Como Secondary College Year 7s Flynn Narkle (left), Alice Archer, Alleyah Gidgup-Butler, Colin Carr, Jazmin Kenyon with Gina Williams.
Camera IconComo Secondary College Year 7s Flynn Narkle (left), Alice Archer, Alleyah Gidgup-Butler, Colin Carr, Jazmin Kenyon with Gina Williams. Credit: Supplied/Jon Hewson d481541

‘Reduced to a whisper’: Singer Gina Williams talks Balladong language with Como Secondary College students

Bronwyn DonovanSouthern Gazette

COMO Secondary College students undertook a creative history lesson this month with singer songwriter Gina Williams.

The college’s Year 7 students joined Ms William, a proud Balladong native with links through her grandmother to the Gitja people of the East Kimberley, in learning a welcome song in the Noongar language.

Williams began her musical career in 2014 after she saw her language being reduced to a whisper.

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“Our language is rare; it’s not commonly spoken and it is unique to Australia,” she said.

“It has been reduced to a whisper and I don’t want to see that continue to happen.

“Teaching this language to students is fantastic because they learn something new about where they come from and we get a lot back from the kids as well, with them usually asking fairly insightful questions that keep us on our toes.”

Williams, with her musical partner Guy Ghouse, released her second album Bindi Bindi in February.

“It is a privilege to do what we do and I am passionate about it; I am passionate about having this language heard by as many different people as we possible can,” she said.

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