Walk On Country – Oatley Park

On our first day back at school, we learnt about the oldest surviving culture in the world. Aboriginal educator, Dean Kelly, guided us through Oatley Park explaining how Aboriginal peoples lived on the land, known to them as ‘mother’.

We saw scar trees in a row that indicated a song line, learnt about the medicinal uses of sarsaparilla bush for cleaning blood, geebung for eye infections, bracken fern for stings and Sydney red gum for toothache. We made it to a rock shelf where we sat in silence listening to the sounds of the bush. Here are the highlights according to our Aboriginal students and their friends:

Maya … I learnt that the sarsaparilla leaf can be boiled 3 times and still be as potent. It is used to heal and bring good health.

Violet …   I liked how you could tell what type of tool was used to cut the tree by the way it heals – that’s how we know the canoes were carved with stone axes rather than steel.

True … I enjoyed learning about and experiencing how important it is to return to the nature and life around us and how everything is connected.

Amelia … I found it interesting that the trees are still living even though the middle is cut out.

Olivia … l enjoyed learning how nature was used by Aboriginals and how they produced medicine and resources.

Kaileigh … lt was interesting to learn that when taking food or a resource from the land you have to first ask for permission and then thank the land/plant to show respect and gratitude. Some of us tried the warhead berry and it tasted like a lemon grape.

Charlotte … lI learnt that all these different plants provide different remedies and offer people further connection to the land.

Mrs Horder … lI found it interesting to learn about the link between the flowering wattle bush and the migration of the whales.

Even though we ended up getting wet, it was a great experience!

Karen Horder
ATSI Education Support Teacher