O’Reilly’s (Wednesday January 12)

As you are well aware we had to spend two extra nights at O’Reilly’s because of flooding in Brisbane. It was quite scary to be watching the footage on the television at O’Reilly’s to see the number of people affected. It is probably on par with the damage and significance of Katrina in the area around New Orleans. On Wednesday we had the chance to meet with Douglas James an aboriginal guide/educator who I have probably worked with for about six years and loves to spend time with Elon University students.

Students learning indigenous dance

We met Douglas Wednesday morning at the O’Reilly’s vineyards. Upon arrival Catherine O’Reilly shared with me a photo from the paper from the 1974 floods. In the background of the photograph was the Royal on the Park hotel which we were supposed to be heading that day. It was chilling to see it knowing that I had just been there the year before.

Group with Dancers

On a more positive note, we started our time with Douglas by having him and his cousins demonstrate some traditional dances of the indigenous people of that area. They also were able to give some brave volunteers the opportunity to participate in the dance and explain the different stories that each represented. Thanks Lindsay, Roger and Scott. It was quite nice to see the performance.

Class teaching Douglas offensive positions in football

Following the dance, the cousins left and Douglas began by explaining a little bit about his culture, his people and through photographs about the land in which his tribe had lived. He was originally hoping to take us out on a tour of the land and show us firsthand how the land could be used for food and medicine and the significance of different parts of nature but the previous weather influenced it.

Douglas teaching kids how to make fire

After a lunch break, Douglas shared with us a number of different artifacts and tools that aboriginal people would use. We finished up our time at the winery by playing a traditional aboriginal game. However, Douglas decided that he was not done with our group yet so he agreed to come back up to O’Reilly’s and share more of his knowledge with our group. Up at O’Reilly’s we had a chance to learn how grass could be used and made into rope and also used to make baskets. Some of us were definitely better at it than others. After dinner our final treat of the day was to hear Douglas play the didgeridoo. Overall it was a very busy day with a lot of activities. It was great for me to see Douglas again.

Students attempt to make fire

I forgot one last thing; Douglas is a huge fan of football. In Australia they call it grid iron. A number of our students spent time explaining some of the rules to Douglas and positions that are played on offense and defense; he was very excited for the knowledge that we were able to give him as well.

Douglas playing the didge