1 December
2006 - Children from Jervis Bay Public School
and Pre-School will celebrate the success of the
Junior Rangers program with a performance of their
own creative dance.
Parliamentary Secretary to the
Minister for the Environment and Heritage, Greg
Hunt, said the program helps young children to
learn more about their environment and how traditional
owners have cared for the country for thousands
of years.
"The program is important
because it provides a positive environment for
learning and encouragement with schooling,"
Mr Hunt said.
"I was pleased to launch
this program at Booderee in March this year and
am particularly thrilled that the program is having
a positive impact for the youngsters taking part."
The children will perform a
dance, Ghudjahgaha Mirriall (Children's Spirit),
which tells the story of Booderee country. It
has been developed with the help of Koori choreographer
Lenore Lovegrove and Wreck Bay singer/dancer Joe
Brown.
Member for Gilmore, Joanna Gash,
said she was delighted with the success of Junior
Rangers program.
"The children have been given the opportunity
to experience the park's unique natural environment
from both a Koori and a scientific perspective,"
Mrs Gash said.
"Indigenous children have
been able to share their culture and the park
with their non-Indigenous classmates. Pride in
country and culture goes a long way toward encouraging
children to become the next generation of rangers,
scientists, or park managers."
Booderee's Julie Freeman (Aunty
Julie), a Wreck Bay Community member, is the Junior
Rangers coordinator.
"We are all excited about
the dance, which reflects the animals, plants
and landscape of the park, and their importance
in the Koori stories of this area," Aunty
Julie said.
"It tops off a great year.
Navy kids and Koori kids are experiencing the
special things about this place, and Koori kids
are seeing their mums, dads, uncles and aunts
working together with park staff and researchers
to care for Booderee."
Jervis Bay School Principal,
Jane Carr, said 72 children from the Wreck Bay
Aboriginal Community, HMAS Creswell and the surrounding
Jervis Bay area had taken part in Junior Rangers.
"Junior Rangers has provided
very positive learning experiences for the children,"
Ms Carr said.
"They have learnt first-hand
about the Botanic Gardens, pest and weed control,
the visitor centre and campgrounds. Teachers have
used these experiences to develop the children's
literacy, numeracy and thinking skills against
a range of curriculum areas."
Booderee National Park is jointly
managed by the Australian Government's Director
of National Parks and the Wreck Bay Aboriginal
community.
The children will perform the
dance at the Jervis Bay Public School oval on
Friday 1 December at 6.00pm.
John Deller (Mr Hunt's office)
Shawn Burns (Mrs Gash's office)
Martin Fortescue (Booderee National Park)
Jan Carr (Jervis Bay Primary School)
