Radical idea to blow up Aussie calendar
Nicholas Reece said there was merit in using traditional Wurundjeri seasonal calendars, which he said were more representative of the seasonal patterns in Australia than our current system. Trees in Melbourne spring to life during 'Porneet', which is Wurundjeri for 'tadpole season' or 'true spring'. NewsWire / David Crosling Credit: News Corp Australia
'In the Wurundjeri calendar, there were six seasons. It was a wet summer and a dry summer. A wet winter and a dry winter. And when you think about it, it makes sense,' he said.
Speaking to 3AW, Mr Reece argued 'we have gone and superimposed four seasons, essentially from Northern Europe'.
'They don't really match up with the weather patterns … this is actually quite an interesting idea, don't just rule it out' he said.
'This is one of those things where a bit of First Nations knowledge appears to make a bit more sense … Literally, wattle season starts and that week you look around Melbourne and all of the wattle trees have turned fluorescent yellow and it's beautiful.' Melbourne Lord Mayor Nicholas Reese believes the Wurundjeri calendar makes logical sense and clearly matches up with the city's seasonal transitions. NewsWire / Andrew Henshaw Credit: News Corp Australia
'Biderap', or 'dry season', is the first Wurundjeri season, which takes place from early December to early February and is considered to be 'high summer'.
'Luk', or 'eel season', takes place from early February until April and is considered 'late summer'.
'Waring', or 'wombat season', is early April to early June and characterised as 'early winter'.
'Gannawarra', or 'black swan season', takes place from early June to late July in 'deep winter'.
'Guling', or 'orchid season', is early spring and takes place from the end of July to late September.
'Porneet', or 'tadpole season', is the 'true spring', which takes place from late September to early December. During 'Biderap', or 'dry season', temperatures in Melbourne soar. NewsWire / Andrew Henshaw Credit: News Corp Australia
Most other interpretations of the Wurundjeri calendar include seven seasons, removing Gunnawarra, extending wombat season, and adding 'Buarth Gurru', or 'grass flowering season', and 'Garrawang', or 'kangaroo-apple season', in November and December respectively. Wombat season takes place throughout the coldest months of the year, which is when wombats leave their burrows to forage for food. NewsWire / Martin Ollman Credit: News Corp Australia
According to Wurundjeri woman Jacqui Wandin, First Nations seasons more effectively 'signify change'.
'During Biderap (high summer), the sun is much hotter, so be careful where you step! Luk (late summer) provides an opportunity to rejuvenate, reflect and learn,' she said.
'My favourite time of year is Guling (early spring) when the silver wattles are in full bloom, reminding us of Uncle Barak, our most courageous civil rights hero.'
Uncle Barak was a prominent Wurundjeri civil rights activist who engaged in high-profile negotiations and protests on behalf of First Nations people in Victoria throughout the late 1800s.
The idea to incorporate First Nations seasons into the Melbourne calendar was generated from the Melbourne 2050 Summit, which focused on what the city could look like in another 25 years.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Sydney Morning Herald
2 days ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
‘A snap then a rumble': Earthquake rocks Mornington Peninsula
A magnitude 3.2 earthquake has shaken residents awake on the Mornington Peninsula. The earthquake struck at 4.39am on Thursday at Main Ridge, near Red Hill, at a depth of 10 kilometres. The quake prompted more than 400 people to make reports to Geoscience Australia. A Rye resident who felt the tremor told 3AW it lasted about 5 to 10 seconds. Loading 'I was just dozing it sounded like a snap and then a rumble,' he said. Geoscience seismographs detected the tremor at stations spanning from Rosebud on the peninsula to Hallett in eastern South Australia, Cobar in outback NSW and the Tasmanian capital of Hobart. Earthquake expert Adam Pascale said residents up to 30 kilometres from the epicentre are the most likely to have felt it. 'If you're in a taller building, it might rock a little bit more because of the resonant frequency... but generally, for something of this sort of magnitude, maybe 20 or 30 kilometres,' he told 3AW.
