Year 6 students at Parkes East Public School were accompanied by local Wiradjuri Uncle, Mr Geoff Anderson for a Connect to Country Excursion.
The students began their excursion with a visit to the Henry Parkes Museum to learn about the Wiradjuri artefacts on display at the museum.
Whilst at the museum, students also enjoyed viewing the many other historical items on display, visiting the old fashioned school room and sitting in the Silver City Comet train carriage.
The next place that the students visited was Bushman's Hill.
Whilst at Bushman's Hill, Mr Anderson spoke to the children at the Wiradjuri Amphitheatre about the significance of the hill to not only his family history, but also the history of the Wiradjuri people.
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The students then walked through the Wiradjuri garden learning about how the coolamons were made on NAIDOC Day, which varieties of plants were edible "bush tucker" and looked at the artworks which were created by Sauce Towney and Glenn Sloane.
Mr Anderson also showed the children the scar trees that were relocated to Bushman's Hill and explained their importance to the Wiradjuri people.
Upon reaching the top of Bushman's Hill, Mr Anderson taught the students about songlines - how these were the ways that Aboriginal people travelled to their destinations.
Songlines were used as a way for people to "sing" the directions rather than using a map or GPS.
He pointed out the songline landmarks that we have in Parkes and surrounding areas.
Our last place to visit was the Memorial Hill Rotary Peace Park.
Mr Anderson walked around the dendroglyph poles and taught the students about what each pole means.
His personal favourite has the Wiradjuri word, "Gulbalanha" which means "Peace."
This was a very enjoyable and informative excursion for all involved.
