The following texts have been extracted from a presentation by students Gemma Miles, Kasey Wilson and Charli Mackintosh at Gloucester High School’s special Naidoc Week Assembly on Friday June 26.
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“Worimi territory extends from Barrington Tops and Forster in the north to Karuah and Port Stephens in the south... Clans occupied the valleys year round, visiting the plateaus in spring and summer to gather food. The Woromi went to the coast in winter travelling back inland in the spring.
The name ‘Bucketts’ (Booken Booken) is derived from the Kattang language spoken by the original inhabitants of this land and it is believed to mean ‘father of stones looking down onto sacred land.’
Some familiar places in the area carry Aboriginal place names: Bretti (hilly stony country), Nowendoc (rough country), Berrico (rocky pool), Waukivory (big battle) and Kerripit (white kangaroo rat). Other well known places in the area include Nabiac (wild fig tree), Taree (after tareebin, the fruit of the fig tree which grew there) and Bulahdelah.
Gloucester Public School is a site where corroborees took place. The sites of Gloucester Hospital and Gloucester Bowling Club were meeting places."
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The assembly finished with a moving slide presentation by year 8 students Stephen Hester, Jacob Moulds and Bodhi Hickman based on the theme for this year’s Naidoc Week ‘We all stand on sacred ground: learn, respect, celebrate.’