Water bottled on Wiradjuri land, labelled in both the Indigenous language and English will help fund the revitalisation of the dialect.
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Ruth Davys and Pettina Love have launched their business Giilangyaldhaanygalang after a year of getting on their feet, conducting language courses for community groups and schools.
Dr Love said their motivation behind developing Galing bottled water, named after the Wiradjuri word for water, was to dedicate 10 per cent of profits to groups working to bring back the language.
“Each water bottle comes with a little conversation scenario in Wiradjuri and English,” she said.
“I’d like to see them being used by other educators – it’s a mini-lesson on every label – and I’d also like to see it at every major event on Wiradjuri country.
“Big Springs Water uses a natural spring south of Wagga, east of The Rock – it being bottled on the Wiradjuri land was very important.”
Mrs Davys said Giilangyaldhaanygalang had steadily gained a following since April.
“We completed our very first eight-week introduction into Wiradjuri language in November and we’ve continued that learning, but formally we’ve only been teaching in schools,” she said.
“We’re trying to get that community course we did up and running again, and we’ve been in talks with a couple of agencies to get that to happen.”
Dr Love said the next step was to find a home base for the business – the current office space is at a table down by the Murray River.
“It’s hard to get funding to be able to teach language and at the moment we’re both holding down full-time jobs as well,” she said.
“I think it would be good for the community if there was a space to speak and learn Wiradjuri.”
Dr Love expressed her thanks to supporters at the launch on Wednesday, at the Albury Wodonga Aboriginal Health Service.
“Uncle Stan is always saying things like – ‘You’ve got to listen to hear, look to see and think to understand’ – I suppose after spending time with him, we cottoned on pretty fast you have to make time in your life for the thing you think is important.”
For information or to buy water, go to www.giilangyaldhaanygalang.com.
