AN INTRIGUED crowd gathered at the Main Corner in Mount Gambier on Monday night to celebrate the launch of Annie’s Story: Growing up Strong on Boandik Country as part of this year’s NAIDOC Week celebrations.
Written and produced by Aunty Michelle Jacquelin-Furr, the children’s book depicts the life of her great-grandmother Annie Brice, who was born near Old Penola Station in 1849.
“Her mother was a full blood Boandik woman from Mount Gambier and her father a freed convict from Van Diemen’s Land who worked at the Cameron Sheep Station,” Aunty Michelle said.
Annie was taught to read and write under the guidance of Alexander Cameron’s niece, who was to become Saint Mary MacKillop.
Not only does Annie’s story document local indigenous culture, but it also preserves the language.
While written in English, each page also has a QR code for readers to scan and hear the story spoken in Bunganditj.
South Australia Department of Education’s Linda Clayton launched the book on the night, noting it was fitting Annie’s story was being launched at the start of NAIDOC Week and in line with this year’s theme “because of her, we can”.
“Aunty Michelle is a proud Boandik woman who is a leader in her community and I first met her in 2012 when the Boandik community decided to revive their language here on country,” Ms Clayton said.
“Aunty Michelle has spent her time researching her family tree, thus Annie’s Story: Growing up Strong on Boandik Country was produced.”
Ms Clayton highlighted the importance of the story as it was not only for educators and children, but a resource for the local community.
“I suspect the story will be read by many across the region and those who visit this beautiful part of our country and long to know more about the local Aboriginal people’s histories and cultures,” she said.
Aunty Michelle, who received the 2018 South East Regional NAIDOC Week Elder of the Year award this week, thanked attendees for sharing the launch and book journey with her.
“I first had the idea of a children’s book in 2004 after a weekend family reunion in Mount Gambier,” Aunty Michelle said.
“I was still living in Sydney at the time, so the enthusiasm to write the book flowed over the next few years.”
However, she said each time she returned to Mount Gambier the passion and fire to start writing also returned and many hours were spent discussing ideas with her family.
“But that was all it was – great ideas, but all in my head,” she said.
Then in 2011 a workshop was held for the Mount Gambier community to discuss the revitalised Boandik language – Bunganditj, with Aunty Michelle travelling from Sydney with her family to attend.
“And the rest, as they say, is history,” she said.
Aunty Michelle said in between writing the text and learning to complete other elements, such as QR codes, selecting a book title was a challenge.
“My daughter Brooke Joy and I were on the phone on speaker trying out many different titles,” she said.
“My granddaughter’s voice then piped up in the background and, looking up from her, iPad she said ‘why don’t we call it what it is – Annie’s story growing up strong on Boandik country’.
“And there it was.”
Aunty Michelle thanked all those who made the book possible.
“The final and most important dedication this evening is dedicated to the life of Annie Brice,” she said.
“Without her strength and fighting spirit, her decedents would not be here today to share her courageous story and keep Boandik culture alive.”
