Oral histories

A is for Aunty

‘The best things about school were the small bottles of milk we drank every day and the vegetable garden.’

As a child, author Elaine Russell lived with her family on the mission at Murrin Bridge near Lake Cargelligo in NSW. She attended the Aboriginal school on the mission. 

Elaine uses paintings and words to recount her memories – an illustrated oral history. 

Read the book

• What did the author like about her school day? 

• What games did she play at home and school?

• What toys did they make? How did they make them? 

• What traits did the children show in their games and play? 

• What places were special? How do you know?

A is for Aunty on YouTube (17:23min)

Connecting

• Draw and label a picture of Elaine at school or playing a favourite game.

• Create freeze frames of Elaine and her friends playing together.

• Invite an Aboriginal community member to share their family recipe for small dampers, johnny cakes or fried scones. Cook them at school.

Experimenting

• Compose a text of your days at school. Start each line with a letter of your name – 'T is for teacher'.

• Make dolly peg people with dolly pegs, pipe cleaners and felt.

• Make a model canoe from found materials such as a milk carton, pie dish or cardboard. Does it float or sink?

Supporting texts

Remembering Lionsville by Bronwyn Bancroft. Allen and Unwin (2016)

About Missions, stations and reserves, AIATSIS