It is the first and only bilingual school of an Aboriginal language in NSW and provides education for school-aged children of the traditional custodians of the region, the Gumbaynggirr People, plus other First Nations Communities.

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Many people in Coffs identify as Gumbaynggirr.

Blake is fluent in the language and previously completed a Cert 3 in Gumbaynggirr through the Muurrbay Language and Culture Co-Operative in Nambucca.

While not yet “technically” a teacher, the school model currently operates on having both a qualified teacher plus a Gumbaynggirr language expert in each class.

“Me getting a teaching degree eliminates the need for having two teachers, which would provide potential for the school to grow in size.”

Blake was surprised and humbled to be a recipient of the scholarship.

“I take the responsibility of being a language teacher seriously, and I’m committed to helping the revitalisation of the Gumbaynggirr language.

“The scholarship will help me with my uni fees and other costs of study, such as technology I might need.”

Blake started as a classroom educational assistant at Woolgoolga High School, where she worked for ten years, supporting both Aboriginal students and those with special needs.

All students at the school have lessons in the Gumbaynggirr language, so Blake also tutored other teachers.

During this period, outside of her school work, she participated in a weekly group dedicated to practicing and preserving the language they all cared about deeply.

Discussions often centred on what they could do to achieve this, including starting a school.

“That was our dream. The school was seen as the ultimate. To revive the language, we needed to teach the children every day,” she said.

After much work and gaining philanthropic support, the dream became reality with the school opening in 2022. Today there are 72 students and when the chance came for her to work there, the decision was easy.

Like many First Nations people, Blake grew up off-country, in Sydney’s Redfern.

“I went to ‘Clevo’ which was a majority Aboriginal school at the time.

“My grandmother was a member of the Stolen Generations, so she lost a lot of connection to her culture.”

Understandably, Blake is deeply committed to ensuring her family’s traditions and culture are honoured and preserved.

Because she lives and works on Gumbaynggirr country, she feels a responsibility to help revive their language.

Her own children and grandchildren being Gumbaynggirr only serves to reinforce this commitment.

“My passion is in Aboriginal education.

“I see the power in language and culture for our children. They are more confident, they believe in themselves, and they are then able to achieve in all areas of education.”

Member for Coffs Harbour Gurmesh Singh said the scholarship program “aims to contribute to the growth of Aboriginal languages by supporting recipients just like Blake to pursue training and education.”

By Leigh WATSON