Joint Winner of the 2008 Year 7 Geography Competition

Aborigines – ‘From the beginning’

With their movements giant creatures created our land, The country they formed held winding rivers and deserts of sand.

Bright colours smudged across our faces, We were the hunters of these wonderful places.

Holding our boomerangs and powerful spears, We danced with enchantment despite our fears.

Tales of magical myths were whispered into the fire, And soared into the great sky higher and higher.

Hunting and gathering until the sun had set, Using magic weapons and woven net.

We listened for the shrieks and looked for tracks, Of animals and birds of the great Outback.

Koala, possum, wallaby, wombat and kangaroo, Kookaburra, parrot, budgerigar, finch and cockatoo.

The underwater gardens of the coral reefs, As colourful as our leaders and brave chiefs.

We knew the dangers of this land, Red Back spider and salt water crocodile lying in the sand.

Sacred places we have marked, With carvings, dot paintings and X-Ray art.

Uluru lights up the desert with its fiery glow, Mystical paintings in special places grow.

At the end of the day we gathered branches from trees, With shelters made we fell to out knees.

That was how life used to be, Now we only dream of the past when we were free.

Rhiannon – 7M