Year 7s get into the groove at Indigenous day

Learning Indigenous dance moves was a lot like shuffling according to a group of Year 7 students from Hervey Bay schools.

About 350 students attended the "Birrbam Burunga Gambay – Play Together Learn Together" festival

About 350 Year 7 students from five local schools learnt some new dance moves during an Indigenous cultural day at the University of Southern Queensland Fraser Coast on Thursday July 14.

The one-day festival was called "Birrbam Burunga Gambay – Play Together Learn Together".

It was organised and run by USQ Fraser Coast as an example of how schools can incorporate Indigenous cultural activities into their classes.
The Year 7 students took part in six activities throughout the day.

Aboriginal dancers Mark and Travis Page taught music and dance to the students.

Local author Tina Raveneau and USQ lecturer Sandy Johnson taught literacy using Tina’s new children’s book, Beautiful Colours.

Children created designs on wooden boomerangs in classes led by Indigenous artists Les Raveneau and Jody Burns.

Local Indigenous women Joyce Bonner and Aunty Irene McBride, along with USQ lecturer Penny Green, ran Butchulla language classes in which students were able to practise the new names for Fraser Island – K’gari and Gari.

Children also played Traditional Indigenous Games and attended lectures on careers.

Project manager Sharon Louth, from USQ Fraser Coast, said the day celebrated the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

She said people from these backgrounds made up almost 25 percent of the student population of Hervey Bay Schools.
‘The festival helps increase the students’ knowledge and understanding of Indigenous perspectives and promotes a more harmonious community,’ she said.

‘It paves the way in promoting reconciliation of all people within Australia.

‘It also helps raise the students’ motivation to complete their high school education and aspire to tertiary education.’

Contact Details:
Katrina Corcoran, USQ Media, +61 7 4194 3167