National Reconciliation Week: Acknowledgement of Country

In the spirit of National Reconciliation Week, St Mary’s is proud to acknowledge the Wurundjeri Woi-Wurrung people of the Kulin Nation as traditional custodians of the land on which we play, train and gather.

Woi-Wurrung means ‘The Yarra People’ and these people have lived on the land for over 35,000 years.

There were four Woi-Wurrung clans. One of them called Wurundjeri Balug was divided into Wurndjeri willam and the Balug Willam. It was Bebejan’s Mob part of the Wurundjeri willam that occupied the Yarra River within Banyule. In fact the heir of this Mob was famous Aboriginal artist William Barak who is arguably one of the most significant figures in Woi-Wurrung history having witnessed the signing of Batman’s treaty and being of the last clan chiefs.