Tjapukai - Aboriginal Cultural Park

Last night the kids had a big decision to make.  We had been planning on going to Hartleys Crocodile Adventures but another family then told us how good the Tjapukai Aboriginal park was.  So.. the kids had to decide which one they wanted to do.  They made a list and Tjapukia ended up being the winner because they had seen Crocodiles at Australia Zoo but if they went to the aboriginal place they could learn to throw a boomerang.

To Tjapukai we went, we where greeted by aboriginal men in their lap laps and traditional body pants and the women where dressed similar.   We went to the womens hut and learnt about bush foods and medicines.  Then down to learn spear throwing,  I think the kangaroos will be safe when the red elephants are on the hunt.  Boomerang throwing seemed to be more our thing.  One came back and landed right at my feet.  Grace and James boomerangs also returned to them.  Next was a corroboree  where the story of the kangaroo hunt was performed.  We also got to join in singing and watch a traditional fire ceremony.  Oh and yes the Red Elephants did join in the corroberee centre stage dancing the Brolga, Cassowary and Kangaroo.

James then had his face painted warrior style and of we went to have a lesson in the Didgerido  for some reason the joint seemed to empty out.  Not sure why,  Mr Red Elephant embraced his inner indigenous and made a bit of noise.

Back we go for more Boomerang throwing and spear throwing.  The guys where really good and put their bodies on the line when the boomerangs looked like they would decapitate Grace and James.

We decided we needed more practice with our dancing so we had our own private Red Elephant dance lesson.  The guy who was teaching us was so good, he really did look like the animals he was dancing.

Story Rocks different from my Blog that rocks we painted story rocks.  They tell a story and are good luck omens.

Grace and I returned to the womens hut to learn some basket weaving.  The lady did not turn up but we meet another chap from Torres Strait  who was of to make a grass skirt  he said we could join him.  He ended up showing us how to make a lightning bolt weave from coconut leaves.  I hope he got to make his grass skirt for tonights performance!

The kids wanted to stay to watch the last corroboree of the day, so we did.