Describing weather
Introduction
Colonial settlers brought with them to Australia the concept of four distinct seasons. While this works for much of southern Australia, non-Indigenous people in the other parts of Australia identify seasonal change as wet and dry.
Indigenous communities have age-old seasonal calendars. For example, the Bininj/Mungguy people of Kakadu identify six seasons:
- gudjewg: monsoonal
- banggerreng: stormy
- yegge: cool
- wurrgeng: cold
- gurrung: hot and dry
- gunumeleng: hot and humid
The Australian Bureau of Meteorology hosts an Indigenous knowledge webpage where you can discover the seasonal calendars of other communities.
Norman B. Tindale, Map showing the distribution of the Aboriginal tribes of Australia, 1940, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-230054338
Norman B. Tindale, Map showing the distribution of the Aboriginal tribes of Australia, 1940, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-230054338
Learning activities
A diverse climate
- Investigate seasonal calendars with your class. Do the four 'European' seasons describe your local weather well enough? What circumstances might require a different approach?
- Connect with local Indigenous community Elders and invite them to share their knowledge about the weather where you live.
More to learn and do
Kathy Weeden reading her book Phonobet, illustrated by Kim Drane and published by NLA Publishing, at Enlighten at the Library 2024
People in the gallery looking at Grit & Gold exhibition items