wawa Euroa Wayilak
Duration
2 hours
Location
The Euroa Arboretum, Euroa, Victoria
Operates
School holidays 2024: 23 Jan, 9 Apr
Minimum Guests
10
Maximum Guests
25
Price
From Adult $90AUD pp, Child $60 AUD pp
This wawa Euroa wayilak (young people) experience provides children aged 5-12 years with an introduction to Taungurung culture, specifically around cultural use of plants for food, medicine, and tools, all within the wonderfully engaging setting of the Euroa Arboretum. This experience is a fun and immersive way for children and parents to develop or deepen their own connection to Country through hands on activities led by Taungurung guides.
We start with a traditional Welcome Smoking Ceremony which many wayilak may not have experienced before. Next, we embark on a sensory journey to learn about the ways that Taungurung culture is connected to plants – this includes tasting bush foods, identifying plants through smell, finding and grinding seeds for food and listening for frogs, insects and birds as indicators of healthy eco-systems. We’ll have damper and tea, teach them a dance and finish with an art class to make a unique keepsake that tells their own story of what they’ve learned from the experience. We meet, we mingle, we move, we make. We look forward to welcoming you.
Inclusions
Two Taungurung guides, Welcome Smoking Ceremony, Sensory plant journey including bush tucker tasting, damper and tea, art class and wooden leaf for each child to take home
Experience details
2-hour cultural experience
Commences at the Euroa Arboretum at 10am and concludes there at 12.00pm
Toilets are available onsite
A morning tea is provided – dietary requirements can be met upon request
Art class - all materials provided
Carparking is available at the Euroa Arboretum entrance or at the picnic shelter, adjacent to the sculpture wall.
For detailed accessibility information please contact us hello@wawabiik.com.au
Please bring
A hat, sunglasses, sunscreen
A raincoat
Comfortable walking shoes
Reusable water bottle
Personal medications if required
Getting there
The Euroa Arboretum is located at 76 Euroa Main Road, Euroa, VIC 3666. If travelling by car, there is vehicle parking at the entrance. From the welcome sign, take the short board walk adjacent to the lake for 20m before turning right. From here, head for the picnic shelter 200m ahead. Toilet facilities are on your left. For a detailed map of the Euroa Arboretum, see here.
If you are travelling from Melbourne along the Hume Highway, after taking the Euroa exit, the Euroa Arboretum is on the right-hand side before reaching town.
Euroa is also serviced by public transport. For details see www.vline.com.au.
The train station is a 10-15minute bike ride from the Arboretum or a 45min walk.
There are multiple electric vehicle charging stations available in Euroa.
wawa biik features in a range of publications, websites and across news outlets as we highlight the Taungurung story alongside the experiences offered.
Please click here to read the latest edition
Just like the pride and purpose our Elders feel when wrapped in their possum skin cloak, we want wawa biik to be a warm and inspiring space that brings people together to celebrate and learn about our traditional and contemporary aspects of Culture.
Cultural heritage – “It’s still here and so are we” – a yarn with Jonah
Jonah Honeysett is a proud Taungurung /Wiradjuri man of the Nira-balluk clan who considers himself lucky to have grown up knowing about his culture, immersed in his culture, and learning about his culture from his Aboriginal parents and grandparents.
“It’s not Aboriginal heritage, it’s Australia’s Heritage” – a yarn with Ashley.
Ashley Wilkinson is a proud Taungurung man of the Yeerum-Illiam-Balluk clan, which is below Benalla and Mansfield area.
Cultural Heritage – an Elder’s perspective (Uncle Shane)
As a Taungurung Elder who has worked for his mob for two decades doing cultural surveys, Uncle Shane could probably write a book about what he’s seen and experienced out there in the field. Protecting cultural heritage is core to the work of any Custodians of Country and is a responsibility that is directly overseen by Elders.
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We acknowledge and pay respects to Taungurung Ancestors and Elders, past present and emerging. We continue to remain strong in culture, traditions and memories of those who have paved the way for Taungurung People and Country. We move forward proudly and thank our Ancestors for their guidance and protection throughout our journey.
