General News
24 February, 2022
Learning the native tongue
MORTLAKE College students are set to gain a deeper understanding of Indigenous language and history after welcoming Uncle Locky Eccles to the classroom this week.
MORTLAKE College students are set to gain a deeper understanding of Indigenous language and history after welcoming Uncle Locky Eccles to the classroom this week.
Uncle Locky, who is a Gunditjmara Elder, will visit the school on Tuesday each week to hold five classes across differing year levels, exploring the rich history of the world’s oldest thriving culture.
He jumped at the opportunity to help bring the subject to Mortlake College when principal Sean Fitzpatrick reached out last year.
“Schools are calling out for it to be embedded in their curriculum,” Uncle Locky said.
“I’m flat-chat with Mortlake College on a Tuesday, I’m in the Koori Courts on a Friday and I teach at Warrnambool schools on the remaining weekdays.”
Demand for the subject has seen an increase in recent years, which Uncle Locky said had led to a growing need for educators.
“We would need at least 10 more staff just to cover all the kindergartens in the Moyne, Corangamite and Warrnambool council areas.
“We need to get more language workers but during COVID-19 we’ve had trouble training other indigenous language workers to take on the load of other schools.”
Uncle Locky began teaching around eight years ago, beginning with teaching language in kindergarten, and noticed students gained a quick grasp during lessons.
“The last four years I have completed a Certificate III in Learning an Endangered Aboriginal Language, and then I’ve done a Certificate IV in teaching,” he said.
“I am one of nine highly qualified people across Victoria able to teach language.
“The students are just after it, and they pick it up so quickly. The younger the students are, the more like sponges they are. They just pick it up.”
The lessons will rely on an approach which engages language, storytelling, music and art.
“We cover everything from language to our history, depending on the age of the students,” Uncle Locky said.
“With the prep students we will look at basic language, but with classes such as years five to six we include a bit of history and cultural awareness, including the stolen generation, but I don’t go too heavy with the younger students.”
Uncle Locky said seeing the growing interest in Indigenous language and history, and the engaged response from students, was heart-warming.
“I feel fantastic about the enthusiasm,” he said.
“I’m 69 years-old and it keeps me going.
“It’s great for the students to be getting that exposure to our native history. It’s what it’s all about.”
Mortlake College principal Sean Fitzpatrick said the subject was a welcome addition to the school’s curriculum.
“We haven’t had LOTE for around the last three years, so I think it was the perfect opportunity to introduce a language I think is important,”he said.
“It will become a lot more mainstream in Australian schools.
“We’re not doing it because it’s a trend, but it’s where Australia is moving as a nation as we embrace something which is close to us, to learn a bit more.
“The kids have really enjoyed the day, and we look forward to sharing more of their learning with the community.”
