A new children's storybook celebrating the significance of river systems has been released through a unique collaboration between Aboriginal storytellers, the children of Boggabilla Central School, Western Sydney University and MultiLit's Closing the Gap initiative.
Authored by Uncle Carl McGrady and MultiLit's Anna Notley, Our River Playground took inspiration from Boggabilla Central School's participation in the university's acclaimed Painted River Project, where, accompanied by Elders, cultural advisers, and local experts, students spent two days visiting various locations along the Macintyre River in northern NSW.
Returning to school after time spent learning about waterway rejuvenation and painting what they saw, children were encouraged to write about the excursion, which fostered the idea for the storybook.
Gomeroi Elder Uncle Carl was invited to co-author the book by contributing some of his childhood memories of the river, with Gomeroi artist Elenore Binge providing the illustrations.
"The significance of this project is the fact that I got share my Culture and my country with another generation of Gomeroi people, it means that my stories will live within these guys and hopefully, passed on to their kids," Uncle Carl said.
"To me it is an example of the Gomeroi's ability to adapt to any situation and time, historically we used ochre and rock walls, today we use technology in books and IT."
Dr Notley said Our River Playground was "the beautiful by-product of what happens when communities connect and collaborate".
"The children, Uncle Carl and everyone else involved in our two days of river wanderings gave us a gift, showing us their Country through their eyes," she said.
Uncle Carl said the most important part about the project was "the realisation," saying if he didn't share his childhood memories and Country, "it would be buried forever".
"Therefore, I am extremely grateful for the opportunity to be able to share, it is something I feel every time I pick the book up," he said.
"It also reminds me that my history was verbal; my Elders gave me instructions which I was expected to remember and respect…being able to preserve my history in a way that will be accessible for generations."
Boggabilla Central School is one of more than 40 schools nationwide taking part in the federal government-funded Closing the Gap initiative, which support English literacy improvement among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students.
Closing the Gap program director, MultiLit's Chloe Allen, said the Painted River Project gave children a unique learning opportunity which could be shared with a wider audience.
"It's really important for students to be able to see themselves, their families, and their places of belonging reflected in storybooks," Ms Allen said.
"And now, through the Our River Playground book, children from across the country will be able to learn about the cultural and environmental significance of our rivers through the eyes of Aboriginal children and storytellers."
Painted River Project founder, Leo Robba, who led the students along the Macintyre River, said he was excited to see the project evolve into its first storybook, arguing many young people are "disconnected from their natural environment".
"The Painted River Project has enabled us to tap into communities and work with local experts to support young people to get out from behind the screen and learn in nature from nature," Dr Robba said.
"I am looking forward to more young children learning about the environmental and cultural significance of our river systems through the Our River Playground storybook."
Written by Anna Notley and Uncle Carl and illustrated by Gomeroi artist Elenore Binge, the text is a reflection on the importance of place and conservation of the natural environment.
Our River Playground is now available for purchase via the MultiLit Bookshop.
