Jaara Jaara Seasons

There has been a resurgence of thought about Aboriginal seasonality in these parts. My friend Tanya Loos recently launched in Daylesford her book Six Seasons in the Foothill Forests, which includes a dust jacket that folds out into this very special calendar:

In surmising the six seasons of the Daylesford region Tanya's sources were many and varied, including references from Jaara elder Uncle Brien Nelson. Her book will be launched at Readings Carlton this Wednesday 6 November at 6.30pm. Congratulations Tanya!

Then today, some friends and I went to hear Ros Bandt's Jaara Jaara Seasons, a Bush Sound Performance that took place in the Acoustic Sanctuary in nearby Fryerstown. A few hundred people came to listen. 

I first met Ros a little while back at Jude Perry and Uncle Brien's Bunjil Park where we both took a traditional basket weaving workshop. Today Uncle Brien's son Rick Nelson sang Welcome to Country accompanied by Ron Murray on didgeridoo.

Their short but powerful welcome led us into a diverse environment with diverse weather, bordering on six seasons in one afternoon.

Through multiple instruments and from several amplification points, sound, song and spoken work emerged. People moved through Jaara country, the work physically formed in us. Local birds and falling rain intervened knowingly.

As did a myriad of wild flowers, these particular lilies refusing to be captured as they danced in the wind.

The sound in the bush was restorative and nurturing. It enabled reflection and understanding. It didn't shy away from or disappear colonisation,

but more so provided a place for maturity. After the performance one friend commented that she wanted to get out of doors more often and listen more intently. I agreed and replied how I'm looking forward to living outside for at least the next year.

Congratulations Ros and her fellow performers: Rick Nelson, Ron Murray, Sarah James, Mary Doumany, Le Tuan Hung and Wang Zheng Ting.

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WWOOFing on country (a postcard from Summerfield)

Jaara elder Uncle Brien Nelson and his partner Jude Perry welcomed Zeph and I into their home last week to WWOOF.

Early on the first day we walked from our home to the bus and travelled to Woodend.

We then took a Swan Hill bound train to Eaglehawk station and had some time to wait there before being picked up by Jude.

On reaching Summerfield we came across a stand of scar trees.

Jude told us Jaara people used the bark to make canoes and

coolamons (carrying vessels) without killing the trees.

We arrive at Jude and Uncle Brien's and find a garden full of Indigenous spinach.

It was hot working in the sun and by the afternoons we needed to cool off.

Uncle Brien worked with us during the day and on one afternoon came down to life guard.

Our days were spent working around chooks, horses and dogs. We built some fences and we took some down.

During the week we shared skills, knowledges, meals and plenty of jokes.

Thank you Jude and Uncle Brien for a wonderful week.

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Walking and weaving country

Here's a short documentation of my first day's walk through Jaara country to take a traditional Aboriginal weaving workshop and meet the founders of Bunjil Park Aboriginal Education and Cultural Centre, Jude Perry and Uncle Brien Nelson.



Here's the small basket I made at the workshop.

This is the hand-drawn map that I used on my walk.

And here's Jude and Uncle Brien extracting worm tea at Bunjil Park.

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