I acknowledge the Gubbi Gubbi, the traditional custodians
of the land on which I live and write, and pay my respects to elders past and
present – Redcliffe, Australia. I also acknowledge and pay my respects to all
the First Nations people of our land, and in particular, the Wiradjuri,
traditional country of my children
and grandchildren.What an absolute pleasure it is to be able to review this
wonderful, and very important, new book with its roots in Wiradjuri Country and
its language.
Author, Belinda Bridge, has a strong matrilineal connection
to Wiradjuri land and has long been passionate about preserving the language
and culture of her mob. She is well qualified to be sharing knowledge as she
holds a post-grad in Wiradjuri Language, Heritage and Culture, along with her
degree in Creative Writing and Professional Writing, and her TAFE teaching of
Wiradjuri Language.
This new book can provide entry level language for students
new to learning Wiradjuri across the year levels, and even adults. The six
cycles of Wiradjuri Country are determined by the moon and the calendar months
paired to each in this book are indicative only. These cycles can be changeable
when impacted by weather events.
The animals most active during these cycles are named and
illustrated but this may also change due to those fluctuations of the cycles.
For example:
dinawan = emu
galing-galing bu niganaga bu ganhang-girri = wet and hot and
becoming warm [December & January)
yili gariwang-girri = dry becoming cool [April & May].
Your jarjums will find it fascinating but all children,
whether on Wiradjuri lands or not, will also be intrigued. And what an
opportunity to explore the weather and wildlife of the Country on which your
kiddos live and learn. My middle daughter, Aunty Kim at her school on Country
(Lithgow PS), is passionate about teaching her students their language and
culture, and even though she has learned so much over the past six years she's
been living and working there, this will be still be of great value to her.
For those who are focused on a future of walking together,
and who are developing their own First Nations collections mindfully, this is
an extremely valuable resource.
The design is really engaging as well - with striking
illustrations from Peta-Joy Williams and a sense of connection and flow
throughout the book which, after all, is exactly what the learning is about -
from ancestors to the present to the future, from year to year, cycle to cyle.
It's a fabulous book conceived and executed with skill by
two Wiradjuri creators, making this even more significant, particularly for
those little fellas who are growing up in their own Wiradjuri culture.
An outstanding 5 🦘🦘🦘🦘🦘rating
for this one.
Title: giwang: Weather & Wildlife On Wiradjuri Country
Author: Belinda Bridges
Illustrator: Peta-Joy Williams
Publisher: Aboriginal Studies Press, AUD $24.95, NZD $29.99
Date of Publication: November 2025
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 9781922752031
For ages: 5+
Type: Non-fiction
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