Brookvale Public School

5/6T in 2000 decided to tell the world about the rich Aboriginal Heritage in our area. We wanted to document on the internet the lives of the original inhabitants of our area, the Kuringgai people who lived here for more than 12 000 years. This project would enable students and people throughout the world to learn about their lives and lifestyle.

Within 50 years of the arrival of Europeans on the First Fleet from England in 1788, their lives were decimated by disease and deliberate policies and actions to deny them their lands and traditional lifestyles. In the Spirit of Reconciliation, many Australians are moved to recognizing their ownership of the land and the many wonderful contributions Aboriginal people have made to the development of a modern Australia.

There are many places where their lives still remain evident, in place names, street names and their art. In our playground plants grow which were sources of food, we can see land in the Brookvale Valley owned by the Metropolitan Land Council  to the North West and rock carvings at Gumbooya Reserve to the South West. Many other areas are within easy walking distance of our school.

In many ways we have only scratched the surface and plan to look at other periods of the over the last 200 years, and add to our work each year.

We received two grants and were helped by many people. We would like to thank :

* Warringah Shire Council - Cultural Grant.
* NSW Department of Education and Training - Reconciliation Grant.
* Dave Ella Aboriginal Consultant, our guide at West Head.
* Chris Buckley, Ranger Manly Dam.
* Miss Fenton who worked with 5/6T on this unit of work.

Much of the information is from the following publication :

'These Are My  People, This Is My Land,' Aboriginal people and their culture, North of Sydney Harbour, Published By Metropolitan North region, NSW Department of School Education, 1991.

We hope you benefit from our work.