Ngaju budjeri
Ngetal makthar Lynnette Solomon-Dent
Ngaju dardee Monaro/Ngarigo rookut
Ngaju tier Orbost ngetal wurk wurk mangina Braikauloong
Ngaju galamdah Monaro/Ngarigo wurk wurk
Ngaju galamdah wooloo wooloo, tinkara, Lidj
I am a proud Monaro/Ngarigo woman, living and working on my country and my families country around Orbost in East Gippsland and into the Wellington Area the Braikauloong. I acknowledge the country and lands I work across and honor my Elders, past, present and our young peoples.
From an Early age we heard our language in Orbost my grandfathers, sisters & brothers speaking it as their first language, great grandfather and his children lived in bark humpys along the Bonang road going out of Orbost across from where the Orbost North Primary school now sits.
People who still live in Orbost remember hearing our family's old peoples standing on the corners of Orbost talking in lingo, thus I was destined to carry on that legacy.
In the late 1980's alongwith my Uncles and Aunties we gathered words from around and across Gippsland which they remembered then we taught them to other Aboriginal peoples through University and our schools and kindergartens, a passion and fire instilled into me, it was my journey and destiny.
On Friday night October 26th 2018 in Melbourne the Big smoke our little school Bruthen which has 45 students was represented as finalist for the Outstanding Koorie Education award. We were 1 of 3 schools and up against some tough competition.
This was our part of our story
This is us the Team Lynnette Solomon-Dent (KESO), Nicole Hood (teacher), Lizzy Mullett (parent), Michelle Young (Principal) , Honourable James Merlino Minister for Education, and Grattan Mullett Parent and community member ( not present our other KESO Bradley Kenny)
Nicole Hood (teacher) Lynnette Solomon-Dent & Bradley Kenny (KESO) Michelle Young (Principal)
From the moment students walk through
Bruthen Primary School's front gates, the pride for its Koorie community and
culture is clear.
Bruthen Primary School
Over the past two years, the small
school of 45 students has developed an Aboriginal language and culture program.
Aboriginal education and culture is evident in every classroom for
every student.
A truly collaborative effort between
students, staff, parents, community Elders and Koorie engagement support
officers has created outstanding outcomes. They are united in their enthusiasm
and commitment to explore the stories of the past and work towards a positive
future.
In 2017, the school's Student
Attitude to School Survey achieved the 88th percentile for sense of inclusion.
This is in no small way due to the Koorie education program's success in
teaching principles of understanding, empathy and pride.
The school has also achieved positive
academic outcomes. There are notable improvements in literacy and numeracy
benchmarks since the Koorie education program began.
As a result of this, Bruthen Primary
is deeply proud of its Koorie culture and language program, which it puts at
the core of all student learning. They also share the
program's success by working with other local schools to help establish
their own culturally inclusive program.
We have to thank our Elders past and present, Aunty Rae who is our last remaining Language person who has guided us since the 1980's along with her husband Uncle Albert who left us 4 years ago, our Aboriginal community members and parents two of them Grattan and Lizzy Mullett our staff and the kids at our school in Bruthen.
We spoke firstly with our Elders, then our Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal parents and students about the program, our Principal Michelle Young who has all her passion to allow us to have this journey, our new teacher straight out of graduation Nicole Hood, and Koorie Engagement support workers (KESO) Bradley Kenny and myself Lynnette Solomon-Dent. A team of dedicated people
Well we Won the Award what a surprise and honor which will be valued and used to carry our language & culture which has been a 60,000 yr journey and is still being continued
To my Uncle Albert who all those years ago when I was in my late 20's tapped me on the shoulders and said 'we have a job for you daught' and I just said 'ok Unc' not knowing it would be reviving and reclaiming our Aboriginal languages and assisting others to speak our local languages across Victoria, which most say are all dead.
Kanitba to all Lynne
see the videos link belowhttps://www.education.vic.gov.au/about/awards/Pages/veeawinners.aspx#link80
