STUDENTS at McDonald Park Primary School recently received a special delivery from Australia Post to encourage students to experience Aboriginal language.
Mount Gambier Post Office manager Joanne Leyden and postal delivery officer Dianne Horbury visited the school with copies of bilingual children’s book Moli det bigibigi (Molly the Pig) by Binkari woman Karen Manbulloo.
The visit was enjoyed by the school’s A2 class, whose students were read the story by Ms Horbury in english before a video version was read in kriol.
“This visit is a great opportunity to get out into the community and showcase indigenous literacy,” Ms Leyden said.
“I hope that sharing Moli det bigibigi with these young Australians will encourage a joy of reading and a curiosity for the world around them.
“Connecting with the community is an important part of my role as a postal manager and this visit is particularly special in helping to raise awareness of the Indigenous Literacy Foundation.”
Following the reading, students discussed their favourite parts of the story and asked Ms Horbury and Ms Leyden questions about their work at the post office.
Australia Post head of community Nicky Tracey said she hoped the program would help introduce more students to the kriol language.
“Our partnership with the Indigenous Literacy Foundation helps to ensure children across Australia have access to quality books and more than 40 per cent of these feature indigenous authors or illustrators,” Ms Tracey said.
