Exploring Noongar Boodja & Biodiversity: A Biosphere Primary School Camp Experience
Last week of Term One saw eager school students from Gairdner and Jerdacuttup Primary’s across the UNESCO Fitzgerald Biosphere, embarking on a shared journey of discovery and learning about Noongar culture and the remarkable biodiversity that thrives around us.
Our day begins with loading Gairdner students on route to Jerdacuttup Primary. On our way, Chris Biddulph, local farmer and community member with the Ravensthorpe Herbarium and Cocanarup Conservation Alliance, invited us to stop briefly at his front gate as he had something they might want to take a peek at! Earlier that morning, he had noticed an Owlet nightjar flush from his letter box and perch close by whilst his regular Letter-boxed resident pygmy possum was also at reach, he snagged an opportunity to show and tell the group about the special critters within this region.
We continued through to Cocanarup Timber Reserve, walking amongst tall, slow growing Salmon gums and learned the importance of preserving habitats like these for the survival of species like Carnaby's cockatoos. We enjoyed some lunch and were then led to a monitored mallee fowl mound, structures built by these ground-dwelling birds for nesting and incubating their eggs.
Chris then invited us to the Ravensthorpe Regional Herbarium, the location that stores a collection of over 1500 species of local flora and an opportunity to admire the work of a multitude of volunteers that year on year, present the Ravensthorpe Wildflower Show. This inventory being one of the most important collections within the state.
Rolling up to Jerdacuttup Primary, energy levels didn’t waiver for the Easter egg hunt and delicious P&C prepared meals – Thank you to the Jerdacuttup families that donated these!
The following day, our learning journey continued as we met up with Uncle Euy Eades as he guides us through significant Noongar historical sites for our day. We begin at Kukenarup Memorial located a short distance west of Ravensthorpe, we listen to important conversations around the heritage of Noongar people, the significance of the area and reconciliation within the region. Students are quick to dig for bush tucker Uncle Euy has pointed out before we journey west to Jerramungup Noongar memorial site, a piece of history that Noongar and Whadjula alike can respect and appreciate, offering students a firsthand glimpse into the deep-rooted history and spiritual significance of these locations.
Red Moort Field Studies centre becomes the base for our evening, a fantastic venue with rooms, beds, cooking facilities and hot showers! Reserve Manager Heather Barnes joins us after her busy day and becomes Head Chef at the BBQ to serve us all our sausage sandwich dinner.
We rise early to pack up and head over to Nowanup, reunited with our favourite Uncle Euy we learn more about cultural eco – restoration and ask more questions as we sit in our yarning circles. We share thoughts and reflections within the Mia-Mia’s built onsite and listen to the life flowing through York gums up on-top the breakaway country.
We still didn’t come up with a crafty name for this camp but I suppose that doesn’t matter. These schools undertook a ‘Journey of Learning Noongar heritage and conservation’ within their UNESCO listed Fitzgerald Biosphere and it is hoped this experience ignited curiosity, fostered cultural understanding, and instilled a sense of environmental stewardship with walks and yarns through the bush and chance encounters with iconic species.
What tickled me most, is the community that got around giving these students a glimpse into the extraordinary world beyond the gates of their farms/blocks/homes. We would like to extend a big Thank you to Chris Biddulph, Gairdner and Jerdacuttup Primary Staff and P&C members, Heather Barnes from Bush Heritage Australia, Uncle Eugene Eades from Nowanup Enterprises and Ravensthorpe District High for the community bus.
This event was thank-you to generous support from Lotterywest
