Acknowledgement of Country
Through our commitment to reconciliation, Manna Gum Community House acknowledges the Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the first inhabitants of the nation and the traditional custodians of the lands where we live, learn and work.
This community artwork hangs in the foyer at Manna Gum and was created in partnership with Wulgunggo Ngalu Learning Place in celebration of Cultural Diversity Week 2015
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The pelicans refer to the Gunaikurnai Creation Story. In Dreaming terms, the first Gunaikurnai came down from the mountains in Victoria's Northwest, carrying his canoe on his head. He was Borun, the Pelican.
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He crossed over the river at what is now Sale and walked on alone to Tarra Warackel (Port Albert) in the west. As he walked he heard a constant tapping sound but could not identify it. When he reached the deep water of the inlets Borun put down his canoe and, much to his surprise, there was a woman in it. She was Tuk, the musk duck.
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He was very happy to see her and she became his wife and mother of the Gunaikurnai people - they are the parents of the five Gunaikunai clans.
Children's Acknowledgement of Country
Here is the Land
Here is the Sky
Here are my friends, and here am I
We thank the Bunurong and Gunaikurnai People for the land
On which we learn and play
Hands up, hands down
We’re on (Indigneous) land.