The trees talk

The Year 11 and 12 EALD classes enjoyed an amazing start to the school year. Friday night of week one they visited Kings Park for the main event of the 2019 Perth Festival.

Boorna Waanginy takes us on a walk through Kings Park. But it’s a Kings Park that has been transformed by lights, colour and sound as we move though rain, fire and flocks of birds all the time learning about the place we live and the place Nyoongar people have lived for thousands of years.

Back in the classroom students responded through discussion and in writing.

Here are two of the Year 11 written responses.

The people of Perth listened to trees talking in Kings Park on Friday night

by Ashen

Using projectors, trees were transformed into a big canvas. Lots of Aboriginal stories were played there. Culture, science, cutting-edge technology and artistry came together and were presented to the people. Trees and flowers bloomed, birds flew through the trees, while the people of Perth were listening without noise. These things become paint on the trees as a canvas.

The show finally ended on a big lawn area. There were countless lanterns placed on the lawn. Each lantern stood for a totem, and represented hope for the future of Aboriginal culture, animals and plants on this land. I was overwhelmed.


What did the light installation say to you about Aboriginal culture?

by Tof

The Boorna Waanginy: The Trees Speak is a biannual celebration of Australia’s indigenous culture. The lights tell stories of the creation of the Milky Way, the six seasons, the horror of the invaders and what was left behind to rebuild. The fact that it was a walk and not just a light-show made it feel like a dream. Surreal and breathtaking and personally, blinding and exhausting.