Cultural Connections

(Above from left) 1,2. Jye Charles giving the Welcome to Country at the 2021 Valedictory Ceremony wearing the possum skin stole. 3. Making the stole.

LISA COUZENS

‘Ngatanwarr’, in my language group (Gunditjimara, Keeray Woorroong) means ‘greetings’.

My name is Lisa Couzens, and I commenced at The Geelong College this year as The Indigenous Cultural Advisor.

My role has been to guide the College with the next steps in connecting with community, and committing to a better understanding of First Nations culture. Another of my key roles is making The Geelong College a safe and welcoming environment for our growing Indigenous community. Even though I have only been here a short time, I feel that the small steps we have taken are a strong start. At Senior School, we have introduced flags to different areas around the campus where people gather; posters for significant dates on our calendar and community events. Our students have been involved in our Reconciliation Assembly and in displaying Indigenous artwork. These things might not seem significant but to any First Nations people visiting it makes a world of difference!

I’ve had the pleasure of being welcomed into the Year 10 classes and yarning with the students about Indigenous perspectives and my own life experiences. These yarns are invaluable to myself, as well as teachers and the students.

We have also been able to take some of our Middle School students out on Country to experience and gain a better understanding, and to strengthen their connections to each other, the culture and the beautiful Wadawurrung land. I have spent some time with Senior School students on a special project to make a possum skin stole for them to wear at assemblies, and graduation. The stole is a contemporary version of a possum skin cloak. Wearing a cloak or stole during a ceremony signifies that the person is special, they might be an elder, speaker, healer or a young person reaching a goal. The making of the stole is a cultural practice connecting to past, present and future generations. It provides a way of sharing stories, healing and sustaining our culture within the broader community. Jye Charles wore it for the first time when he gave the Acknowledgement of Country at this year’s Valedictory service. I am grateful for the opportunity this position brings and I’m looking forward to next year. The small steps we have taken are a strong foundation for what is to come, and this would not be possible without the warmth and the generosity I have been shown by the staff here.