The installation of a new flag pole to fly the Aboriginal flag was celebrated last Friday at Trentham District Primary School.
Proud Dja Dja Wurrung man Damien Saunders conducted a smoking ceremony and spoke to the students, parents and teaching staff about the importance of acknowledging and respecting the Dja Dja Wurrung culture.
“This ceremony today was the new beginning through the old for tomorrow’s youth,” Damien said.
Younger students were bemused by the smoke as Damien wound his way through them with the smoking eucalyptus leaves.
He explained to them that the ceremony was practiced to acknowledge his ancestors and pay respect to the land, and that the smoke was believed to have healing and cleansing properties.
“Damien told us that we had leadership in our spirits and we should keep retelling the story of the smoking ceremony so his culture lives on. It’s not just his culture, it’s everybody’s culture,” school captains Ari Scheltema and Lola Daffy said after the ceremony.
Funding for the installation of the new flag pole was provided by Macedon MP Mary-Anne Thomas.
