Skip to content

Parish

Nativity 24th Aug 2021-0047 (1)ver2

School of the Nativity is committed to nurturing our students’ spirituality and has a close association with the Aberfoyle Park Parish adjacent to our school. The parish, led by Father Paul Mwaura, welcomes students and families of all faiths to experience the rich traditions of the Catholic faith. Students and their families are invited to participate in:

  • The celebration of weekly class Masses with morning tea afterwards
  • Preparing for and celebrating the sacraments of Reconciliation, Confirmation and Holy Communion in a family-based and parish-led program
  • Ministries within the weekend Masses – welcoming, reading, commentating, being extraordinary minsters, sacristan, music, Children’s Liturgy
  • Children’s Liturgy which is offered within every Sunday Mass for children aged 4-12
  • Women’s Breakfasts held throughout the year
  • Study and reflection groups held throughout the year
  • Arranging their children’s baptism through the Pastoral Associate, Bianca Cotton

The school supports the parish conference of St Vincent de Paul as well as Caritas’ Project Compassion during Lent. These initiatives are led by the Student Leadership Team. The school community also supports Catholic Charities and Vinnies’ Christmas Food Appeal.

Church of the Nativity Garden

The garden surrounding our Parish Church has been landscaped with plants native to the local area on which the grounds are located.

Our school and Parish acknowledge the deep relationships First Nations people have with their land and respect their knowledge and understanding of the flora and fauna that exists on this land.

First Nations People have sourced food and materials sustainably since the beginning of the Dreaming, long before Europeans came to Australia.

European people needed food, building materials and medicines, so they experimented with plants similar to ones they knew and others they saw being used by First Nations People.

The Australian population comes from vastly different cultures and environments.

The beliefs and understandings about food, health, sickness, lifestyles and seasons are uniquely different.

Today we can learn from all cultures as we look to a future that values our local plants.

May we walk gently on this Country.

About the plants

Below you can learn more about the native plant species that were chosen for our Church garden and how First Nations people use these plants as food and medicine.

Native flora tiles (1)

Enchylaena tomentosa
(Ruby Saltbush)

First Nations People’s name
Kurrkuty (by the Wemba Wemba Peoples of north-western Vic and south-western NSW)

Ruby Saltbush grows in every state across mainland Australia. It may attract birds, bees, insects and lizards seeking food and shelter. The thyme leaves are natural antibacterial substance to rub out acne.

This species fruits and flowers year-round, producing berries that have a sweet, salty flavour. The berries may be eaten raw or soaked in water to make a sweet tea. The leaves are also edible, but as they’re rich in oxalates, they should be cooked before eating, or consumed sparingly.

Native flora tiles

Dianella revoluta
(Blueberry Lily or native flax)

First Nations People’s name
Mangard (Noongar Peoples of south-western WA)

It grows throughout most states of Australia and has approximately 25 species, some which still require formal descriptions.

First Nations People eat the fruits raw; they have a sweet flavour which becomes nutty when the seeds are chewed. The roots are pounded, roasted and then eaten. The leaves can be used for weaving to produce nets, bags and other materials.

The plant can also be used as a snake whistle. When blown into the hollow ends, vibrations and sound are created to lure snakes out of hiding which can then be hunted for food.

Native flora tiles (3)

Rhagodia spinescens
(Spiny Saltbush)

First Nations People’s name
Tjilyi-tjilyi, Purngep, Binga
Found throughout all states and territories of mainland Australia, it has soft, silvery blue foliage and a nice, dense habit.

It has been used by the First Nations People for thousands of years for both cooking and medicinal purposes. Seeds are collected to roast and grind for adding to damper, a traditional bush bread cooked over an open fire. The ashes of the burnt leaves can be used like baking soda and ground seeds used as a flour substitute. The leaves can be used as a poultice for burns and wounds.

 

Native flora tiles (2)

Correa alba
(White Correa)

First Nations People’s name
Unknown

Correa alba is native to south-eastern Australia. It is a low to medium growing shrub with an abundance of white flowers in late winter and spring. It is a habitat plant for the Eastern Spinebill bird.

Also known as Cape Barren Tea, Correa alba has been enjoyed by First Nations People for tens of thousands of years. The sealers in the Bass Straits also used it when their supplies of English tea ran out. Its taste has been compared to jasmine tea.

 

9

Banksia integrifolia ‘Sentinel’
(‘Sentinel’ Banksia)

First Nations People’s name
birrna (Gunai Peoples of Gippsland)

It has an upright, narrow growing habit, producing upright lemon, brush-like flowers which are loved by birds. The undersides of the leaves are a bright silver and the new growth bronze and then light green.

First Nations People have many uses for this tree including drinking the nectar which they also use to soothe sore throats. The dry flower cones can be used to strain drinking water or even as hair combs. Some groups use the woody cones as firebrands (burning wood that could be carried from place to place), and some groups use the wood to make a tool like a needle for weaving baskets and mats.

 

Native flora tiles (4)

Callistemon citrinus
(Endeavour Bottlebrush)

First Nations People’s name
Birdak (Noongar Peoples of WA)

This plant has vibrant electric red long bottlebrush flowers cover a 3m shrub in spring and summer. It has lovely, autumn-toned new leaf colour. It attracts bees, nectar-eating birds, butterflies and other insects.

The First Nations People use the flowers for their nectar and soak the flowers in water to make a sweet drink. Wood from the larger bushes can be used to make tools and weapons.

 

6

Callistemon salignus ‘Perth Pink’
(Bottlebrush – Myrtacea Family)

First Nations People’s name
Birdak (Noongar Peoples of WA)

An evergreen shrub with hot-pink small bottlebrush shaped flowers in spring and autumn. New leaf growth is also pink. This plant entices nectar-eating birds, bees and butterflies.

 

7

Callistemon ‘Purple Cloud’
(Bottlebrush – Myrtacea Family)

First Nations People’s name
Birdak (Noongar Peoples of WA)

An upright growing Bottlebrush with vibrant purple bottlebrush flowers from Spring to Summer. A beautifully shaped tree with a naturally bushy growth habit. Callistemon flowers provide valuable food for birds, insects and small mammals.

 

8

Kunzea Pomifera
(Muntrie or Emu Apple)

First Nations People’s name(s)
Muntharri or Munter, Ngurp (Ngarrindjeri peoples of the Coorong, South Australia) Ngurp (Bunganditi peoples, lower south-east of South Australia and southern Victoria), kitja, boorn, poorndil or condil (Noongar peoples of south-west of Western Australia).

This plant bears clusters of berries that turn purplish/red and fragrant as they ripen. The berries are crouching taste like a spicy apple. They can be eaten raw or cooked. They contain up to four times more antioxidants than blueberries.

They are found along the southern coast of Australia. They were a favourite of the Ngarrindjeri people of the Coorong. Surplus fruit was made into flat, dried cakes and traded with other tribes. The plant oils were used to treat insect bites and infections.