Our partners in the making of ’My Weekend with Pop’

Storybook pictures               

Lucy Simpson

Lucy Simpson is a Yuwaalaraay woman (from northwest New South Wales) currently living in Sydney. Lucy is the founder of design company Gaawaa Miyay, which was established in 2009. Through her contemporary work in textile and graphic design, Lucy uses visual narratives to connect, share and celebrate aspects of language story, country and contemporary Aboriginal culture.  
 
Lucy is a graduate of the College of Fine Arts, majoring in textile, graphic and jewellery design. Lucy has successfully incorporated her love of these mediums into her work with Gaawaa Miyay. Lucy is passionate about designing and producing thoughtful, practical and sustainable Aboriginal design and visual storytelling creations.

The Storytellers

Creed Gordon

Creed Gordon is 11 years old and a young man of the Gamilaraay/Gamilaori Nation. Creed attends Lightning Ridge Central School, in the far north west of NSW. Creed has worked with language teachers at the Gamilaraay/Yuwaalaraay/Yuawaalayaay Language and Culture Nest to develop the My Weekend with Pop story in Gamilaraay.  

Creed has shared his pride in culture and language, and love of learning with the Library whilst being involved in this project. 

Rhonda Ashby

Rhonda Ashby is the Aboriginal Language and Culture Nest Teacher of Gamilaraay/ Yuwaalaraay/ Yuwaalayaay based at the Lightning Ridge Central School. Rhonda's family grew up in the Walgett district, connected to the Namoi River reserve, with her Gamilaraay/ Yuwaalaraay mother and Gamilaraay/ Yuin father. 

Rhonda is a passionate educator whose work focuses on passing on the knowledge of Elders who inspired her to educate and empower the next generation.  

Ray Ingrey

Ray Ingrey is of Dhungutti and Dharawal descent and is from the La Perouse Aboriginal community at Botany Bay. He holds a number of leadership positions including: Chairperson of Eastern Zone Gujaga Aboriginal Corporation, Board member of the La Perouse Local Aboriginal Land Council and Chairperson of the Dharawal Language Program. 

Ray’s community involvement comes from the belief that education is the key to self-determination and economic prosperity for his people.

Diane McNaboe 

Diane is a Wiradjuri, Gamilaraay woman who grew up in Dubbo on Wiradjuri Country. Diane is the Teacher,  Aboriginal Language and Culture North/West Wiradjuri Language and Culture Nest, based in Dubbo.  

Diane holds a Master of Indigenous Languages Education and is a community leader who supports the teaching of  the Wiradjuri language. 

Andrew Sloane

Andrew Sloane was born in 1998 and is currently in Year 12 at Menindee Central School, in the far west of NSW.  Andrew is of Ngiyampaa and Paakantyi descent. Andrew has presented twenty videos on Paakantyi language and its history for classroom use which are available on YouTube. In 2016 he won the Encouragement Award in the Wudhagaragarra Awards for Aboriginal Education (NSW Department of Education) and was elected vice-captain of Menindee Central School. 

William Mitchell

William Mitchell was born in 1999 and is at present in Year 12 at Menindee Central School. He is of Paakantyi and Ngiyampaa descent. In 2016 he supplied voice recordings for Jonathan Jones’ installation/exhibition, Barrangal dyara (‘Skin and bones’), in the Botanical Gardens, Sydney. He was also elected captain of Menindee Central School. 

The Paakantyi recordings were developed with the mentoring and support of Kayleen Kerwin,  Robert Lindsay, and the Menindee Central School. 

Michael Jarrett

Michael Jarrett is a descendant of the Gumbaynggirr people from the Baga-Baga clan of Nambucca Heads on the north coast of NSW.  Michael is a Gumbaynggirr Language Teacher who shares his knowledge of his language widely. Michael acquired his teaching degree from the University of New England, Armidale and completed his Masters in Indigenous Languages Education at the University of Sydney. He has been employed by the NSW Department of Education, Board of Studies and various languages organisations to demonstrate his language teaching skills. Michael strongly believes in keeping his language and culture alive and proudly teaches anyone who wants to learn.

The linguists

John Hobson

John Hobson is a linguist and lecturer in the Faculty of Education and Social Work at the University of Sydney where he directs the graduate programs in Indigenous education. He has over 30 years experience in community-based and institutional activity in Australian languages and linguistics including implementing and directing the Master of Indigenous Languages Education –the only degree-based qualification for teachers of Australian languages, and is currently developing the first initial teacher education degree in the field. John was lead editor of the inaugural volume on Australian language revival: Re-awakening languages and has published widely in Indigenous languages education and teacher training. 

Susan Poetsch

Susan Poetsch is a lecturer in The University of Sydney School of Education & Social Work, where she teaches units of study on morphology of Australian languages, language learning & teaching and curriculum development, in a program for Indigenous Australian teachers of their own languages. She is also a PhD candidate at the Australian National University. Her research is on children’s language acquisition and use in home and school contexts in a remote community in central Australia. 

STATE LIBRARY OF NSW FOUNDATION 

The My Weekend with Pop resources were developed with the support of the State Library of NSW Foundation. 

THE PARTNER ORGANISATIONS

Aboriginal Language and Culture Nests

The NSW Government have established a series of Aboriginal Language and Culture Nests. The OCHRE (Opportunity, Choice, Healing, Responsibility, Empowerment) recognises Aboriginal languages and cultures as a unique component of Australia’s heritage. The establishment of the Aboriginal Language and Culture Nests enables Aboriginal people and communities across NSW to reclaim, revitalise and maintain their traditional Aboriginal languages. Aboriginal Language and Culture Nests provide a continuous learning pathway for Aboriginal people while recognising the existing language skills and knowledge of Aboriginal community members.  

NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA)

NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) is responsible for school curriculum, assessment, and teaching and regulatory standards in NSW schools.