Local Dhurga language used in latest Bermagui Primary School books

18 June 2021

Bega Valley Shire Council is supporting the launch of the latest books in a series produced by Bermagui Public School students and staff using the local Dhurga language of the south coast region.

Duraya Seasons and Our Journey: Walawaani (pictured), written and illustrated by the school’s Year 3 and 4 Dhurga class, will be launched at the Bermagui Community Hall on Thursday 24 June.

“In 2014, the school published The home of Umbarra - A Bermagui River and Wallaga Lake story, which promotes the beauty and richness of the Bermagui River and Wallaga Lake catchment,” Council’s Library Services Coordinator Megan Jordan-Jones said.

“In 2019, Bermagui Library supported the launch of Our Balindjang Home, which took readers on a journey through the course of a day in Bermagui, using Dhurga names for the native animals.

“And now we celebrate the production of two books, created in collaboration with Carl Broman from Red Cross, Uncle Gordon Campbell, Julia Loughran, Ali Smith and Merrimans Local Aboriginal Land Council.

“The library is very happy to once again be able to work with Bermagui Public School on this wonderful project that incorporates so many elements the library values, such as creativity, literacy and preserving local languages.”

Bermagui Public School Principal, Brendan Constable said the books are part of a bigger school project - Growing Yuin Languages - which is funded through a grant from the Aboriginal Affairs NSW Languages Community Investments Program to Merrimans Local Aboriginal Land Council.

“These books would not have happened without the partnership of Merrimans Local Aboriginal Land Council, Bermagui Primary School, Uncle Gordon Campbell, Red Cross and Bega Valley Shire Council,” Mr Constable said.