Understanding the patterns of the landscape in which we live and grow our food is crucial.
In the Illawarra, we are on D’harawal land. We acknowledge the Traditional Custodians, the Wodi-Wodi People, who have lived sustainably in this landscape for thousands of years and understand the complex and interconnected cycles of weather, plants and animals.
The Food Fairness Illawarra team recently caught up with D’harawal Traditional Knowledge-holder Dr Frances Bodkin, to learn a small slice of her extensive knowledge about the seasons and cycles in our area. We are now integrating Auntie Fran’s knowledge into our regular newsletter, by highlighting one of the six D’harawal seasons in each issue.
As the weather gets colder, and the days get shorter, we enter ‘Tugarah Tuli’, the time of the Burrugin(echidnas). Check out our summary of the D’harawal seasons and cylces, as well as a story on the Tugarah Tuli season, highlighting things to look out for in the landscape during the colder months.
D’harawal Seasons and Cycles
“The yearly calendar does not rely upon dates in months and weeks, or even an understanding of the solstices, but on key events that occur in the environment. These events involve specific plant flowerings and fruitings, and noticeable quirks of animal behaviour that occur only at certain times of the year.”
Dr Frances Bodkin, D’harawal Climate and Natural Resources
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The Time of Burrugin – Tugarah Tuli
Cold, frosty, short days (June / July)
This is the time when the male Burrugin (echidnas) form lines of up to ten as they follow the female through the woodlands in an effort to wear her down and mate with her, and when the Burringoa (Eucalyptus tereticornis) starts to produce flowers, indicating that it is time to collect the nectar of certain plants for the ceremonies which will begin to take place during the next season.
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Fair Food Champion: Aunty Fran
Frances Bodkin is an educator of D’harawal knowledge and holds a Bachelor of Arts and Sciences with five majors, one of which is Environmental Sciences. Aunty Fran shares ethno-scientific knowledge passed down by traditional clans and which is being increasingly referred to by modern research, in order to promote a deeper understanding of how to care for our natural environment.
Click here for her story
Our Field guide:
Embracing Native and Indigenous Foods
Indigenous Australians are the world’s first agriculturalists – sustainably managing land and producing food in this country for thousands of years. It has only been recently however, that modern Australian culture has begun to understand and embrace native foods as a sustainable, healthy and delicious alternative to imported varieties.
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We’re NOT Lovin’ It: West Dapto Maccas
Join us and local Illawarra residents to fight the proposal for a huge Mcdonalds outlet in the new Wongawilli village centre in west Dapto. This will have a negative impact on the health and wellbeing of the local community.
Click here for more
New Planning tool to make food secure
Australia’s first planning tool designed to support urban and regional Aboriginal communities to address food insecurity is now available.
The tool is available for download from the Prevention Centre website. It consists of an interactive web page, as well as a series of six PDF documents.
Volunteering with a Community Organisation
Volunteering is an excellent opportunity to get involved with the fair food community. Many food relief organisations and community centres run on a low budget so volunteers are always welcomed. Click here for more
Food Systems Governance survey
Are you part of an Australian community-based organisation or initiative working to build a healthy, equitable and sustainable food system? We want to hear from you.
Click here to participate in the survey.
Our awesome database of fair food events in the Illawarra region and online such as workshops, seminars, markets, community garden days, and cooking classes. We’ve listed a few exciting events coming up in the fair food calendar:
Kiama Makers & Growers Market
4th Saturday of the month (June 26, July 24)
Held at Black Beach, Kiama these markets boast delectable gourmet food, children’s activities & hand crafted goods.
Click here for more
My Pantry Store School Holiday Cooking
Workshop Monday 28th June – Friday 2nd July
Join My Pantry Store with their children’s cooking classes this school holidays!
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Hidden Harvest Wasted Wednesday
Last Wednesday of the month (30th June, 28th July) | 6:00pm – 9pm
Join Hidden Harvest at Births & Deaths bar for a unique dining experience: a three-course feast accompanied by a curated cocktail menu, created from food that would have otherwise gone to waste.
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Woonona Community Garden
Every Saturday | 8.30am – 10:30am
Bring a mug and wear your gardening clothes: including gloves and a hat. New and experienced gardeners welcome.
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Moonacres | Robertson
Seasonal Cooking with Sabine Spindler (Winter) – Sunday 13 June
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Winter Comfort Pie Making Class
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Proudly hosted and governed by Healthy Cities Illawarra since 2005
We acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of D’harawal Country where our organisation is located. We pay our deepest respects to the Elders past, present and emerging.
While FFI takes every reasonable effort to ensure that the information contained within this newsletter is correct at the time of issue, we recommend that the individual takes care to confirm details, as events especially are subject to last minute changes, and run at the organiser’s discretion.
