MCMC supported Yarra and Merri-bek Libraries’ vacation programs with very well-attended activities that highlighted NAIDOC Week (2023) and local indigenous plants. Together we thought about Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung Country, language, seasons and plants using a variety of resources. Kids joined in very enthusiastically and produced many carefully produced booklets illustrated with their own botanic drawings.

We met in the Woi-wurrung season waring which spans April to July, Melbourne’s coldest months which correspond to winter. The indigenous plants we worked with in NAIDOC Week reflected the season, especially in relation to the lack of new flowers which occurs in later stages depending on the plant. We used The Plants of Coranderrk as a guide to plant names in Woi-wurring.

The indigenous plants we spent time becoming familiar with by touching, sniffing and drawing, included bowat (Poa labillardierei, Common Tussock-grass), garawun (Lomandra longifolia, Spiny-headed Mat-rush), galertiwan (Pomaderis aspera, Hazel Pomaderris) and muyan (Acacia dealbata, Silver wattle).

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