{"id":8860,"date":"2021-10-08T16:18:29","date_gmt":"2021-10-14T06:59:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/robmacps.vic.edu.au\/upschool\/?p=8860"},"modified":"2026-06-24T05:30:18","modified_gmt":"2026-06-24T05:30:18","slug":"the-witchetty-grub-people-the-manna-gum-part-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/robmacps.vic.edu.au\/upschool\/?p=8860","title":{"rendered":"The Witchetty Grub People &amp; The Manna Gum \u2013 Part 2"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong style=\"color: #000000\">WARNING:\u00a0<\/strong>Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are warned that this post contains names and images of people who have now entered the Dreamtime.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/central.digitalschools.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Thin-Grey-Line-2-1024x37.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"23\" \/><\/p>\n<h1>The Witchetty Grub People &amp; The Manna Gum &#8211; Part 2<\/h1>\n<p><em>Wurun Djeri<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>As I look over the gulley where the river,\u00a0Birrarung glides through, I see a landscape dominated by the silvered trunks and slender green leaves of the Eucalyptus viminalis. It is late May, and the gums have blossomed with creamy yellow flowers that fall all over the ground like small confetti. The birds get wild on the sugar of the blossom. They squawk and haggle on branches low enough I can about touch them if I tried. Lorikeets with their distinctive brassy voices fight pole position on hollowed logs, and I laugh at them, and they look at me, heads titled and call out to mates nearby to come and check me out.<\/em><\/p>\n<h2>Thank You<\/h2>\n<p>Thank you for the wisdom and knowledge you work so hard to protect. It is acknowledged that it is for our benefit that we keep the fires of our Indigenous wisdom alive. Our very survival depends on it.<\/p>\n<div class=\"video-ratio-16-9 whatever-embed-responsive\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"The Witchetty Grub People - Part 2\" src=\"https:\/\/player.vimeo.com\/video\/626179854?h=70a44ae010&amp;dnt=1&amp;app_id=122963\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"autoplay; fullscreen; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div>\n<h2>We are the land.<\/h2>\n<p>For a race of people whose experience of identity and reality \u00a0is inseparable from the land in which they come, it is no wonder then that the Wirundjeri tribe of the Kulin nation (Melbourne) take their name from the Manna Gum and the grub that lives in and around the tree trunks. The eucalyptus viminalis, or Manna Gum dominants the small reservoir of native bushland that hugs the banks of the Yarra River., the place of Birrurang and the Wurundjeri People.<\/p>\n<p><em>&#8220;The Wurundjeri People take their name from the Woiwurrung language word \u2018weren&#8217;t\u00a0meaning the Manna Gum (<cite>Eucalyptus viminalis<\/cite>) which is common along \u2018<cite>Birrarung<\/cite>\u2019 (Yarra River), and \u2018<cite>djeri<\/cite>\u2018, the grub which is found in or near the tree&#8221;. &#8211;<a style=\"color: #800080\" href=\"https:\/\/www.wurundjeri.com.au\/our-story\/ancestors-past\/\">https:\/\/www.wurundjeri.com.au\/our-story\/ancestors-past\/<\/a>)<\/em><\/p>\n<p>The European colonists named the White Gum, the Mann Gum &#8211; Apparently, Manna was a sweet tree sap collected by Israelites in the Old Testament, and the tree is a symbol of conservation and sustainable living to the colonists. To the native people of Melbourne, it is the self.<\/p>\n<p>For the indigenous clans, the Eucalyptus is important to the ceremony, <em>Welcome to Country<\/em>. It is significant to the Wurundjeri as it represents who they are.<br \/>\nWurundjeri Woiwurring people are the people of the Manna Gum, and the tree binds them to their ancestors and cultural wisdom. It provides them with medicine and healing, food, protection and natural resources.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/central.digitalschools.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/grub-banner.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1080\" \/><\/p>\n<h2>The Witchetty Grub<\/h2>\n<p>The Witchetty Grub or Witjuti Grub is the larvae of several wood-eating moths in Australia.<\/p>\n<p>This rather large grub is a staple in the diet of many different native Australian groups across the country and apparently, the cooked version is crispy chicken on the outside and raw egg in the middle.