the Kangaroo Dance celebrating hunting, The Brolga and Emu Dance and ‘Pilla Pilla’. They learnt some local language and also heard the Dreaming story ‘The Bat and the Crow’ told by Ellen Mundy.

Following this excursion, students participated in a yarning circle about history and culture, and some basket weaving led by local community representatives Marcus Williams, John Aldridge and David Dixon.

The culmination activity for the program saw our students and a group of Koori students from Eden Public School combine in a dance celebration with Shaquelle Aldridge, Warren Foster Snr, Warren Foster Jnr, Corey Stewart, John Aldridge and David Dixon. They all shared their own unique knowledge of dance and local culture.

We thank David Dixon from Campbell Page Eden for coordinating the program, and all the community members for contributing to this program and making it such an authentic learning experience for our students.

Story submitted by Janelle Hodsdon from Merimbula Public School. Published in 2020.