Aunty Robin Shipp, Aunty Zona Martin and Aunty Irene Bevin are respected Elders in their community in Toowoomba.
They dropped in to their local kindy to have a yarn with the children and adults, read stories and watch the children play and interact with each other.
Aunty Irene said she loved being at the kindy, reading stories and teaching children about Aboriginal culture.
‘Just seeing their faces, listening to the story, it’s good,’ Aunty Irene said.
‘Learning about culture is important because they’ll know who they are, and they don’t have to be ashamed.
‘I teach them a lot of the Aboriginal words I know so they’re still keeping up.
‘We educate them while they’re young.’
Aunty Zona said all people, young and old, were having a fun day at kindy.
‘I enjoyed Irene talking, and I told her to turn the book around so I could see what the little kids were enjoying because I wanted to enjoy it myself,’ said Aunty Zona.
‘I think it’s great for the kids, and even the adults who want to come down and join in.
‘Like
Jimmy Jackson came here today and he brought one of his little granddaughters, and she found a little friend, so they all enjoyed it.
‘You can hear the kids enjoying themselves, they’re very happy.
‘I am sure the adults enjoy it as much as the kids do.’
Aunty Robin agreed and said she loved being at kindy as much as the children.
‘I just love to see little kids having fun, out there playing in the sandpit, they just love it,’ Aunty Robin said.
‘Just their little personalities, it really sucks you in to what they’re doing in the playground, or when they’re doing artwork or anything really.
‘And they love the fact that they have all these lovely people who help them.
‘It’s a great thing to see the little kids with the teachers who are mostly Indigenous leaders as well.
‘I really think it’s important for them to get this education because it’s getting them ready for school.’
‘A lot of kids at primary school now are so shy but it’s usually the ones who never went to kindy.’
If you want to get involved at a kindy, contact your local service and ask how. Visit the
Childcare Finder to find a kindy service near you.
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