Queenscliff Primary sing in Wadawurrung language

EIGHT lucky students from Queenscliff Primary School performed a series of songs in traditional Wadawurrung language as part of a collaboration with the Wadawurrung Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation to increase their knowledge of the language and culture.

The ‘Songtimes’ project launched to a packed-house at the New Hall in Point Lonsdale on Monday evening, with children singing five songs that share the names of plants, birds, colours, body parts and phrases.

The project was created by Queenscliff Primary School First Nations Studies teacher Kelly Caldwell, Kamilaroi woman Melitta Hogarth (Project Leads of the University of Melbourne’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Curricula Project), and the Wadawurrung Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation and endeavoured to connect the 158 students with First Nations culture and language.

“We’ve written these songs together with the Wadawurrung Traditional Owners to teach children the language of the land on which they live, and to respect the beauty of that language,” Caldwell said.

“It also helps start conversations around the true history of the settlement of Australia and history of the Wadawurrung people, and the importance of keeping language alive in the voices of both First Nations people and non-First Nations people.”

Caldwell explained how the students’ appreciation and usage of Wadawurrung language had now expanded beyond the classroom.

“Many of the children at QPS now refer to animals by their Wadawurrung name when they see them when they are out on Country,” Caldwell said.

Each recording on the ‘Songtimes’ CD begins with a cultural story that gives context to the lyrics, as told by Wadawurrung woman and Language Officer Stephanie Skinner.

In partnering with Caldwell, Skinner and Wadawurrung woman Corrina Eccles provided support by aiding with pronunciation and recording.

Traditional instruments such as clap sticks and possum drums were used in the backing tracks and cultural storytelling.

“Partnering with Kelly (Caldwell) on this project has been a great experience, and it’s lovely to see Wadawurrung language being used more and more in our community for everyone to learn even a small bit of our culture,” Skinner said.

The project, which forms part of a First Nations Studies subject embedded into the school’s core curriculum, began as a self-funded exercise but has also gained the support of the Borough of Queenscliffe.

Queenscliffe Mayor Ross Ebbels praised the efforts of Kelly and the QPS students for their dedication to learning important Aboriginal history in a fun and engaging way.

“These songs aren’t just a teaching tool, they’re a joyful source of family and community music,” Cr Ebbels said.

“I’m so pleased that a project as culturally significant as ‘Songtimes’ originated in Queenscliff.”

The ‘Songtimes’ recordings and stories are sold as part of a songbook illustrated by Wadawurrung artist Billy-Jay O’Toole and can be purchased via songtimes.au