Languages of Victoria

Languages of Victoria

Where I lived

There are 38 Indigenous Languages in Victoria. Before Australia was colonised there were no States and Territories therefore these 38 language groups were part of the total Indigenous languages of Australia totally around 750. The Language groups of the Gippsland area are the Brataualung, Braikaulung, Tatungalung, Brabralung and Krauatungalung. The people of Gippsland would also have had knowledge of the bordering language groups those being the Boonwurrung, Woiwurrung, DaungWurrung, Way wurru/Dhudhuroa, Bidawal and my Grandfather's and Father's people are the Monero/Ngarigo of far east Gippsland and the High Plains to Jindabyne. I grew up in Krauatungalung country living in, Bemm River, Cabbage Tree Creek, Newmerella, Lochend and then into Orbost. I went to school in Orbost, met my husband Jeffrey Dent who was born in Orbost, we was married in Orbost and three of our children were born in Orbost and my other two children were born in Traralgon. My Great Grandfather is buried in Orbost as is my father Norman and mother Lucy Jean and our twins Grace & Charity. I grew up with Aunties who spoke their traditional language and English was their second language. My Aunty Beppe lived on the river bank of the Snowy River in a little humpy in the bean paddock and I often stayed with her. I am one of nine children, I have four sisters and four brothers and am the second eldest. I was very lucky to grow up very close to my cousins who in Koorie way are my brothers and sisters. I teach at Woolum Bellum Koorie Pathways school as Leading Teacher with Rex who is my cousin but in koorie way he is my brother because his father and my father are brothers. I also teach at GippsTAFE with my cousin Doris. I am related to Doris through her mother who is a Ngarigo/Gunnai woman.