Gregg Dreise is a proud Kamilaroi and Euahlayi writer and illustrator. In his book ‘Hello and Welcome’, primary school students guide the reader through a thoughtful and joyful welcome to their gathering.
While the majority of the book is written in English, the phrase ‘Yarma gurra dahn gooramay’, written in the Gamilaraay language of the Kamilaroi people, is repeated throughout the text alongside the English translation, ‘Hello, Welcome to our gathering’. These words are later paired with simple dance moves or gestures and included in a small glossary at the back of the book. In typical Dreise style, the text lends itself beautifully to rap, as demonstrated in the publisher’s readaloud video with the author.
Created using mixed media including pencil, paint and digital collage, each double page spread is filled with a spectrum of colour and set against a patterned background. Dreise’s happy, childlike illustrations at one point the dance across the page. These visual elements combine with the text to portray some of the excitement and seriousness of hosting a primary school assembly or corroboree. It balances paying respect with celebration, and places emphasis on different people coming together. It sets a hopeful tone for future generations.
This book illustrates an enjoyable and respectful welcome to these children’s gathering. This book would be a good starting point to explain to young people what a Welcome to Country is and how this differs from an Acknowledgment of Country.
Aboriginal and or Torres Strait Islander Resource
