Best mates: Chad Ward, Jobe Unwin and Chanze Egan taking part in traditional Aboriginal face painting.
Mathoura Public School students took part in early NAIDOC Week celebrations on Friday, July 1 with the help of Aboriginal Elder, Uncle Rick Ronnan.
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The school walked to the bushlands near the Gulpa Creek Walking Trail, where Uncle Rick opened the celebrations with a Welcome to Country and smoking ceremony for students and staff.
Each class read a personalised Acknowledgement of Country which they had written during their library classes throughout the week.
After the official opening, students took part in a variety of activities including face painting, playing the didgeridoo and clap sticks while students danced to the music, creating artworks using natural resources, constructing humpies, cooking damper and observing wildlife.
Mathoura Public School has extended its thanks to Uncle Rick for his continued support of the school in educating its students about Aboriginal history and culture.
To be revealed: Damper in the making.
Building: Georgie Taylor and Matilda Eddy inside the humpy students constructed.
Yum: Khoa Unwin sampling the rosemary damper.
Culture: Uncle Rick Ronnan educates the students about the significance of a smoking ceremony.
Welcome: Uncle Rick Ronnan performs the smoking ceremony.
Music: Sophie Eddy and Bindi Taylor playing the clapsticks.
Didgeridoo lesson: Tristan Hadjialexiou with Uncle Rick Ronnan.