Our 5th annual Nowanup Camp for Bush Kindy and Bush School families took place over the weekend 21-23rd October.  A big thank you to Uncle Eugene Eades, Aunty Eliza Woods and her daughter Gillian Woods for their heartfelt cultural sharing and active contribution to the camp, and also to all the parents and staff who contributed to make it such a special occasion, yet again, for the Koolangka (Children). 

On Friday evening the rains eased off for us after a beautiful meal together, and we participated in a Welcome to Country, Smoking Ceremony and the first instalment of the ‘Carers of Everything’ story-cycle.  Thank you to Uncle Noel Nannup for his permission to share these stories.

On Saturday morning after breakfast we listened to the next part of our Carers story, then Uncle Eugene led woodcraft activities for one group while others went with Aunty Eliza and Gillian to collect Youk (bush potatoes).  After lunch and some downtime, Uncle Eugene led a walk on Country for one group, while others went with Aunty Eliza and Gillian to the Waalitj (Wedge-tailed Eagle) Healing Hut at the top of the breakaway to learn some traditional dance movements.  After our annual sunset on the clifftop, followed by dinner, we had the final instalment of our Carers story, The Coming of the Colours.

On Sunday morning the campers were awakened by the announcement that big rain was coming in 15-20 minutes.  Everyone hurriedly packed down and were ready for breakfast by 7 o’clock.  After a final yarning circle around the fire and big tidy-up of the site, we departed Nowanup, some returning home to Denmark while others followed Aunty Eliza and Gillian 50kms up the road to visit Nightwell (see below).

It is so special to witness, and be part of, the children all being together on Boodja (Country) as one big Moort (family).  With a few older siblings and lots of younger ones, together with parents, grandparents and Elders, their is a special feeling of one big continuous family in which everything flows in an organic and natural way.  The Elders commented on how much it reminds them of their own childhoods growing up on the Reserve.  The value to children and parents of experiencing being one big Mob together on Country is impossible to quantify, but is perhaps best hinted at in the comment by one mum, “Why can’t we live like this all the time?”