Cultural Custodians on the Green

Uncle Wes, an Elder of the Darug, came today and performed the Darug smoking ceremony to begin to cleanse, welcome and heal the land and the community of Halinda Green. He burnt the freshly chosen fronds of a precious local plant to make smoke. The whole school walked through it, circling through the meeting place. Students, parents, staff and community members took part and enjoyed the experience. Good will was felt. It highlights links to this area. The land will continue to sustain people as it has done over the vast history of the Darug and will once again host plants known now as Cumberlain plain species. Plants which Uncle Wes told us have cultural histories that carry on. They are part of our story too now and we are part of theirs. We must be mindful of the importance of the nature around us and the cultures that live by it.