Woorabinda Analysis

The township of Woorabinda is in Central Queensland, approximately 180km west of Gladstone. Woorabinda was established in the late 1920’s because Aboriginal peoples were being forcefully removed from their traditional lands at Taroom so early settlers could develop these lands. Woorabinda is situated on the traditional lands of the Wadja Wadja/Wadjigu and Gangula Aboriginal peoples according to the anthropologist Norman Tindale. Tindale documented in 1938 the residents of Woorabinda represented 47 clans, which included people from all over Queensland, New South Wales and the Northern Territory. (N, Tindale, 1974)

Aunty Ivy Booth (2015, pers. comm., November 30) said she is the only suviving ‘dormitory girl’ of Worribinda, today. Children

comm., Decemeber 1) stated there were always outbreaks of diseases, such as hookworm, gastroenteritis, mumps, influenza and pneumonia and often these resulted in large-scale deaths. He also advised poor diets, a change in diet and sanitation conditions have contributed to the health issues today in Aboriginal peoples. Obesity is the main issue, which has resulted in heart diseases and diabetes. Alcoholism is another major health issue facing this community. In 1956 all the community houses in Woorabinda had electricity and filtered tank water. Other issues facing Aboriginal people today include domestic violence and social, financial, sexual, emotional, alcohol and petrol sniffing and cultural problems. Due to Europeans taking control of the land, Aboriginal peoples lost many languages, their land and ceremonies, large number of community members because of illness and massacres, their traditional medicines and food sources and their social, emotional and physical wellbeing, he went on to

comm., November 29) said the Wadja Wadja language is still used between families living in the region and hopes more Wadja Wadja people continue learning it so old traditions and cultural knowledge can be passed onto decedents of the land. He also said today there are 52 different tribes residing in the area therefore there are 52 different languages, which is important to the community to try and teach. According to the 2011 Australian Bureau of Statistics Census only ten people speak English and Indigenous language in the community and the rest speak English alone.

In conclusion when implementing a learning program many factors need to be considered. As a result of colonisation Aboriginal peoples today still face or deal with issues such as ‘stolen generation’, loss of land and culture, poor health and life expectancy and deaths in custody. As an educator, I would continue to increase knowledge to enrich all children’s development in the area of cultural awareness by developing programs that support an understanding in the below major events: o The tent Embassy o National Apology Day o National Sorry Day o Mabo Day o NAIDOC
I would also involving children and their families to reflect on their own experiences and creating learning opportunities through games and resources within the centre. Another important element is to access resources from organisations such as local land councils, Aboriginal cultural and community