<\/p>\n<p>No comment!<\/p>\n<figure><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/central.digitalschools.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/The-Men-of-The-Yarra-bannerThe-Witchetty-Grub-People-The-Manna-Gum-Part-2-2.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1080\" \/><figcaption>This image is supplied by the National Library of Victoria. &#8211;\u00a0https:\/\/aboriginalhistoryofyarra.com.au It shows Wurundjeri men dressed in hunting gear and holding spears.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><em>Guest Contributor:\u00a0Emily Rack<\/em><br \/>\n<em>Business Name:<strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/em><strong><a style=\"color: #ff9900\" href=\"https:\/\/www.horatiosjar.com.au\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Horatio\u2019s Jar<\/a><\/strong><br \/>\n<em>Publisher:\u00a0Digital Schools<\/em><\/p>\n<p><i>Emily Rack is a \u00a0freelance creative writer and researcher, visual content creator and designer. She\u00a0is the head of the content production, publication\u00a0and editing for Upschool+ Guest Contributors. She designs and produces her own graphics and illustrations and is a\u00a0seasoned photographer and digital content creator.<\/i><\/p>\n<p><i>\u00a0Emily is schooled in\u00a0traditional yoga, ancient cultural dance from the east, and\u00a0mindfulness practices from the ancient\u00a0and new world. She has dedicated her life to\u00a0researching and understanding matters of the mind, body and the human\u00a0experience\u00a0and cultivating ways to\u00a0educate and\u00a0communicate how to live well here on earth.<\/i><\/p>\n<p><i>Communicating the urgent need for the\u00a0human community to pay attention to the decline of native and endangered\u00a0species is the primary focus of\u00a0her recent content. Her research and dialogue also include how to self\u00a0regulate and manage one&#8217;s emotions in times of trauma and stress. Gratitude,\u00a0forgiveness, compassion and\u00a0awareness are\u00a0the keystones to all that she does.<\/i><\/p>\n<p><i>Namaste.<\/i><\/p>\n<p><i>\u00a0\u00a0<\/i><\/p>\n<p>\u2014\u2014-<\/p>\n<p>PUBLISHER\u2019S DISCLAIMER: The publisher of this blog post (<a style=\"color: #808080\" href=\"https:\/\/www.digitalschools.com.au\/\">Digital Schools PTY LTD<\/a>) works in partnership with the school as a 3rd party provider to help build and maintain the school website. Digital Schools sources a range of experts who provide products and\/or services to educational institutions and we work with them to produce and publish topical information in the form of blog posts that we think\u00a0 may be relevant, interesting or topical to families within the community. The views, opinions and content listed in this blog post are that of the guest contributor and\/or publisher (Digital Schools). It should be noted that whilst the publisher and guest contributors are acting with the best intentions and in the best interests of the school and their community to provide helpful or interesting information, sometimes the content may not necessarily reflect the views of the school.<\/p>\n<p>The information in this blog post is not meant to be used, nor should it be used, to diagnose or treat any medical condition. For diagnosis or treatment of any medical problem, consult your own physician.\u00a0 The school and the publisher of this blog post\u00a0 are not responsible for any person reading or following the information in this article who may experience adverse effects.<\/p>\n<p>Any references to external websites or sources are provided for informational purposes only and do not constitute an endorsement by the school or publisher in any way and the publisher and\/or school cannot guarantee the accuracy of the information listed.<\/p>\n<p>If you have feedback on any content on this platform, you can submit it to the publisher using the feedback link provided at the bottom of this page.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>WARNING:\u00a0Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are warned that this post contains names and images of people who have now entered the Dreamtime.<br \/>\nAs I look over the gulley where the river,\u00a0Birrarung glides through, I see a landscape dominated by the silvered trunks and slender green leaves of the Eucalyptus viminalis.