Connection to Country
Acknowledgement of Country
We respectfully acknowledge the Traditional Owners of this land on which we operate, the Whadjuk people of the Noongar nation and recognise their continuing connection to land, waters and sky.
It is a privilege for the Melville Senior High School community to be on standing on Whadjuk Noongar Boodjar.
Our Connection to Country
Willagee Boodjar continues to be spiritually important to the Whadjuk Noongar people.
Willagee Boodjar is traditionally important as the Ochre is particularly red and is also a large breeding ground for the Weitj, emu.
The traditional people not only ate the Weitj and their eggs when carefully blown, but the shell was carved and their skins and feathers used for clothing and decorations.
Utensils were also made from emu bones. Willagee Boodjar continues to be spiritually important to the Whadjuk Noongar people.
We also acknowledge the contributions of Aboriginal Australians to the education of all children and people in this country we all live in and share together – Australia.
Welcome to Country and Acknowledgement of Country Protocols, Department of Education (2016)
https://www.derbalnara.org.au/nyungar-boodjar viewed 16 August 2019
Aunty Roma Loo (Dec.), Aunty Oriel Green and Aunty Doris Hill, in consultation with the Telethon Kids Institute (2023).
Artwork Storylines
Kevin Bynder, Whadjuk-Yuet Nyungar and Widi-Badimia Yamatji artist from the Kimberely region in Western Australia designed the artwork to show connections to our school and community.
The Southern Cross in the sky, represents guidance. Aboriginal people used the Southern Cross the guide them at night as a compass when travelling.
The circle in the middle represents community and connection to our school. The arch symbol and straight line around the circle represents the students.
The wavy triangles represents the winds of change, the students who have come and gone from Melville over the years.
Artwork along the bottom corners represents the hills around Melville and the Darling Range which is the body and final resting place of the Wagyl Rainbow Serpent.
