Ballandean School Bell’s Turtle Project
Now we are embarking on an exciting voyage of creativity and First Nations culture with our NED Foundation funded Bell’s Turtle project with the Ballandean State School students. Ballandean State School have fully embraced this project with enthusiasm, support in kind, as well as resources. The turtle and its habitat along Accommodation Creek near the school continues to intrigue us. Our local artist Barb Benham is inspiring and teaching us to transform the dark space under the school building into a wonderland. We’ve painted the first layer on the pillars and over the next few weeks will add the plants, birds, mammals, turtles and invertebrates - those pillars will really come alive! We are fortunate to have the Kambuwal artists, Auntie Selena Griffin and her niece Tanisha working on a board mural of the Bell’s Turtle for the school with the students. This provides a great opportunity for Auntie Selena to share the stories that are so important in gaining an understanding of the cultural significance of our area and the important stewardship of the Kambuwal people in protecting our biodiversity.
Day 2 of the project. We were all captivated by Auntie Selena’s stories of how the turtle got its shell. Auntie also brought in her teaching tools, some of which like the womera, boomerang and clap sticks had been passed down for generations to her father and then to Auntie Selena.
Day 3 of our art work installation with local artist Barb Benham, the “Pillars Queen” and Kambuwal artists, Auntie Selena and Tanisha working with the students. The students are really getting into adding the detail of the natural life of Accommodation Creek, including the wild and whacky invertebrates. Auntie Selena and Tanisha are now adding the story picture to the mural. School staff are great and supporting the project every step of the way. Thanks also to GBSAN volunteers Jo and Geraldine. The opening of this art installation will be the 18th September for families to come and hear the stories of the murals.
