With the efforts of Aunty Rhonda Radley and a number of members from the Gathang Language Group including Amy Davies, Year 2 students were taught language skills, dance and cultural understanding.

The term-long experience culminated with a performance at the school’s NAIDOC week celebrations on Wednesday. Students involved in the program shared the language they have learnt through song and dance.

It was a memorable experience for the school and the wider community, the school's leader of Aboriginal education, Kelly Jesser, said.

“On behalf of the school I sincerely thank Aunty Rhonda and Amy for the time and energy they invested in the language program at Lake Cathie Public School,” she said.

"As a non-Indigenous person, I have felt very supported in the process of working with students throughout their language learning journey, and have grown on both a personal and professional level from the experience.

“The school was selected as a pilot school for the program and the project is a significant milestone in the long anticipated revitalisation of the Gathang language for the local Birpai community. 

“It was a privilege to have the opportunity to be a part of the program and I look forward to seeing Gathang find its way into the day to day practice within classrooms across the Hastings.

“This is a genuine opportunity for our children to learn about the significance of our local environment and the histories of the Birpai people through engaging in language.”

Amy participated as an assistant in the pilot program and is also a member of the language group. She also completed a TAFE course on the language.

“It was really hard to get used to the language in the first instance,” she said.

“But it all just clicked with me one day. I feel I really connected to my culture and reached back to my ancestors.

“I’ve also become connected with the land.

“There is also a very strong sense of empowerment involved in re-discovering my language.”

Aunty Rhonda praised Amy’s efforts in the language group and labelled her a leader in the language group.

“She is a leader,” Aunty Rhonda said.

Port Macquarie MP Leslie Williams said it was ‘fabulous’ for the school to embrace the pilot program.

“Like all Aboriginal languages and dialects, those once spoken by the number of different clans that occupied our local area are critically endangered,” Mrs Williams said.

“Aboriginal people have told me that language is indivisible from their identity and I am sure people would agree that the cultural inheritance of our Aboriginal community is too precious to be lost.

“I think it is fabulous that Lake Cathie Public School is embracing local aboriginal culture by studying the Gathang language with Aunty Rhonda Radley,” she said.

“Last year as the minister for Aboriginal affairs I announced that NSW will become the first state in Australia to introduce landmark legislation to protect traditional Aboriginal languages.