Connecting with Country

Our school sits on Country rich with stories, knowledge and living culture. Connecting with Country means recognising the deep and enduring relationship Aboriginal peoples have with land, water, plants and animals — relationships built on care, respect and reciprocity over tens of thousands of years.

Through exploring the local flora and fauna of the Cumberland Plain, we honour the Traditional Custodians of this land and the knowledge systems that continue to guide sustainable living today. Each plant and animal shared here holds cultural significance — as food, medicine, tools, shelter and story — and reflects the strength and resilience of Country.

We invite our community to discover, learn and reflect on how we can care for this place together.

Flora

Discover and learn about our local flora.

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Plant Name (English): Lomandra

Plant Name (Indigenous): Durawayi

Lomandra leaves were valued by Aboriginal people for weaving and healing. They were tightly wrapped around sore or injured parts of the body, offering relief from aches while also being strong and durable for weaving practical items such as baskets, mats and nets. The fibrous roots were turned into cordage for tying and crafting tools, while the flower spokes provided a valuable, carbohydrate-rich food source.

Artist's depiction (Jamie Eastwood)

Plant Name (English): Lomandra

Plant Name (Indigenous): Bamuru

Aboriginal people value Kangaroo Grass for both food and tools. Its long stems were woven into nets for catching fish, while the seeds were ground into a nut-flavoured flour used to make traditional bread or damper.

Artist's depiction (Jamie Eastwood)

Plant Name (English): Blackthorn

Blackthorn is a hardy Cumberland Plains shrub, flowering with striking white blooms in summer. Traditionally used by Aboriginal people for tools and fish spear tips for its strong thorns, which helped them with hunting and gathering. The berries were an important food source eaten fresh or preserved for later.

Artist's depiction (Jamie Eastwood)

Plant Name (English): Coffee Bush

Coffee Bush grows along Cumberland Plains creek beds, producing apple-like fruits that ripen black. It's valued by the Aboriginal people for its leaves and berries for their energising effects, roasting the berries to create a stimulating drink for long journeys. Additionally, the leaves were used for traditional remedies believed to provide health benefits, dyes, sun protection, and art.

Artist's depiction (Jamie Eastwood)

Plant Name (English): Native Frangipani

Aboriginal people used the Native Frangipani for drinking and as a medicine. The flowers were often infused in water to create a refreshing sweet beverage with a pleasant flavour. Additionally, the leaves and bark were used for their medicinal properties, with some applications including treatments for skin irritations and other ailments. Its a shade-providing tree that attracts birds and symbolises resilience.

Artist's depiction (Jamie Eastwood)

Plant Name (English): Grass Tree

Plant Name (Indigenous): Gulgadya

Aboriginal people harnessed the Grass Tree for both food and materials. The resilient leaves were woven into baskets, while the resin became a powerful adhesive for creating spear tips and axes to wooden handles and shafts. Its flower spikes not only offered nourishment in sweet nectar but also aided in fire starting.

Artist's depiction (Jamie Eastwood)

Plant Name (English): Weeping Grass

Aboriginal people harvested Weeping Grass, using its nutrient-rich seeds to created damper, a simple yet sustenance rich bread. This resilient grass was also woven into beautiful dilly bags, which were strong enough to hold many essential items.

Artist's depiction (Jamie Eastwood)

Plant Name (English): Bottlebrush

Plant Name (Indigenous): Bunya

Aboriginal people used the Bottlebrush for food and medicine to treat infections and skin irritations. The bird-attracting shrubs provided nectar and, around camps, useful cover and habitat. They also extracted sweet nectar from the flowers and brewed the leaves into a drink.

Artist's depiction (Jamie Eastwood)

Plant Name (English): Blue Flax Lily

Plant Name (Indigenous): Wirrawirra

Aboriginal people used the Blue Flax Lily for both food and medicine. The plants edible tubers were an important food source, often roasted or ground into a paste. Additionally, various parts of the plant were used in traditional medicine, for example, leaves were applied to wounds for their soothing properties. This straight forward remedy supported movement and everyday outdoor work on Country.

Artist's depiction (Jamie Eastwood)

Plant Name (English): Forest Red Gum

Plant Name (Indigenous): Burrungora

Aboriginal people use the Forest Red Gum for medicine and habitat. The tree's bark provided materials for canoes and shelters, while the sap (kino) was harvested and used as a natural antiseptic to treat wounds and prevent infections. Hollows housed flying foxes, sugar gliders, owls, and snails. Additionally, the durable wood was crafted into weapons and digging sticks.

Artist's depiction (Jamie Eastwood)

Plant Name (English): Cabbage Gum

Plant Name (Indigenous): Daranggara

The Cabbage Gum can be found near creeks on the Cumberland Plain. Aboriginal people used the gum as both a food source and for its medicinal properties, while also using the timber for tool-making. The gum was consumed as a sweet treat and had antiseptic qualities, making it useful for treating wounds.

Artist's depiction (Jamie Eastwood)