Wardli Welcome Celebration Honours New Gathering Space
Mercy Light: Connecting
A young Kokatha woman stands proudly before a gathering of parents, current students, staff and special guests on a sunny October morning in SAC’s Mitchell Courtyard. Renowned Ngarrindjeri and Kaurna elder, Uncle Major ‘Moogy’ Sumners AM, is among the special guests. The community has come together for the Wardli Welcome Ceremony, to officially open the newly-installed seating spaces.
“The word ‘wardli’ in Kaurna language means ‘home’…” she begins.
“My name is Tatum, and I am in Year 12. I have been involved with this project for the last two years and it is so exciting for me to see it become a reality before I graduate.”
Behind Tatum stand three brightly-painted, dome structures – the wardlis – SAC’s earthy meeting areas located on the southern side of the Mitchell Courtyard. These three ‘homes’ each tell a story through visual arts reflecting the past, present and future journeys of the students who gather, learn, talk and laugh within them.
Last year, in consultation and collaboration with Ngarrindjeri artist, Cedric Varcoe, and architect, Peter Moeck, students produced the artworks that were transformed into the eye-catching backdrops of the wardlis.
“The artwork in each of the wardlis, created with input from students, represent our stories and our hopes,” Tatum explains.
“We are going to do a series of dances for you that tell these stories. The first dance is a cleansing dance, which will then be followed by two totem dances.”
Tatum then takes her place in line among the younger peers who look up to her – fellow First Nations students of many ages, all excited to dance in celebration of their rich and ancient cultures, which are nurtured at the College through in-class and external opportunities, supported by a dedicated staff team. First Nations Learning Support Officers, Maja Tongerie and India Bament-Sitkowski, together with First Nations Focus Teacher, Ms Viviana Graney, curate meaningful and engaging experiences that foster community and enhance cultural pride.
Between dances, Tatum steps forward to explain the significance and connection between the performance and the wardlis’ artworks.
“This Wardli dance tell the story that home is where the heart is. A wardli is a place to rest and feel comfortable and we hope that this space in our school feels like a safe place for our students and our community. In this dance, you will see movements that reflect the circle of life, telling the story that even though we live separately, we come together as one. It is a dance about home, coming together, and reconciliation,” Tatum says.
The dances were taught to the students by Uncle Moogy and his daughter, Charlotte, who led a series of rehearsals building a sense of anticipation for the Wardli Welcome Ceremony, and camaraderie between the student performers.
Parent, Mr Kurt Towers, and his Year 7 daughter, Ivy, also addressed the gathering, with Kurt commending the College for its commitment to the Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP).
“I would like to acknowledge the incredible commitment SAC has shown to reconciliation. SAC’s commitment is evident to the ongoing work engaging our community in relationships with the school. As a proud Wiradjuri man and Ivy’s Dad, I can genuinely say that I’ve felt listened to and embraced here. I’ve seen the school embrace the Kaurna culture and I would like to recognise Uncle Moogy, traditional owner and custodian, and to acknowledge how the school has embraced Kaurna Language,” says Mr Towers.
While enjoying a cuppa and scones in SAC’s Nunga Room to conclude the Wardli Welcome, Uncle Moogy took a moment to share what it means to him to see young people celebrate their culture.
“As a young boy, I grew up learning everything about the western culture. I walk between two worlds, you see. As a child I learnt how to speak English, how to understand the schooling. Not many people were learning about us – my people and where we were from. What we do in schools like this [SAC], introducing young people to something they might not have understood, we teach each other how to walk along both sides of the fence-line with each other,” he observes.
“These girls who were dancing, they are different now than they were the other day, they are more relaxed, they are excited and growing in their confidence in their culture,” Uncle Moogy says with a glint of pride in his eye.
The artwork on the third wardli depicts footprints that trail off where the structure ends, symbolising that even though students, like Tatum, eventually complete their journey at SAC, their learning continues forward into the future, with a strong foundation of Mercy values to ground them.
The wardlis are open to anyone visiting the College to sit and enjoy a tranquil moment of contemplation, or to gather and converse with others. Please feel welcome to stop by and enjoy this special hallmark of reconciliation and community.
Ms Maddie Kelly
Marketing & Communications Team
