Wilcannia kids keep language alive in song

A group of high school students in Wilcannia, NSW, is helping to keep a local language alive for a new generation with the help of Mission Australia’s Creative Youth Initiatives (CYI).

Thirty children from Wilcannia Central School have written and recorded ‘Barkindji Song’, in the local language as part of our CYI visiting music program.

Local Elder Murray Butcher had been taught Barkindji by his grandmother. In recent years he has continued his grandmother Elsie’s work to bring the language back into the community.

“Some kids speak the language, but by recording the song it’s helping to put the language out there again,” said CYI Tutor Michael Hanlon.

It was one of two songs the children wrote over four days when CYI visited last August, the other being ‘By The Bridge’, sung in English. When CYI returned in May, they recorded both tracks in a mini studio set up in the school’s science lab over three days. ‘By The Bridge’ is receiving local radio airplay.

“They are great songs and there are some really strong singers and musos among them,” said Michael. “It’s a fantastic community and they should be very proud of these kids.”

Mission Australia’s CYI program has visited Wilcannia twice in the past year and will return in August for another music session. So far the program has been successful in boosting attendance at the school.

Based in Sydney, CYI develops young people’s creativity through visual arts and music through two core programs - CYI's two core programs are Sounds of the Street (SOTS) and Artworks!

CYI also aims to enhance self-expression, esteem and communication skills and provide positive learning experiences for young people.

Download and listen to ‘By The Bridge’ and ‘Barkindji Song’ by clicking the links below:

‘Barkindji Song’
www.missionpromotion.com/audio/wilcannia-kids-barkindji.mp3

‘By The Bridge’
hwww.missionpromotion.com/audio/wilcannia-kids-by-the-bridge.mp3

Further reading:
‘Unsung Heroes – Stories from Dubbo’ DVD launch

Media Release: Unsung Heroes – Stories from Dubbo DVD launch

Mission Australia, together with the Dubbo Koori Interagency Network, will launch Unsung Heroes – Stories from Dubbo, a DVD documenting the lives of Dubbo’s Aboriginal Unsung Heroes, on Wednesday the 1st of June at 11am at Western Plains Cultural Centre, 76 Wingewarra Street, Dubbo.

Unsung Heroes is a unique project and important resource for the Dubbo region, with students from the Dubbo College Senior Campus’ Aboriginal Studies class interviewing the Elders who share their personal experiences of their past and growing up in an Australia where Aboriginal people didn’t have citizenship rights.

According to Dale Towns, Service Manager for Mission Australia services in Central and Far West NSW, this project was the brainchild of the Dubbo Koori Interagency Network (DKIN) who realised after the death of two well loved local Elders that not only did the community lose two well respected Elders but also their history, life experience and stories.

“This project will provide information of cultural significance & reflects the personal experiences of the Elders growing up as an Aboriginal person,” Ms Towns said.

“In this way, others, particularly our children, can learn about the past from a personal perspective of what it was like to grow up as an Aboriginal person in times past, not just what is written in history books.”

Ms Towns said that originally, the plan for the project was for the Elders to record their experiences.

“However, as the project progressed, the students who did the interviewing as well as the Mission Australia support staff were so moved by what they heard, that it was decided that their reactions to the Elders’ experiences would also be recorded on the DVD,” she said.

Unsung Heroes was filmed and edited by Mission Australia’s CreativeYouth Initiatives (CYI), based in Sydney. This is a service that provides disadvantaged young people in the Sydney area the opportunity to access TAFE-accredited art and music courses. Staff from CYI travelled to Dubbo for a week from in November last year to assist the students from the Dubbo College Senior Campus to complete the filming.

At the launch, a 10 minute trailer of the DVD will be screened, and copies of the full DVD – about two hours in length – will be distributed for people to watch in their own time.

The 10 minute trailer will be displayed on the Dubbo Koori Interagency Network website – http://www.dubbokin.com.au/ – providing the opportunity for the Unsung Heroes – Stories from Dubbo DVD to be viewed by anyone interested in Aboriginal history from around the world.

Media contact: Leanne Budd 0457 505 342

Former Idol shares experiences and music at CYI

Students from Mission Australia’s Creative Youth Initiatives were recently treated to a visit from singer Hayley Warner, the 2009 Australian Idol runner-up.

Earlier this month the 19-year old Sydney singer, who built up a strong following for her high-energy performances on Idol, took the time to chat to CYI students, hang out and hear their music.

Based in Sydney’s Surry Hills, CYI is a unique service that provides free creative programs for young people aged 16 to 25 who are facing challenges such as homelessness, mental health issues, substance abuse, family breakdown, unemployment and poor educational experiences. The Sounds of the Street (SOTS) and Artworks! programs help develop the young person’s creativity through visual arts and music.

Hayley talked to the students about the ups and downs she has experienced along the way, and spoke of the inner-strength and resolve required to realise her dreams.
CYI students and staff were also treated to a beautiful performance by Hayley, who also spent time in the music studios giving advice. She was introduced to the service through her work as Social Services Partner for Telstra, a longstanding Mission Australia partner.

“It was an amazing opportunity for the students to hear another young person’s experience and the confidence for them to follow their dreams,” said Sera Harris, CYI Service Manager. “She was truly inspiring and we hope to see her in February when we launch the next Sounds of the Street (SOTS) CD.

SOTS is a 20-week TAFE-accredited course that gives students the opportunity to compose, perform and record their own music and learn an instrument. At the end of the program the students’ music is professionally mixed and mastered onto a CD and students perform their music at the annual CD launch.

Later in the day, Hayley also revealed that she was inspired by the visit: “Had a really inspiring time this morning hanging out and chatting to Mission Australia kids,” she Tweeted yesterday afternoon. “Epic stories of overcoming situations.”

City gig launches Sounds of the Street CD

The back of Mission Australia’s Creative Youth Initiatives (CYI) headquarters in Surry Hills, Sydney, took on the feel of a block party last Friday when students, staff, friends and family got together to launch the ‘Holiday From Yourself’ CD.

The CD was the creation of graduate students from CYI’s Sounds of the Street program, which is a TAFE-accredited music course.

Last week’s gig was the culmination of the 20-week course in which students learned to compose, perform and record their own music.

Backed by the CYI Band, students performed 11 tracks from the CD – including hip hop, acoustic guitar and heavy rock tunes – to an appreciative crowd.

“What an achievement for all our students – it takes a lot of courage to go on stage in front of a crowd and share so much about who they are and how they experience the world,” said CYI Service Manager CYI Sera Harris about the “rawness” of some of the performances.

“Some of the lyrics are tough to hear – which is why it is important that we listen to what young people have to say through their language of music.”

The performers were welcomed to the stage by Mission Australia’s Director Community Services NSW/ACT Leonie Green. Later in the day Sounds of the Street students received their official Music Industry Skills Certificate TAFE module Certificate I from Ultimo TAFE Outreach NSW Course Coordinator Paul Drury.

Achievement certificates were also handed out by Jannine Jackson, General Manager Sir David Martin Foundation, which is a supporter of the CYI program.

After the show and a sausage sizzle, 15 volunteers from Ben & Jerrys served up ice-cream. During 2010, $1 from every sale of Ben & Jerrys Peanut Cookie-Burra Dough was donated to CYI – which brought in $25,000 to the youth initiative over the year.

“Now it’s come full circle and we can see the fruits of it,” said Warren Minde, Marketing Manager, Ben & Jerrys.

For a gold-coin donation, you can hear ‘Holidays From Yourself’ and see the wonderful cover artwork from CYI Artworks! student Brian Greenwood. To order please email cyi@missionaustralia.com.au.