Working on the delivery of a Wiradjuri language and culture course has been a life privilege for Professor Susan Green.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
So when the Charles Sturt University course was honoured with the 2021 Patji-Dawes Group award, the academic recognised it as a secondary reward to the fulfillment she has seen in herself over the past few years.
"It's a fantastic recognition of the work our community and elders have done, and also of what the staff and students have done," Professor Green said.
"I know firsthand that this course can change lives."
In 2014, the inaugural class consisted of just 20 students. Now, there are currently 110 students enrolled and a further 70 due to graduate this year who have completed the course either last year or this year.
The graduate certificate in Wiradjuri language, culture, and heritage was awarded the Patji-Dawes Language Teaching Group award this year.
Related:
While the partnership to run the course through Charles Sturt University has only existed since the first cohort came through in 2014, the language and culture classes have been around in Wagga for a lot longer.
"In many ways, it's been running for more than 30 years with our community members working hard to help people learn the language and culture," Professor Green said.
In 2015, Professor Green was among the university's second cohort in the course. Along with Wiradjuri elder Dr Stan Grant Snr, Professor Green now oversees the graduate certificate program.
"I was living off-country, working at UNSW and I had always wanted to come home but the opportunity hadn't presented itself," Professor Green said.
"The course reconnected me with my country. Being able to come home has been the biggest thing for me, but the pride in being able to work alongside my community to restore our language and culture has been huge."
An unfortunately common story, Professor Green's family had been forcefully removed from Wiradjuri country generations before.
"I was born in Sydney, my father was removed and taken there," she said.
"I was removed as well and taken to QLD. I returned to NSW when I was 25."
For 27 years, Professor Green resided in Sydney, but, she said, it never felt like home. Only in the past three years since she's returned to her ancestral land in Wagga has she felt that connection.
"My children came with me and brought their families as well," she said.
"It took a couple of generations, but we came back home."
Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can continue to access our trusted content:
- Bookmark dailyadvertiser.com.au
- Follow us on Twitter
- Follow us on Instagram
- Follow us on Google News
- Make sure you are signed up for our breaking and regular headlines newsletters