Manjimup High School students make ‘flying’ boomerangs for belated NAIDOC Week celebrations

To celebrate NAIDOC Week, Manjimup Senior High School students made their own handcrafted boomerangs and were taught how to fly their creations. Aboriginal Islander education officer Katrice May said students took ownership of the project, designing them themselves and learning more about indigenous culture. Students from Year 7 through to Year 10 participated in the two-day workshop as part of the school’s NAIDOC Week activities this year. “I just couldn’t get over how many people wanted to be involved in it — we started off with 20 boomerangs, and then we ended up doing 70,” Ms May said. “It’s an old Indigenous tool that we used to make to have fun. “There’s different boomerangs you can make, there’s hunting ones — this wasn’t a hunting one. This was the play toy flying one.” Ms May said the boomerang making experience was a good fit for this year’s NAIDOC theme centred on being loud and proud. “I’m just so proud to see how far we’ve come in reconciling with each other, all cultures coming together, especially on the most important week, NAIDOC Week,” she said. Working alongside metals and woodwork teacher Brian Walsh, Ms May led the students in learning about the common indigenous symbols used in Manjimup. Mr Walsh helped the students craft the boomerangs and gave lessons on the flying techniques. The students tested their boomerangs outside, and if they were not able to fly on their first tries, they had the chance to go back to the workshop and perfect their carved angle. “Everyone was really focused on trying to fly it because it’s a hard technique, especially with wind,” Ms May said. “Mr Walsh was also able to throw his boomerang and catch it with his two hands — everyone was pumped. “I felt the day went awesome. I had lots of kids come in from all different backgrounds and learn the significance in our boomerang making. “It felt very genuine — they’re our allies, and they’re happy to be part of our activity that we do on NAIDOC Week. “They weren’t scared to do it — they embraced it. They went home, they showed their families, and to me, that’s beautiful. “For the Indigenous kids, they have that sense of pride, and to not be ashamed to be who they are, and have their friends and their peers to be involved. The students were able to take their boomerangs home with some kept for display at the school.