Dja Dja Wurrung Seasons

In 2022, a few of us on the FOBIF committee collaborated with Uncle Rick Nelson to develop a seasonal calendar for the Mount Alexander region by providing some of the ecological background. The seasons have now been printed onto tea towels, postcards and posters, accompanied by the stunning artwork of Daikota Nelson. A limited supply is now available at the Castlemaine Information Center and all proceeds go to Daikota and Uncle Rick. The seasons can also be viewed on the Council website here.

Dja Dja Wurrung Seasons tea towel, now available at the Castlemaine Information Center

When Europeans first arrived in Australia, they transplanted their traditional concept of the four seasons that had been developed in the northern hemisphere over millennia. But the continent of Australia is a vastly different place to Europe, with different weather patterns and unique species of plants and animals. One of the most striking differences can be found in autumn, which in Europe arrives as the deciduous trees begin to lose their leaves before the cold winter arrives. But in the Australian bush, there are very few native deciduous trees, so the concept of autumn is not so relevant. Similarly, winter in much of Europe is a very cold time when many animals hibernate. But in southern Australia, this is a very productive time when many animals breed and plants flower.

First Nations people have their own calendars, which are closely tied to the life cycles of local plants and animals. The Dja Dja Wurrung recognise at least six seasons, illustrating how different the local weather and ecology are from Europe.