MORE than 300 students across the Mornington Peninsula have spent the term engaging with Aboriginal arts and culture through a creative pilot program.
Last week students from Tyabb Railway Station Primary School, Crib Point Primary School, and Red Hill Consolidated School came together for The Deadly Arts Community Celebration. At the event they showed off the work they have undertaken through the “Song Room” initiative.
The pilot program is led by Kulin Artist and Song Room Teaching Artist, Aunty Sammy Trist. Students have been working on three shields, using South-Eastern line art, which were unveiled last week. The artworks will be displayed at each school.
Song Room’s Deadly Arts program is for both Indigenous and non-Indigenous students, and involves them in weekly creative classes. Crib Point Primary School assistant principal Ross Wettenhall said “this program sets a powerful precedent – it packs a punch of local culture, not tokenistic gestures. Programs like this pave the way for true understanding, respect, and reconciliation.
“The students are now confidently using Kulin language, including Bunurong/Boon Wurrung words, in everyday interactions. It’s not unusual to hear them saying ‘Waah’ when they see a crow, or greeting Aunty Sammy in language. This is authentic, living culture in action, and it’s had a profound and lasting impact.” The Deadly Arts Community Celebration preceded NAIDOC Week, which runs from 6 July to 13 July.
First published in the Mornington News – 8 July 2025
