Songlines on Screen: Goorrandalng (ATOM Study Guide)

This ATOM study guide has been designed to assist you with classroom preparation in relation to the viewing of the short film Goorrandalng. This film is one of eight films that have been made to record, celebrate and share precious historic and cultural information from Indigenous groups in remote western, northern and central Australia.

Goorrandalng synopsis
Granny Sheba Dilyingarri is ninety-five years old. Singing and visiting country are among her favourite things. She sings songs from her old people, particularly songs her mother taught her. In this film, Granny Sheba visits Miriwoong country in northern Australia's Keep River National Park with family members, including daughters and grandchildren, to pass on a story near the hill known as Goorrandalng, and a song for her mother's country.

The Goorrandalng or brolga song is taught with a dance to the young children so they will know country. Without knowing country, the children are lost, just as the country is lost without the children. The 'dreamtime' story for brolga is about when young women, visiting a billabong near Goorrandalm (the place of the brolga) were turned into brolgas.

On Granny's trip to Miriwoong country, other traditional knowledge is passed on, about the need for smoking people and for water blessings. These are to keep people safe in the country because the country is alive. And spirits in the country can also cause pregnancy if women who are having trouble conceiving visit a special place, a 'women-only' place near Goorrandalm (the brolga dreaming).

Goorrandalng is currently available to stream through SBS On Demand at http://www.sbs.com.au/ondemand/video/705549891577/songlines-goorrandalng-brolga-dreaming.

Curriculum links
This film provides opportunities for learning activities in Year 7–10 English and Media Arts.