About the Program

Yarramalka means Message Stick. The Yarramalka was a tool for communication in Adnyamathanha culture. Adnyamathanha Ngawarla Yarramalka is a language and culture program offered weekly in term time. Students gain insight into culture and language as they develop language proficiency. Classes include everything elders feel students should know about language and culture as well as language learning itself. The core program is conducted in separate classes for children and for adults, and is taught by Uncle Buck McKenzie and Aunty Gloria Sumner. In 2007 we have had also had Aunty Elva Bright, Aunty Margaret Brown, Aunty Elsie Jackson, Aunty Kaelene McMillan, Aunty Gloria Sumner, and Aunty Lily Neville as special guest speakers in the program. This Visiting Elder scheme is funded by a grant from the Port Adelaide Enfield Council. We also had an Adnyamathanha camp (funded by FaCSIA) in the Southern Flinders Ranges in July: three days of sharing between elders, parents and children.

Adnyamathanha Ngawarla Yarramalka strengthens the Adnyamathanha community, but is not exclusive. People from all backgrounds are encouraged to enrol.

This course brings parents, elders, children and youth together, collaborating for a better future. Parents usually support the class and enrol themselves. The fees help fund the course.

People behind the Program

Adnyamathanha Ngawarla Yarramalka is a not-for-profit project made possible by collaboration between Australians Against Racism Inc, Tauondi College, and the Adnyamathanha Community . Teachers are paid appropriately, but otherwise everyone who works for this project donates their time and skills.

Supporting Elders
Margaret Brown, Elva Bright, Jim Coulthard, Sarah Coulthard, Elsie Jackson, Buck McKenzie, Margaret McKenzie, Kaelene McMillan, Rene Mohammed, Lily Neville

Coordinators: Gillian Bovoro and Eva Sallis Website: David Mutton Artwork: Salote Bovoro and Kaeshan-Rae Khan Administration: Yasmin Aleem and Jenni Devereaux Major sponsors: Raimond Gaita, Greg Shalit and Miriam Faine Supporters and Sponsors: Australian Education Union, Denise Champion, Sonja Dechian, Burr Dodd, Ron and Sue Fraser, Barbara Hornung, Lolo Houbein, Jo McDonald: Port Stationary and Office Products, Heather Millar, CJR and LJ Payne, Roger Sallis, Bernhard Schebeck, Celia Summerfield, Guy Tunstill, Franziska Wagenfeld, Arnold Zable