In September Ivory's Rock Foundation had the pleasure to host the 'Ipswich Murri Cultural Camp'. Approx 20 young people attended, accompanied by their parents and guardians. This initiative was community-created and led, as a connecting to country and culture project.
The energy, drive and commitment of the Elders, the community leaders and the young people and children was inspiring. Passing on the cultural practices of the oldest continual culture on the planet, to the next generation, holds those practices sacred.
Uncle Henry Jnr led the dances and fire-making, Aunties created amazing and healthy food, artists facilitated boomerang painting and message stick creation. And the gumtrees at Jacaranda responded to the children’s squeals of delight during the endless games of football and spotlight. Just a few boomerangs had to be retrieved from the roof by Uncle Bruce.
After the Corroboree, everyone (from six to 75 years) joined the 'yarning circle', and everyone gave their answers to the questions:
What did you enjoy most?
"Being a part of something, the football, fire making, the food, throwing a boomerang."
What did you learn?
"To make a message stick, to dance, to have fun."
How are you feeling?’
"‘Deadly’ (translation - awesome, great!)"
Hopefully, the first of many Murri Cultural Camps.
This lovely painting was a parting gift of appreciation, and now hangs in the Jacaranda campground dining room. Our volunteer helpers, Margaret Berman, Bruce Parmentier, Jeffrey and Shirley Johnson were touched to be invited to add their hand prints too.