By Danielle Davey
Image courtesy of Nairm Marr Djambana
Did you know a single Kakadu plum has the highest known concentration of vitamin C of any food on the planet, up to 100 times more than an orange? Or that Aussie rules footy originated from an Indigenous game called Marn Grook, played with a possum-skin ball? Cultural education programs facilitated by Nairm Marr Djambana (Gathering By the Bay), a local Aboriginal community-controlled organisation in Frankston, are tailored to bring First Nations culture to life in a way that’s accessible and fascinating to any audience.
This month marks a major NAIDOC Week milestone: 50 Years of Deadly. For anyone hoping to learn more about the culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, now is the perfect time. Schools, community groups and organisations across the Mornington Peninsula and wider Melbourne are already expanding their awareness of the diverse traditions, histories, and contributions of First Nations people.
Incursions, excursions, customised programs and part-day and full-day workshops are led by captivating educator and mentor Sean Moyle. A Pitjantjatjara man born in Rosebud and raised in the bushland of Gariwerd (the Grampians), he also has family ties to mob in Uluru and the Top End. His lived experience brings deep knowledge and skills nurtured by respected Elders which he is proud to share.
Meeting the needs of diverse groups of all ages, his teachings include native educational bush walks, traditional fire-making, bush tucker yarns, traditional tool presentation and demonstration, and bush food cooking, including damper-making.
Sean’s weeks are often filled with back-to-back school bookings. For early childhood groups, Bush Kinder is a popular program, introducing children to Indigenous animal dances and games. Primary school students are always fascinated to learn the origins of Aussie rules and to pass around the possum-skin ball to touch. Secondary students gain further hands-on experience, using tools and cooking with native ingredients.
However, these programs aren’t just for kids. Anyone looking to deepen their understanding of Indigenous culture is able to choose from a variety of engaging sessions. Adults can enjoy native garden consultations or join group and private bushwalks, which teach participants how to identify and collect native ingredients to be used to create delicious Indigenous dishes. There have even been instances of overseas couples touring Australia reaching out to Nairm Marr Djambana to book one-on-one guided bushwalks.
Alongside this service, the organisation’s Frankston-based centre hosts community programs tailored specifically for First Nations people. There are onsite sessions for mums and bubs, as well as individual groups for youths, women and men.
Also operating from the headquarters is Djambana Catering, an Aboriginal-led social enterprise that offers a memorable culinary experience, introducing customers to traditional foods and flavours cultivated by First Peoples.
Nairm Marr Djambana hosts public events throughout the year. For NAIDOC Week, these include a dinner dance, and a family day featuring a smoking ceremony, Indigenous dance performances, a reptile encounter, a kids’ disco, hands-on art and craft sessions, and a community barbecue lunch showcasing native ingredients.
For further information, visit djambana.org.au
