Thuri Munga (Day Night)
We are all very familiar with the differences between thuri (day) and munga (night), but why are some animals active during thuri while others are active during munga? Visit the Museum of Geraldton these school holidays, join in with the NAIDOC Week activities and experience how science and a western understanding of day and night intertwine with Wajarri language and traditional cultural knowledge of thuri munga.
To welcome everyone back to the Museum of Geraldton, all July school holiday activities will be free.
Wirajuny and Ngurlarl (owl and eagle) Masks
Visit the Mid West Gallery and observe how each bird has developed special hunting skills and features to be active during thuri or munga. Choose from a thuri bird – ngurlarl (wedge-tailed eagle) or a munga bird – wirajuny (barn owl) kit to create your mask at home.
Dates: Friday 3 July - Sunday 19 July
Times: 9.30am – 3pm
Cost: Free
Age: All ages
Creating Creatures of Thuri Munga
Locate some thuri munga creatures in the Museum. Choose one, observe it closely, recording as much detail as possible. Collect some air-dry clay to create and carve a small thuri munga creature at home. This activity is available during NAIDOC Week.
Dates: Monday 6 July - Sunday 12 July (or until supplies exhausted)
Times: 9.30am – 3pm
Cost: Free
Age: All ages
Thuri Munga Card Game
Observe as many thuri munga animals you can in the Museum. Collect your game pack so you can test your memory and knowledge. A game for two or more to see who can collect the most pairs of animals.
Dates: Monday 13 July - Sunday 19 July
Times: 9.30am – 3pm
Cost: Free
Age: All ages
Bundara Ilgarila (constellations of the night sky)
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ highly complex knowledge of the night sky developed during the Dreaming when the earth was soft. Modern astronomy is working with traditional knowledge.
For Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples everything that is on the land is reflected in the night sky, including the behaviour of plants, animals and seasons, and ways to navigate. As part of your Museum visit, experience this strong connection that ‘always was and always will be’ for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Collect your bundara ilgarila take home pack to make four miniature constellation maps.
Dates: Friday 3 July - Sunday 19 July
Times: 9.30am – 3pm
Cost: Free
Age: All ages
Thuri Munga - What am I?
How many objects in the Museum’s Collection can you identify as something people used during thuri or munga, or both? What is your favourite object in the Museum used during thuri? What is your favourite object in the Museum used during munga? Play the ‘What am I?’ game by describing your favourite thuri munga objects and see how many clues your family and friends need to guess what they are.
Dates: Friday 3 July - Sunday 19 July
Times: 9.30am – 3pm
Cost: Free
Age: All ages
Gunduwa and Guwiyarl (echidna and goanna)
Explore the animals in the Mid West Gallery and find which one is missing – gunduwa (echidna) or guwiyarl (sand goanna, Gould’s monitor lizard). Why might one be hiding during the day? What do gunduwa and guwiyarl have in common and what do they do differently? Take a copy of the Wajarri song, bayanmanha, and dig, dig, dig like gunduwa and guwiyarl.
Dates: Friday 3 July - Sunday 19 July
Times: 9.30am – 3pm
Cost: Free
Age: 7 years and under (with parental guidance)