Singing sensations

Hilton Primary School students have sung loud and proud for the world premiere of a new children’s stage show created by award-winning singer-songwriter Gina Williams AM and guitarist Guy Ghouse.

The show, called ‘Aliwah Bardinar!’which is Noongar for ‘Look-out Rosella!’, told the story of how the Bardinar (Western Rosella) got its colours.

Hilton Primary School principal Carmel Bochenek said it was a great opportunity for the students and it was humbling to host the world premiere of the show.

“We were approached by Breaksea Productions to consider being a trial school to work with Gina Williams and Guy Ghouse on their newly created songs to tell the story of Aliwah Bardinar,” she said.

Each year group was allocated a song about a different barna (animal) and over the course of three months students worked with WA art organisation Breaksea and local artists to create headpieces and jewellery, learn Noongar language, vocal technique and songs, and traditional animal movements for the performance.

The animals featured in the songs included maarli (swans), kooba (red robin), djer djer (blue wren), kooyar (frogs), bindi bindi (butterfly), djidi djidi (willy wagtail) and koolbardi (magpie). The songs combined English and Noongar lyrics.

“The Aliwah Bardinar production taught so many skills to our students, staff and community, as we responded to the visiting artists, and engaged in making performance art through song, dance and costumes,” Dr Bochenek said.

“This was an authentic way for the students to understand the many components required to create a whole production.

“At Hilton Primary School, we think it is really important to find new, meaningful ways to acknowledge and continue learning about First Nations people, place, language and cultures. Aliwah Baridnar engaged us all in this deep learning.”

Students sang with all their hearts, sharing Country, culture and music with more than 1,000 people who attended the performance.

Dr Bochenek said the students loved being on stage with Ms Williams and Mr Ghouse and it was special to see their engagement and visible joy of being enjoyed in the project.

“Throughout the performance, there was a sense of this being a uniquely, wonderful experience - a once in a lifetime opportunity. It was moving to see the power of the performance on the artists, children and audience as the children sang in Noongar with Gina and Guy.

“The collaboration went beyond our immediate community. We were appreciative of having the use of Fremantle College's solar stage for the event, managed by two Fremantle College staff and two Hilton Primary school alumni.”