CLANCY OVERELL | Editor | CONTACT
While lamenting on her time spent up in the territory as a teenager, Betoota South High School drama teacher, Ms Webcke (62) stares off into the distance.
Ms Webcke is very rarely broken from her slow ballet of theatrical instruction. Never high, nor low. Always very chilled.
As one of the only non-unionised members of the faculty, Webcke has always tried to instil a peacefulness into her students not seen elsewhere in this overcrowded public school.
In fact a recent survey of past students has found the 95% of graduates didn’t know what the word ‘karma’ meant until their year 8 performances pieces, most of which were meditative Buddhist improv skits, set in different scenarios that had been curated by their matriarchal thespian in accordance with her pupil’s energy.
Ms Webcke has never come across as, in her students would describe it, hectic.
That is until today.
NAIDOC is here, and Ms Webcke has got both guns blazing as she pays tribute to her kindred spirits. The longest surviving culture on this planet. Australia’s First Nations people.
NAIDOC (National Aboriginal and Islander Day Of Celebrations Week is an Australian observance lasting from the first Sunday in July until the following Sunday.
NAIDOC Week celebrates the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. The week is celebrated not just in the Indigenous communities but also in increasing numbers of government agencies, schools, local councils and workplaces.
But Ms Webcke has taken it one further.
On top of the fact the she has somehow found a shop that sells Aboriginal flag bunting, as well as many many more associated accessories such as pins, jewellery, and posters – Ms Webcke is also making her students, across all grades, study the lyrics to the Warumpi Band’s iconic ‘Blackfella/Whitefella’.
“This song changed me when I was in Kakadu” she says.
“Listen to the lyrics.”
MORE TO COME.
