Step inside the gates of Brookvale Public School and you’ll find a new bush garden, a yarning circle, smoking ceremonies, bliss balls, even the Great Southern Land vibrations of the didgeridoo.
This is all thanks to the school’s partnership with Aboriginal enterprise Bush to Bowl, featured in July’s Tawny Frogmouth, supporting students to connect deeply with country and culture and gain new insights into the knowledge and wisdom of First Nations’ Peoples. Bush to Bowl specialise in teaching young people about bush tucker, and first came together with Brookvale Public School at the beginning of the year when staff completed an ‘on country’ experience on Narrabeen Headland.
“We got this depth of understanding from being on country. It changed our thinking,” says Assistant Principal Katie Fraser. “We wanted a similar experience for our students. We wanted our students to grow native plants themselves and learn how Aboriginal people utilised them.”
An old vegetable garden and an overgrown section of playground were earmarked for renovation. The school applied for a grant to support their initiative and the students and staff worked with Gadigal man and Bush to Bowl co-founder, Adam Byrne to design the garden. All students had input into the garden’s design which incorporates a yarning circle where students can go to learn, have a yarn or find solutions to problems. Over six weeks, students worked alongside Bush to Bowl staff to regenerate the area, plant native trees and grasses and heal the country.
“We learnt so much,” says Brookvale student, Ryder Grierson, “When we had the smoking ceremony, you could feel the country healing. I feel so proud of my school and my culture.”
Ryder’s father and proud Wiradjuri man, Aaron Grierson is adamant that the school is on the right track. He says that his family feels part of the learning process and that Ryder feels connected to his learning like never before. “The school has sown the seed,” says Mr Grierson. “And the seed they planted is now flourishing.”
When the garden was completed, every student participated in an incursion led by Bush to Bowl staff. Students enjoyed the earthy sounds of the didgeridoo, learnt to cook ‘Bliss Balls’ using native ingredients with their buddies, discussed different types of bush tucker and planted out the new garden with 650 new native plants.
School Principal, Mr Luke Richmond, couldn’t be prouder of his students and community. “The community has really supported this initiative for all our students. We are learning together, working together and healing together,” says Mr Richmond. “It’s been especially pertinent for our First Nations students who have been given an opportunity to connect with their community, elders and country.”
Mr Richmond goes on to explain, “Some of our students have been quite disconnected from their mob and culture. To see how proud they are to be learning along with the rest of the school and to see their growing pride in their culture shows we are beginning to get this right.”
According to Mr Richmond the partnership with Bush to Bowl is just the beginning. “We have a long way to go to achieve reconciliation, but we are taking practical steps to learn together at Brooky. Partnerships like this where we make small, tangible differences are a great start.”
Connections to Country
Year 5 student at Brookvale Public School, Mila Weir, wrote this poem about the learning with Bush to Bowl.
Like a trumpet – but not.
Low spits and gurgles shoot out across the air.
It expresses names, and songs, all in one, deep haze.
Scraps of excess wood form the emu callers.
A didgeridoo.
A school of its own.
Gathered across the grass, we speak the Aboriginal language.
Unfamiliar words, we can address each other with.
Finally taught us the proper names.
We learnt the native phrases.
Buddies beside us
We roll the clumps of dates, bananas and sultanas to spheres.
A sprinkling of coconut and the strawberry gum tree
Complete the bliss balls.
We’re intrigued for more recipes.
Before we are done
We grab our potted plants and immerse them underground.
One day, they’ll thrive, and shoot further than the soil.
But not without water, and daylight and care.
But the best part is, our buddies will grow with it.
– Mila Weir