The Age
2 days ago
- The Age
‘A snap then a rumble': Earthquake rocks Mornington Peninsula
A magnitude 3.2 earthquake has shaken residents awake on the Mornington Peninsula. The earthquake struck at 4.39am on Thursday at Main Ridge, near Red Hill, at a depth of 10 kilometres. The quake prompted more than 400 people to make reports to Geoscience Australia. A Rye resident who felt the tremor told 3AW it lasted about 5 to 10 seconds. Loading 'I was just dozing it sounded like a snap and then a rumble,' he said. Geoscience seismographs detected the tremor at stations spanning from Rosebud on the peninsula to Hallett in eastern South Australia, Cobar in outback NSW and the Tasmanian capital of Hobart. Earthquake expert Adam Pascale said residents up to 30 kilometres from the epicentre are the most likely to have felt it. 'If you're in a taller building, it might rock a little bit more because of the resonant frequency... but generally, for something of this sort of magnitude, maybe 20 or 30 kilometres,' he told 3AW.
Perth Now
2 days ago
- Perth Now
Millions in firing line for storms, rain
A severe weather warning has been issued for residents in Perth as weather forecasters anticipate an unusually wet spring in the coming weeks. From Thursday morning, a fast-moving cold front will move over Western Australia, bringing a band of rain and heavy wind gusts. The icy chill will bring strong north-westerly winds, reaching speeds of up to 100km/h along the west coast and adjacent inland areas. While the Bureau of Meteorology said these conditions were 'normal for this time of year', they have urged residents to be cautious as the wild weather could be potentially deadly. Residents have been warned to batten down the hatches as a wetter-than-average spring takes hold. Weatherzone Credit: Supplied Senior meteorologist Angus Hines said while the rain would be a 'thin band' passing over the state, it could bring a string of thunderstorms with it. The warning is currently in place for Bunbury, Busselton, Mandurah, Margaret River, Perth and Augusta. Residents have been cautioned against going outside, as the destructive winds could cause falling power lines and trees. 'Unplug electrical appliances and do not use land line telephones if there is lightning,' the bureau warned. 'Close your curtains and blinds, and stay inside away from windows.' The southeast coast is set for a battering of rain. NewsWire / Nikki Short Credit: News Corp Australia Strong winds are forecast to stretch from north of Perth to the southwestern corner of the state, moving to the Albany coastline and towards Esperance. 'It's this corner (where) we anticipate the strong winds,' he said. The cold front will stick around for much of the day before shifting east towards South Australia, which will bear the brunt by Thursday afternoon. It comes as a negative Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) is expected to emerge to the northwest of the country. A negative IOD would see ocean surface temperatures in the Indian Ocean drive moisture-heavy air towards mainland Australia. Senior climatologist Lynette Bettio said there would be 'likely wetter-than-average conditions' between August and October for much of the nation's south and southeast. The whole country will be subjected to changing weather conditions this week Windy Credit: Supplied On the opposite side of the country, the bureau also forecast a high pressure system on the east coast, which will bring a 'foggy, frosty and fairly cool start' for much of the states. BOM senior meteorologist Miriam Bradbury said parts of the east coast would be subjected to 'a few showers' on Thursday. Thunderstorms and showers are likely to pass over southeast Queensland, particularly across the Wide Bay area and parts of the Southern Capricornia. 'Rainfall totals are not expected to be high and thunderstorms are not expected to become severe across those southeastern regions – and that does include around Brisbane as well,' she said. However, Brisbane city will likely be hit with a shower or two on Thursday morning. The east coast will be hit with some light showers and frost on Thursday. NewsWire / Nikki Short Credit: News Corp Australia Further south in NSW, residents can expect widespread fog and frost, especially in the central and southern parts of the state. 'We could also see the chance of a thunderstorm across some of those northern coastal areas through the course of our Thursday,' she said. Sydney is forecast to have a slightly wet Thursday, with a few showers and a top of 17C. In Canberra, residents can expect light frost in the morning and mostly sunny skies, reaching a top of 16C. The fog and icy conditions can also be expected in Victoria, with temperatures dipping below five degrees 'for much of the state'. Melbourne, however, will see sunny skies on Thursday with a top of 18C. Hobart will see foggy skies in the morning with strong winds in the early afternoon and a top of 17C. In Adelaide, residents can expect a mostly sunny day with a maximum temperature of 20C. It will be wet and soggy in Perth, with a very high chance of showers and strong winds in the morning, reaching a top of 18C. Darwin will be sunny on Thursday, with a top of 33C.
