Mikaela Eddy - 2024 Messenger for the 5 Lands Walk.
Introducing Mikaela Eddy, our 2024 Messenger for the 5 Lands Walk
My name is Mikaela Eddy, I am a 17-year- old woman proudly from the Biripi tribe, raised on Darkinjung land.
I am currently a year 12 student at Brisbane Water Secondary College Woy Woy Campus where I'm studying English, Society and culture, Community and Family studies, Visual art, and Aboriginal studies. I have a strong passion, connection and interest in my culture and my studies, which has led me to become a dedicated and hardworking student in all my classes, in particular to excel Aboriginal studies.
Further, I’ve actively participated in a variety of cultural activities and events such as the Koorana Cup. I have also had the opportunity to teach cultural dances to primary school students and to be a part of the school's Indigenous dance group. These experiences have deepened my connection with my cultural heritage and allowed me to share my culture with others.
I have a high passion for doing my best and pushing myself out of my comfort zone to achieve my goals. This drive motivates me to continuously do my best and take on new challenges with determination and enthusiasm inside and outside of school.
Looking ahead, my ambition is to attend university and pursue a career as a primary school teacher. I aspire to inspire young minds and make a positive impact on their early education. To do this, I'd like to attend Newcastle University or Macquarie University.
The 5 Lands Walk Message 2024
In the first, pure light of dawn's embrace,
Sacred Yango stands, a timeless base.
Above, a bird spirals, its flight a lore,
Echoing the Ancestors, “Tread softly, adore.”
"Yaama, yaama," calls the spirit-guide,
"Pause your steps, let haste subside."
Rain has spoken to the land anew,
Underneath these skies, vast and blue.
The light we seek, the dark we fear,
Paths diverge when shadows draw near.
Red belly warns with a serpentine hiss,
"Remember the old ways, in them find bliss."
Some choose paths long and winding,
In each turn, the light still finding.
Carved stories on ancient rock stand,
Teachings of Dreamtime, shaping the land.
The didgeridoo hums, a deep, grounding sound,
A beacon by the elder, where light is found.
In the silence that follows, the land speaks,
Of wisdom carried by the creek’s gentle leaks.
Strangers meet, exchange their tales,
In learning, a sacred bond prevails.
Transformation demands its toll,
In resistance, find the growth of your soul.
The sun’s rays pierce through, a gentle kiss,
A feast of warmth, a promise of bliss.
You are the change you’ve been waiting to see,
Prompted by darkness, in light, you're free.
Through each moon’s phase, face your fears,
With the light as guide, through shifting years.
The land cleanses with every flood,
Embrace the cycle, renew your blood.
The bird returns, its call profound:
“Listen, slow, let peace be found.”
In being, not doing, we trace our tracks,
Through stories lived, in bold acts.
Walk with reverence, under sky’s embrace,
With each heartbeat, find your place.
In stillness and action, balance your night and day,
In the dance of light and shadow, find your way.
The Message Stick
Created by Gavi Duncan
The message stick is an important symbol used in the traditions of Aboriginal people. It connects everyone in times of great ceremony to bring people together and celebrate the sacred stories of life.
These stories passed down, generation to generation, from the time when the great Creator Spirit Baiyami stepped down from the Mirrabooka, the Milky Way, onto Mount Yango, some 75 kms northwest of the 5 Lands. As the sacred lores were given, the message told that we always continue to celebrate our ancestors of Earth and Creation, remembering those journeys through time which give us the life we enjoy to this day.
The preservation and protection of our environments, the kinship and the relationships of our families and peoples, acknowledgments and respect that in turn creates a balance between all living things.
We send the Message Stick through our communities for the gatherings, to come together to strengthen those connections and the spiritual values in life.
As the sacred lores were given, the message told that we always continue to celebrate our ancestors of Earth and Creation, remembering those journeys through time which give us the life we enjoy to this day.
2024 will mark the 15th year that a Message Stick is carried through the 5 Lands on the day of the Walk. It is carried by the Messenger, an Aboriginal Youth, representing the youth of the Central Coast and the Aboriginal community.