The woiwurrung women of goranwarrabil
Interpretive signage along the Resilience theme
The woiwurrung women of goranwarrabil
“The Baban Darrang [Mother Tree] saw destruction of Country and Culture and was chopped down, but it did not die. The roots of the tree were firmly planted into the ground giving the tree a strong foundation. It gave the tree energy to sprout shoots and during its life it was able to drop seeds. The root system is Language, and the branches are Culture. If the branches are cut, Culture does not die. The seeds that it has dropped are the next generations, and the shoots are the Community leaders helping the Elders keep Language, Culture, spirituality and connection to Country strong. We are now those Baban Darrang and will never let our Culture go back to sleep, for our feet walk our Ancestors’ path, our mouths speak our Ancestors’ voice as we are strong black women!”
– Mandy Nicholson, Wurundjeri-willam woman
“My mother and grandmothers are my role models. I am proud because of them.”
– Brooke Wandin, Wurundjeri woiwurrung woman
Generations of strong Wurundjeri woiwurrung women with connections to goranwarrabil (the Dandenong Ranges) have worked to safeguard cultural knowledge and act as important leaders in their community. All Wurundjeri woiwurrung people today are descendants of Borate (Annie) (also spelled Boorat, Booorraort or Borot), daughter of Bebejan and Tooterie, younger sister of ngurungaeta Barak.
Born around the beginning of European settlement on the Plenty River, she had several children, but only one survived into adulthood, Robert Wandin. Borate’s daughter-in-law was respected Elder ‘Granny’ Jemima Wandin (nee Burns), another strong First Nations woman. Granny Jemima and Robert Wandin practised wurrung (Language) and Culture in secret at Coranderrk, passing on this important knowledge to their children.
Their granddaughter, Aunty Joy Murphy Wandin, grew up in Healesville at a time when there were many Elders still alive who had lived at Coranderrk. Aunty Joy took on the responsibility of ensuring these stories and knowledge continue.