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y r t n u o c r o f
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DISCLAIMER This fictionalised story is based upon the wisdom and knowledge from my elders and the inspiration and experience I’ve gained from being on country. Although this is a fictional story, I have used a place name from my country.
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O ST
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for country THIS STORY IS INSPIRED BY AND DEDICATED TO MY KALANG (MUM), IMELDA MELAMURRK WOOD, WHO REMINDS ME A LOT OF NANA RUBY IN THE STORY.
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THANK YOU TO THE STUDENT ARTISTS THAT SUBMITTED ILLUSTRATIONS TO HELP CREATE THIS BOOK.
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By the warm sea, in Northern Australia lies a place called Warkpa. A sacred place, to a special woman, called Nana Ruby, who was a senior elder of her tribe. She lived there with her family and her shadow, her Grandson, Claude. Warkpa is a beautiful place, filled with all sorts of plants and animals.
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Nana Ruby and her shadow, Claude, lived by a freshwater creek, that flows straight into the saltwater at Warkpa. As a child they would play in the sand dunes, until their hair was full of sand. They would climb the trees and talk to the birds in the treetops. They would go hunting with Bapa, Claude’s Father, and collect shellfish for dinner. Life felt like a playground.
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It was Nana Ruby’s special place, where she felt strong and happy. Where she felt most connected to her people and culture. Her Bapa used to tell her, “Our country is more than a place; It is who we are. It is where we are from. When our country is sick, we are sick. When our country cries, we cry too.”
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“Our country gives us all we need. It gives us food to eat, Water to drink, Stories to connect us, Families to love, Sacred places of ceremony, And strength to keep going. It is our beating heart. It is time we let it heal.”
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Seasons past and Nana Ruby grew older. Warkpa grew older too. The land became hotter and drier. Claude was worried about his Nana and their country, as he noticed things were beginning to change. The freshwater creek became drier. The birds and the animals were thirsty and moving further away from country, looking for fresh water. The fish were harder to find. The trees had been ravaged by extreme bushfires. The earth was desperate for rain.
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Nana Ruby was becoming sick, But she knew the land needed help. So, she brought all the families at Warkpa together to talk about ways they could help their country heal. They danced and sang songs to country. Giving thanks for everything it’s given them. They danced and sang songs for wisdom and for guidance to know what to do.
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Claude told his Nana, that the songs made him feel strong, And that he wanted to help heal the land. “I want to make things right Nana,” Claude said. “I want to help heal our country too.” Nana Ruby’s eyes welled with tears, so proud of her Grandson for the love he showed for his country.
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She picked up a trumpet shell and put it against his ear. “Listen closely, what is your land telling you?” Claude heard the ocean, so strong, it felt like the high tides rolling towards him. He heard a voice from the trumpet shell: “Be the wave of change for your people. Give Warkpa a voice, far beyond these shores.” “Tell the world about us; Tell them about the bushfires, the lack of rain, the empty creeks. Tell them of the changes.”
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Claude had an idea; to sing and dance his way into people’s hearts and minds. To make them aware that his land was sick. So that’s what he did! Claude danced his way to the cities and towns. Dancing for country Dancing for change Dancing for Nana Ruby Dancing for healing Dancing for better care and respect for our lands.
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Nana Ruby and her shadow Claude still dance for change. “We need to dance for change together, to let the whole world know our country needs healing. It needs everyone to care.” So wherever you are Wherever you live If you’re small If you’re big You’re never too old to sing and dance for country. It’s time to bring healing to our land.
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Thank you to the student artists who helped illustrate this book. Front Cover Cheyenne Nixon Dubbo Public School Page 7
Page 16
Cheyenne Nixon
Jaydan Stevenson
Dubbo Public School
St Pius X Primary School
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Page 19
Lachlan Guy
Bo Gordon
Dubbo Public School
St Laurences Catholic Primary School
Wadjigany elders and families, who
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Page 20
continue to share their knowledge and
Lucy Stewart
Grace Ellis
passion for country.
Dubbo South Public School
St Laurences Catholic Primary School
I would also, like to acknowledge all
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Page 23
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
Lacey Delia
Georgia Johnson-Francis
people, young and old, who continue to:
Dubbo South Public School
Wongarbon Public School
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Page 24
Ethan Cohen
Lucy Collits
St Pius X Primary School
Wongarbon Public School
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elders and Youth and Children - Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow. I would like to acknowledge my
care for country, dance for country and heal country!
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A COMMU NITY PROJE CT, PRODUCED B Y DU B B O SQU ARE AND CH ARTE R H ALL
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WE WOULD LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE WIRADJURI PEOPLE AS THE TRADITIONAL OWNERS AND CUSTODIANS OF THE LAND IN WHICH WE OPERATE. THIS STORY WAS WRITTEN BY WARRAWU, A MEMBER OF THE WADJIGANY PEOPLE, ILLUSTRATED BY STUDENTS WHO LIVE, LEARN AND GROW ON WIRADJURI LAND.
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