Motivated by the 2023 NAIDOC message, ‘For our Elders’, Bass Hill Plaza engaged with author, Bianca Stawiarski, a Badimaya Badimia and Ukrainian woman, to write a children’s short story titled ‘Gami Winda and Dyindi Dyndi’, with students from Chester Hill North Public, Condell Park Public and Sacred Heart Catholic Primary schools, creating the illustrations – the best of which will appear in the book.
The drawings were on display at the centre for the community to cast their vote on the final illustrations, with the winners also receiving a certificate and a framed copy of their artwork.
Bass Hill Plaza Marketing Manager Anastasia O’Hara said they were honoured to be connecting with local schools’ existing programs to provide students with a better understanding and appreciation for the full history of Australia, learning about the culture of the Aboriginal people and Torres Strait Islanders.
She thanked the community for their involvement and invited everyone to download a digital copy of the book via the website in the coming weeks.
“We have a unique opportunity to allow children to be creative and think about how they can interpret community issues and events in their own way,” she said.