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":8859,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mi_skip_tracking":false},"categories":[248,137],"tags":[154,161,151,164,152,173],"cmb2":{"poster_feature_image":{"vid_m_player_background":"","vid_m_poster_image":"","vid_m_poster_image_id":""},"gif_feature_image":{"vid_m_gif_image":"","vid_m_gif_image_id":""},"video_movie_settings":{"vid_m_director":"","vid_m_actor":"","vid_m_imdb_ratings":"","vid_m_amazon_associates":"","vid_m_vid_tmdb_movie":"","vid_m_vid_tmdb_tv_shows":"","vid_m_vid_tmdb_thumb":""},"vid_ads_m_videoads_settings_post":{"vid_ads_m_video_ads":"","vid_ads_m_video_ads_type":"","vid_ads_m_group_google_ima":"","vid_ads_m_group_image":"","vid_ads_m_group_html5_video":"","vid_ads_m_group_html":"","vid_ads_m_vpaid_mode":"","vid_ads_m_vast_preroll":"","vid_ads_m_vast_postroll":"","vid_ads_m_vast_pauseroll":"","vid_ads_m_vast_midroll":"","vid_ads_m_group_dynamic":"","vid_ads_m_time_to_show_ads":"","vid_ads_m_time_skip_ads":"","vid_ads_m_time_to_hide_ads":""},"feature_image_settings":{"feature_image_position":""},"video_player_settings":{"single_video_style":"","video_player_position":"","vm_video_url_btn_choose":"","vm_video_url_btn_choose_id":"","vm_video_url":"","vm_video_ratio":"","vm_video_ratio_mobile":"","video_player_library":"","plyr_player":"","video_streaming":"","vm_video_shortcode":"","vm_video_timelapse":"","vm_media_subtitles":"","vm_media_sources":"","vid_vtt_preview":"","vid_vtt_preview_vtt_file":"","vid_vtt_preview_vtt_file_id":"","vid_vtt_preview_sprite_image":"","vid_vtt_preview_sprite_image_id":"","vid_auto_play":"","vid_preview_mode":"","vm_video_trailer_manl_url":"","vm_screenshot_preview":"","vid_tags":"","vid_p_sync_playlist":"","vid_c_sync_channel":"","get_post_format":"","multiple_links_structure":"","multi_links_title":"","original_video_title":"","multi_links_series":"","vm_video_multi_links":"","vm_duration":"","vid_social_locker":"","vid_locker_mode":"","vid_social_locker_id":"","vid_social_email_locker_id":"","vid_social_signin_locker_id":"","sv_login_to_watch":"","vid_membership_action":"","vm_video_trailer_url":"","vid_download_type":"","vid_download_target":"","vid_woo_product":"","vid_download_mode":"","vid_download_mode_trailer":"","vm_media_download":"","user_rating":"","user_rating_position":"","user_rating_mode":"","user_rating_multi_sets":"","ads_above_single_player":""},"video_auto_fetch_settings":{"vm_video_fetch":""},"video_fake_views_likes":{"vm_fake_views":"","vm_fake_likes":"","vm_fake_dislikes":""},"gallery_settings":{"gallery_position":""},"quote_settings":{"quote_position":""},"post_options":{"main_layout":"","main_logo":"","main_logo_id":"","main_logo_retina":"","main_logo_retina_id":"","main_logo_mobile":"","main_logo_mobile_id":"","main_logo_mobile_retina":"","main_logo_mobile_retina_id":"","sticky_logo":"","sticky_logo_id":"","sticky_logo_retina":"","sticky_logo_retina_id":"","main_nav_layout":"","header_background":"","theme_sidebar":"","single_post_comment_type":"","theme_background":""}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/robmacps.vic.edu.au\/upschool\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8860"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/robmacps.vic.edu.au\/upschool\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/robmacps.vic.edu.au\/upschool\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/robmacps.vic.edu.au\/upschool\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/robmacps.vic.edu.au\/upschool\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=8860"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/robmacps.vic.edu.au\/upschool\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8860\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":9162,"href":"https:\/\/robmacps.vic.edu.au\/upschool\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8860\/revisions\/9162"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/robmacps.vic.edu.au\/upschool\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/8859"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/robmacps.vic.edu.au\/upschool\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=8860"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/robmacps.vic.edu.au\/upschool\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=8860"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/robmacps.vic.edu.au\/upschool\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=8860"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}