The words, phrases and activities in this website and book would not be possible without the support of Dharawal and Yuin knowledge holders whose homelands are where the meetings, the yarns and the cups of tea took place to record the Dharawal language. I am continually learning and adding to the word list. I am grateful for your care and support in separating the Dharawal and Dhurga language so that this can be shared with many, especially the next generation. I would like to acknowledge Aunty Barb Simms, Aunty Grace Crossley, Aunty Julie Freeman, Uncle Les Bursill who gave me the strength and support to start the recording of Dharawal language. I would also like to acknowledge Aunty Carol Speechley, Aunty Lorrain Brown, Aunty Narelle Thomas, and Uncle Rueben Brown, who nurtured my language lists and helped me to further understand the histories and complexity of the speakers and differences between Wodi Wodi, Eloura and Dharawal languages. I thank the entire Bursill family for sharing their husband, their father, grandfather with me so we could work together separating and collaborating Dharawal language. I would like to acknowledge the early work of the Gudjaga foundation, Jutta Besold, Graham Avery, and thank AIASTIS and the State Library for access to hours and hours of Dharawal language lists, voice recordings of Aboriginal Elders, the first Dharawal language compiled by Diana Eades, RM Mathews, W. Dawes and other linguists and anthropologists that recorded our language. I thank those who shared language and stories that draped me within our culture and transformed me back in time. I would also like to thank the many Aboriginal people and families for sharing their recorded words. I have spoken with people and families from La Perouse, Campbelltown, Illawarra, Shoalhaven, Wreck Bay and Jerrinjah whose ongoing support and willingness to share their Dharawal words and knowledges that have helped me grow my word lists, phrases, knowledge, and connection as an Aboriginal woman to our Country.

I would like to acknowledge John Bursill from Dharawal Publishing, and Mary Jacobs, without whose support and expertise this book would never have become a reality. Merindah Funnell, I thank you for your artistic flair and patience in bringing to life these words through your amazing images. To R.M.I.T, I give thanks for making me a Vice-Chancellor’s Indigenous Research Fellow.

Finally I wish to acknowledge Country who continues to teach and nurture me. To our future leaders, our Elders, our young people and those who come after, you will have the responsibility of our knowledges. I remain assured that you will continue to practice and speak our languages and to sing our songs. Country is listening and waiting for you.

 I grew up on the reserve at La Perouse where both my grandparents and mother had been denied free access to the Country of their birth and were not allowed to speak language. I grew up knowing a little language, just a smattering of words but I hold them dear as they are part of who I am, especially my memories of fishing, eating bimblas, bithingais and mutton - fish. We lived off what the coastal area of Botany Bay could provide.

So it is with great admiration I see Jodi doing her research, and talking to Elders to restore words that she can say have a basis amongst the Dharawal speakers.

I see this as the start of an exciting journey that is not only providing her with a huge variety of words but also the grammatical structures that allows us to have full phrases and sentences. I encourage Jodi to continue her consultation with all Dharawal speakers of the older generations to enhance her knowledge and give her the confidence to write even more comprehensively.

I just wish that there had been booklet like this that could have drawn me in with its beautiful illustrations, such as these drawn by Merindah, and to have given me the ability to write and speak the language of the my Land.

Thank you to Barnardos and ANSTO who support with vital funding to ensure that such a book can be published. ANSTO and Barnardos are providing opportunities so that more Aboriginal children will not only identify proudly with their cultural heritage but speak the language.

It is the Land that gives birth to Language.

PUBLISHER

It gives me great pleasure to support the publishing of this useful and ground-breaking new book compiled by Jodi Edwards, my Yuin Sister. Jodi has shown dedication to the Dharawal Country she lives on and has cultural connection to. Jodi’s teaching of its language is rock solid, pursued with a dedicated passion that seeks the truth without ego.

Jodi and my father, Uncle Les Bursill were collaborators in pioneering the resurrection of this near lost language decades ago, and now we see this work developing into an aid that will be used to teach the children of the Illawarra and Sutherland Shire in our schools their cultural knowledge.

As the President of Sutherland Local Aboriginal Educational Consultative Group (AECG), I understand the great need this language workbook will fill, as the demand from our schools for such a resource is clear and well supported by Aboriginal People and their Educators.

Being aimed at the primary school children, we needed the flair of a great artist to bring the words to life, maintaining the children’s attention to ensure they receive and remember these ancient words and phrases to bring them back into their lives. There is none better to do this than Merindah Funnell, a proud young Tubba-Gah woman from the Wiradjuri Nation, and we are very grateful to have her onboard again for this culturally affirming project.

My father, Les Bursill, worked very closely with Aunty Barb Simms, whom he greatly respected for her knowledge and community works. He saw her as a driving force behind ensuring Dharawal culture is taught and promoted to all. Thanks Aunty for this friendship.

I believe the Old People would be happy with the intent that drives this work to revive language. To them I give thanks, and to all those who have made such a book possible.

Feel empowered as you learn words and phrases through the fun activities.

ILLUSTRATOR

This book was an absolute joy to illustrate!

I came to know of Aunty Jodi Edwards’ work from many respected community members. Having the opportunity to finally work with her has been a privilege and humbling experience.

I was born, grew up and have practised my art on Dharawal Country, the connection to home is close to my heart. The animals, plants, and landscapes I have admired are the soul to the inspiration of my art. The evening songs of cheeky lorikeets, croaks of friendly frogs lazing in creeks with lizards has influenced so much of my art. It’s been a pleasure to illustrate them in this book.

I would like to acknowledge the inspiration I draw on from my mother, Ann Cribb, for sharing and keeping my connection to our culture strong. It is this that has allowed me to connect to community to learn and pass on knowledge.

I hope you can enjoy the activities, knowledge and drawings in this book as much as I have enjoyed illustrating them.