11 Dec 2013
On Tuesday evening a good gathering of students, parents and other adults came to share with Year 6 students the work they have undertaken in the Indigenous Sky Stories Project.
This was where the Bathurst Campus of Charles Sturt University offered a number of schools the opportunity to work together on a project relating to astronomy and the stories of indigenous local people that related to the skies above. To participate in this project each school was given an 8" telescope, computer, ancillary equipment and internet time to communicate with schools in North America and to share indigenous stories.
The evening started with a Welcome to Country given by Paul West followed by three Aboriginal dances and then a BBQ. Two telescopes were set up outside the hall (one lent to us from the High School) so that interested people could look at the sun, the moon and Venus all of which were interesting to see in the early night sky.
A short video followed in the hall depicting what the students had learnt in regard to some of the stories they were looking to collect.
Nick Rudell from the university was very impressed with the evening and the outcomes our senior classes have achieved. He is so impressed that he suggested Wellington Public School will feature highly in his thesis as he analyses and documents the overall worth of the project and the relevant data he has collected. A ‘huge thanks' to Mrs Morley, and to all the teachers supportive of the project and to those in attendance last night. The project was also a success because of the input from our Aboriginal Education Officers Shirley and Trent. Both have been involved with this project and given freely of their time. Shirley introduced the school to Ruth West who has been the primary source for our indigenous storied and we appreciate all the time Ruth has given to our students. This has been a fabulous effort on Ruth's part and we are very appreciative.
Thank you to everyone who came along last night.