Walking Together on Wardandi Country: A special day for Bunbury Catholic Primary Schools
May 30, 2025

CDF was proud to support Bunbury Catholic College and local Catholic primary schools across the Diocese of Bunbury through sponsorship of the Wardandi Gift - an annual celebration of Aboriginal culture, language, and learning on Noongar Country. 


Held at Bunbury Catholic College, the event brought together over 200 students from five Catholic primary schools across the region. Now in its third year, the Wardandi Gift is becoming a recognised fixture in the Bunbury Diocese—an opportunity for young people to engage deeply with the stories, languages, and traditions of the First Peoples of the Southwest of Australia. 

The day offered a living example of how faith and culture can meet through shared experience and learning. Students were assigned to a Noongar language group; such as Koreng, Minang or Wagyl Kaip, which they studied throughout Term 1. They arrived at the event ready to present their learnings, wearing group-designed shirts that reflected the strength of cultural identity and connection to Country.

Nature's Symphony

Pictured: Lucas from Bunbury Catholic College 

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Faces of Humanity

Pictured: Bunbury Catholic College Principal Ben Priest and CDF’s Sally Brand celebrate with the winning team from St Mary’s Catholic Primary School, Bunbury.

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Highlights included traditional Noongar sports led by the Stephen Michael Foundation, a yarning circle exploring care for Country, and art and storytelling activities grounded in local Aboriginal knowledge. The event concluded with the spirited 4x4 relay race—where St Mary’s Catholic Primary School once again claimed the trophy, representing the Koreng group. 


CDF’s Relationship Manager, Sally Brand, presented St Mary’s with the winners trophy on the day.

“It was wonderful to witness such a vibrant celebration of education, culture and faith across the Bunbury school. The level of participation was amazing – I'm in awe of the children from all the various Catholic schools and so proud to be part of this community,"


Sally Brand, CDF Relationship Manager

Nature's Symphony

2025 Wardandi Gift winning team from St Mary’s Catholic Primary School, Bunbury

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Faces of Humanity

Students from St Mary’s, St Joseph’s, Our Lady of Lourdes, St Mary’s Donnybrook, and Djidi Djidi Aboriginal School came together in Bunbury for the event.

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If you’d like to help CDF continue supporting the growth of Catholic communities, you can put your faith into action by investing in the CDF Community Fund. Not only will you earn a competitive rate of interest, but your savings will help finance schools across the Diocese of Bunbury, and beyond, to continue the work the Gospel calls us all to do.

Learn more and apply today.

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