Isaiah Firebrace with junior students from Cobram Anglican Grammar School.
Photo by
Owen Sinclair
A special guest recently graced the district as part of Reconciliation Week events held across the country.
Hold tight - we’re checking permissions before loading more content
Eurovision contestant, musician and author Isaiah Firebrace spent the morning at Cobram Library on Friday, May 30, where he gave an insightful reading of his debut children’s book, Come Together: Things Every Aussie Kid Should Know about the First Peoples.
Goulburn Valley Libraries chief executive officer Felicity Macchion said it was fantastic to have Firebrace pay a visit.
“I’m so proud to have him up here and to read his book,” she said.
“There are so many things about First Nations culture that aren’t taught at school.
“So we need to learn to tell more stories, listen to more stories, get involved with our First Nation communities and live and breathe what they went through.
“There’s so many great subjects in that book that any age can learn from it.”
Isaiah Firebrace (centre) with Moira Shire Council communications manager Jenna Bishop, director of community Scott Williams, GV Libraries CEO Felicity Macchion, council chair administrator Dr Graeme Emonson and Cobram Library manager Jess Anderson.
Photo by
Owen Sinclair
The book, illustrated by Jaelyn Biumaiwai and published by Hardie Grant Explore, discusses 20 key aspects of First Nations culture in Firebrace’s accessible style.
It was a full circle moment for the proud Yorta Yorta and Gunditjmara man, who grew up in the Echuca-Moama district and even played against the Cobram Tigers as a junior footballer with the Moama Football Netball Club.
“As much as I wanted to write this book for kids, it’s taken on this whole new life where I feel like anyone who picks the book up can learn something from it,” Mr Firebrace said.
“It’s a base knowledge of the things I personally feel every Aussie should know about and learn about First Nation culture.”
The book canvasses subjects like the stolen generations, the difference between an acknowledgment and a welcome to country, and the life of Yorta Yorta activist William Cooper.
Part of national reconciliation week, the live event was broadcast to the Numurkah, Nathalia and Yarrawonga libraries.
National reconciliation week, this year, centres on the theme of Bringing Now to Next, encapsulating the ongoing link between past, present and future.
The national week lasts from May 27 to June 3, Mabo Day, which celebrates Eddie Koiki Mabo and his successful High Court bid to have the legal fiction of terra nulius overturned.
It comes as the Yoorrook Justice Commission enters its final month of public hearings with community members across Victoria on the historic and ongoing injustices inflicted on Aboriginal people since British colonisation.
The Commission is due to hand down its final reform report in June.
It will conclude its truth-telling process at the end of the month.
Come Together: Things Every Aussie Kid Should Know about the First Peoples is available online through Booktopia and Amazon.
5°C