As soon as you arrive in the town of Wagga Wagga, you are greeted you with Wiradjuri language.
Ngiyahni Wiradjuri mayiny
gawaymbanha nginyalgir
Wiradjuri-gu Ngurambang-gu
“We Wiradjuri people welcome you all to Wiradjuri Country,” the sign reads at the regional airport.
You see the language written around the town centre, at Wagga beach and on tee-shirts.
For the students graduating from the Wiradjuri language, culture and heritage course at Charles Sturt University, Wagga is a special place.
It's a place they feel connected to.
On graduation day, Wiradjuri man DJ Honeysett introduces himself in language proudly.
DJ says he wants to pass on Wiradjuri language to his children. Credit: Bronte Charles, NITV
"It's great for me and my personal growth and for my family and community," he told NITV.
He wanted to learn his language so that one day he could pass it down to his children.
It means so much to me to be able to pass that on for generations to come. I want my kids to know and their kids to know.
DJ says this course is his first qualification aside from his "lived experience".
“To be able to have a qualification in language is a deadly feeling. I don’t want it stop now, I want to keep passing it on to community and to my kids," he said.
He said that he was able to learn words and phrases that he felt connected to.
“My favourite Wiradjuri word is Walumarra which is to protect. As a father it is my obligation to protect and to guide young people," he said.
Joshua Simpson also graduated from the course.
Mr Simpson says he enjoyed the course to the point where his other classmates would call him the ‘teachers pet’.
He says the nickname starkly contrasted his journey within the Western education system.
Joshua Simpson (second from the right) taking a picture with his classmates on graduation day. Credit: Bronte charles, NITV
“Going into a university course, it was intimidating. But you’re not there to learn a white mans education - you’re learning your language of your Old People. Throughout the course I just blossomed and came into myself," he said.
Mr Simpson says that it's a huge milestone for the course to be celebrating ten years and that he hopes it's still around for decades to come.
For Aunty Bev Grant Lipscomb, graduating makes her feel dyiramadilinya (proud).
"It makes me very proud that the course is ongoing and that we're learning our language at last," Aunty Bev said.
The university course was developed by Dr Stan Grant Senior.
Even at 84 years old, Uncle Stan Grant Snr still attends the graduation ceremonies each year.
Uncle Stan Grant Snr congratulating Aunty Bev Grant Lipscomb for graduating.
"So glad to be here today on graduation day. Ten years since this course started. I'm proud of my brother who worked hard to get this all happening.
"I have my older brother Stan senior here and still with us [to] see the importance of what Wiradjuri language means to us," Aunty Elaine said.
Aunty Elaine Lomas and Uncle Stan Grant Snr celebrating with their family on graduation day. Credit: NITV
