"This is a story my father told me. It’s hugely important to pass it on to our children, and our children’s children" – Dja Dja Wurrung Elder, Uncle Rick Nelson.
A new permanent exhibition sharing the historic and contemporary stories and teachings of the local Jaara People (Traditional Owners) of the area known as Mount Alexander Shire opened at the historic Castlemaine Market Building on Friday 28 October.
The exhibition Boorp Boorp Boondyil (passing knowledge to our children) is a name gifted to the project by local Dja Dja Wurrung senior Elder, Uncle Rick Nelson. It is pronounced ‘Boorp’ as in ‘torpedo’ and ‘Boondyil’ as in ‘book’.
This permanent exhibit will provide residents and visitors with an opportunity to walk through an interactive space, where they will learn the history of the area, including the story of the Eagle, the Bat and the Crow, the Creation Story of the Dja Dja Wurrung in the Mount Alexander region, as told by the Nelson family. The exhibition also includes important cultural lessons about living on Country and bush foods, medicine, waterways and weaving.
It will also welcome visitors onto Jaara Country, and serve as a starting point to learning more about the rich history of this land’s traditional custodians.
Exhibiting artists include:
Aunty Marilyne Nichols – Werpila Larnuk (Eagle’s Nest)
Aunty Marilyne Nichols is a Multi-Clans; Dja Dja Wurrung, Yorta Yorta, Baraba Baraba, Wadi Wadi and Jupagulk master weaver.
Werpila Larnuk is constructed from natural materials found on Dja Dja Wurrung djankak (Country). These have been carefully woven into place with raffia fibre and twigs which have been collected from the Jaara landscape. The type of weaving stykle used to connect the materials together is a spiral technique coiled Coil Weaving. Together, the materials used allow the nest to take on a beautiful and intricate shape of its own.
Alvin Darcy Briggs – Writing with Fire
Alvin Darcy Briggs is a Taungarung and Yorta Yorta man, who lives and works on Jaara Country.
Alvin has used pyrographic – ‘writing with fire’ on reclaimed timber poles to celebrate the native animals and plants found on Country.
Alvin has incorporated Dja Dja Wurrung language, holding deep respect for Jaara culture while sharing his artistic practice and the knowledge conintued from his father and ancestors.
Georgie Rose – Werpil, Waa, and Yaran-milal-wit (Eagle, Bat and Crow)
Georgie Rose is an artist, storyteller and puppeteer who lives and works in Lalgambook Country (Mt. Franklin, Victoria).
Her creations of Werpil, Waa and Yaran-milal-wit, were made with cultural guidance from Uncle Rick Nelson and includes input from the Aboriginal and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students from ‘The Meeting Place’ (a Nalderun Program).
Paul Turbitt – Volcano
Paul Turbitt is a practicing artist working on Jaara Country at Strangways.
The body of the volcano is made from ferro-cement and oxides. The rocks that surround the base are gathered from the local volcanoes Lalgambook (Mount Franklin) and Mount Kooroocheang. Amongst these rocks are small stone fragments which are blades and scraper tools often found around the camp ‘napping floor’.
Boorp Boorp Boondyil was produced by Uncle Rick Nelson, Mount Alexander Shire Council and SharingStories Foundation, in partnership with Nalderun Education Aboriginal Corporation and St. Peters Primary School.
Boorp Boorp Boondyil is supported through funding received by the Victorian Government, and the Australian Government – Indigenous Languages and Arts, Gandel Foundation, Telematics Trust, Besen Family Foundation, Lord Mayor’s Charitable Foundation and Freemasons Foundation Victoria Limited.