Community yarning sessions

By Wendy Clark

The Anglesea Community House Yarning Sessions came about through the Surf Coast Shire’s Casuarina Community Leadership Course and the Anglesea Community House’s desire to implement a community program that would showcase our local Indigenous history.

One of the most impactful components of the Shire’s community leadership course was its cultural awareness component, which led us to find ways to bring that learning and experience to our community. Our goal was to create yarning sessions on Wadawurrung Country that are accessible to all in our community, across all ages and via different formats. All our yarning sessions aim to create a safe place to experience, listen and discuss our Indigenous history and culture. So, what is yarning? Simply, it’s about building respectful relationships. The use of a yarning circle (or dialogue circle) is an important process within Aboriginal culture and Torres Strait Islander culture. Our first yarning session in October 2021 was a Welcome to Country Ceremony at the first Anglesea Twilight Farmers Market. Nikki McKenzie, a proud Aboriginal woman with Wadawurrung Country heritage and Norm Stanley, a proud Aboriginal man with heritage connected to the Kurnai and Wotjabaluk people of Victoria, conducted the ceremony. It was the first Welcome to Country Norm had performed in person for a group of people in almost two years because of COVID –it was truly powerful and full of emotion. Norm not only shared with us this beautiful ceremony, but explained what he was doing and why. Norm also invited our community to participate in this ancient Aboriginal custom, giving us a chance to cleanse and ward off bad spirits and open pathways for a brighter future. Anglesea resident and mother of three young children, Michelle Roney said: ‘The Welcome to Country in our community was so powerful. I am grateful that my family had this experience with connecting to Country’. We have also successfully held two amazing Walk on Country sessions starting at Point Roadknight hosted by Corrina Eccles. Corrina is a proud Wadawurrung woman who lives on the Surf Coast and has a lifelong connection to Wadawurrung Country. At each Walk on Country, Corrina has conducted a smoking ceremony on the beach. She walked and talked to the group about the Wadawurrung history in Anglesea giving us an insight into native plants, food and ochre as well as talking to us about the history of some of the extraordinary midden sites. A Walk on Country with Corrina makes you stop and be present, look around,

Norm Stanley conducted a smoking ceremony and played the didgeridoo as part of a Music and Storytelling Yarning Session at one of our Farmers Markets in March. think and appreciate our country – it certainly connects you to Country. Michelle Roney said the Walk On Country was so special. ‘I felt honoured to hear a Wadawurrung lady share her knowledge. The stories she shared were enthralling, I just wanted to hear more.’ We will be offering more walks on Country – the first is scheduled for Tuesday 19 April – bookings through the House. Over the last few months, we finished our final few yarning sessions with a Music and Storytelling Yarning Session facilitated by Norm Stanley at the second last Anglesea Twilight Farmers Market in March. Norm played the didgeridoo and shared insights about Aboriginal artefacts and other special stories with our community. We also have our Discomforting Truth Yarning Session to be held at the Anglesea Community House in early April. We aim to bring a group together to participate in a discussion that will be open, honest and possibly confronting, but also something we will all take valuable lessons from. Norm Stanley will join our group. We look forward to continuing our journey to learn more about traditional owners, their history and First Nations cultural perspectives. Please contact Marcelle at the Anglesea Community House on 5263 2116 if you have any questions or please visit anglesea.org.au for more information on the future yarning sessions and other community activities.