Fine, clear, and slightly warm weather was the perfect backdrop for the Year 7 Cultural Tour held at Lake Arragan, Red Cliff, and Brooms Head on 11–12 and 20 March. One hundred and sixteen students attended along with 20 staff over the three days which the Yaegl Elders hosted.

Aunty Lenore addressed the students, giving us a lovely Welcome to Country and outlining the significance of Country to the Yaegl people and how this site had been such a special place for her ancestors. She also paid respects to many Elders who had worked with our students in the past, notably Uncle Ron, who had always so willingly and freely shared his cultural knowledge and experience with hundreds of Maclean High School students over the last twenty years.

The first sites at Lake Arragan and Red Cliff Headland gave the students a unique insight into Yaegl Culture when the touring group was split into male and female groups. Uncle Dale Mercy and Uncle Shane McLeay took the boys and male teachers to the Red Cliff headland, showing the students evidence of past cultural practices and connection to the landscape.

The boys were privileged to be shown a tool-making site where rocks found extensively on the headland came from the Axe Factory at Brooms Head. These rocks were used in the shaping of spears. Once the boys could see what was at their feet, they were excited to see such implements in situ. Uncle Dale and Uncle Shane reminded the boys that this place should never be disturbed and that they were fortunate that this site was still available for them to see.

Aunty Glenda took the girls to the foreshore of Lake Arragan where she discussed the importance of water and such sites for women and how nature provided the perfect visual calendar. Right on cue, the very butterfly she described floated past while the mullet was hopping about in the water. All this occurred under the watchful eye of a young kookaburra who joined us each day, taking in the conversations and Aunty Glenda’s incredible cultural knowledge.

Students had recess amongst the trees at Lake Arragan before getting back on the bus to go to the eastern end of Brooms Head Beach and lagoon, which marks the location of the ancient headland that formed the perfect infrastructure that the Yaegl people used as a fish trap. Uncle Shane expertly found some periwinkles for the students to see and touch as he explained how such foods were a staple for people according to the seasons and the importance of such foods, along with the fish traps.

Once we were on top of the headland, the group was split, forming four workshops that ran for around twenty minutes. Students could hear in more detail from the Elders’ information regarding the headland, the stone axe factory, and the movement of dolphins and mullet along the coast, as well as plants and animals.

Mrs Cameron and Ms Stanford ran workshops on drawing the Brooms Head Back beach, as a perfect example of sketching a landscape consisting of the land, the sea, and the horizon. Finally, all students were put through their paces using a large model compass, without the magnet, to decide where the four cardinal points aligned using clues from what they could see around them. Some results were a little disorientated; however, once the proper compass with the magnet was produced, they soon worked out which way was north, and it all fell into place.

After all that activity on the headland, the students were transported to the dolphin shed for a real treat: icy cold cordial and Aunty Glenda’s damper with golden syrup, honey, or jam. Everyone tucked in and thoroughly enjoyed the experience of eating fresh damper at the beach. Not long after that, all the students boarded the bus and returned to Maclean High School for afternoon lessons.

Such events cannot happen without the generosity of our Elders, who have, for many years, willingly given up their time to spend with our students and staff to give them a personal and authentic experience, which is learning about Country. Thank you to Aunty Glenda, Aunty Lenore, Uncle Dale and Uncle Shane for leading the tours and making the experience so memorable for our students and staff. A big thank you to the staff who attended the tours, as well as the staff who ran the workshops on the headland. Seeing teaching and learning happening in such a unique landscape was wonderful. Thank you to Year 7, who exhibited exemplary behaviour and interest throughout the tours; well done.

Finally, thank you to our “A Team”: Uncle Sam, Aunty Anj, Aunty Krystal and Aunty Deb for their organisation and support for this wonderful educational initiative, learning on Country, which lies at the heart of our Cultural Tours.

Liza Hamilton
Cultural Tour Organiser

 

Story Submitted by Liza Hamilton from Maclean High School. Published in 2024.