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483 Sayers Road, Hoppers Crossing, VIC 3029
(03) 8742 2349
info@hcmontessori.vic.edu.au 
Mon-Fri: 7:00 am – 6:30 pm
We had the honour of welcoming Hayley and Maeve to our centre for a special Aboriginal incursion in
celebration of NAIDOC Week on Monday, the 15th of July. This enriching session provided our
children with a deeper understanding and appreciation of Aboriginal culture, specifically focusing on
the Koorie (Aboriginal people from Victoria) and Gunditjmara (Hayley’s Mob) cultures.
Hayley and Maeve began the session by reading two beautiful stories: “Welcome to Country” by
Aunty Joy Murphy and “Country” by Aunty Fay Muir and Sue Lawson. These stories introduced the
children to the significance of acknowledging and respecting the traditional owners of the land.
Hayley then shared words from the Gunditjmara language, explaining where her family is from and
showing a map of her mob’s land. The children were captivated as they learned about the different
regions and the importance of land in Aboriginal culture.
One of the highlights of the session was when Ms. Hayley brought a small jar of white ochre. Ochre, a
clay found in various colours across Australia, is traditionally used by Aboriginal people to paint their
faces and bodies for ceremonies and special occasions. Hayley explained how ochre is sourced from
the land and mixed with water to create paint. This paint is used for art and body decoration. On this
day, we used it to celebrate our connection to the earth and culture.
The session emphasized the importance of cultural connection for Australian First Peoples children.
This connection is a crucial social determinant of health, contributing significantly to child
development and wellbeing. For Australian First Peoples children, culture is a source of strength and
resilience, forming the foundation of their values, beliefs, and understanding of their identity and place
in the world.
We also expanded our vocabulary by learning some basic words in the Gunditjmara language. Here
are a few that we practiced:
• Gunditjmara (pronounced Goon-ditch-a-mara) – The name of Hayley’s clan/tribe.
• Hello – Ngata (pronounced na-ta)
• Goodbye – Wurruk (pronounced woo-dook)
• Country – Meerreeng (pronounced meer-eng)
• Community – Ngarraketoong (pronounced nya-rra-ke-toong)
• Mother – Ngirang (pronounced near-ung)
• Father – Pipayi (pronounced pip-eye)
• Sister – Kakayi (pronounced kak-eye)
• Brother – Wartayi (pronounced wa-tye)
• Baby – Poopoop (pronounced poo-poop)
• Spirit – Mooroop (pronounced Mu-rroop)
The incursion was a wonderful experience that left a lasting impression on both the children and staff.
It provided a meaningful way to celebrate NAIDOC Week by fostering an understanding and
appreciation of Aboriginal culture. We are grateful to Hayley and Maeve for sharing their knowledge
and culture with us. The children not only learned new words and traditions but also developed a
deeper connection to the land and its original custodians.
We look forward to incorporating more cultural learning experiences into our curriculum to continue
building this important foundation of knowledge and respect.
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