Meet the people behind Aunty Wendy's Mob

Wendy Notley

1990-1996: Wendy Notley is a non-Aboriginal early childhood trained teacher. She began working at Murawina Multi-Purpose Aboriginal Education Centre in Eveleigh St, Redfern NSW (otherwise known as ‘the block’) in 1990. Wendy has been one of the longest working non-Aboriginal teachers at Murawina.

Inspired by years of teaching Aboriginal kids, Wendy wrote a collection of songs in 1995 for the Koori kids in her class at Murawina to sing. The collection of songs honour Aboriginal children and celebrate Aboriginal cultures. The children and staff at Murawina loved the songs and encouraged Wendy to record them so that they could reach a wider audience.

Wendy received written permission to include the names of 11 Aboriginal language groups from around Australia, in the song lyrics on Growin’ Up Strong, her first album. She also received permission to include 3 language words from the Bundjalung, language. The lyric content of the songs was reviewed and is supported by Aboriginal Education and Community based groups in NSW.

Growin’ Up Strong was recorded in ’96 and was nominated for Best Children's Album by APRA in ’96 (National Australian song writing award).

1997: Growin’ Up Strong Teacher Resource Kit was published by Scholastic (‘97-99). Wendy developed the Kit in consultation with 11 Aboriginal communities from around Australia, Aboriginal Education and Community based groups in NSW and Pilawuk from the Ngangiwumerri Nation (NT). The Kit supported and extended the songs on Growin’ Up Strong.

1998-2002: Wendy developed some dance choreography to accompany the songs on Growin’ Up Strong to present in preschools and schools. The presentation is based directly on Wendy's songs and involves all children in song, dance and drama experiences that support and extend the messages in the songs.

Wendy shares her experience as a non-Aboriginal teacher to demonstrate how a non-Aboriginal person can embrace and introduce an Aboriginal perspective into the classroom. The Aboriginal Programs Unit and Performing Arts Unit (NSW Dept. of Education and Training) have accredited Wendy’s performance.

Wendy self-published the Growin’ Up Strong Teacher Resource Book (available for purchase).

2002-2004: Wendy wrote a second collection of children’s songs., which were to feature on her second album, happy to be me. The songs continue to affirm Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and portray experiences that all children can relate to.

2002-2003: was spent in pre-production, following the same protocol as with the Growin’ Up Strong CD - requesting and receiving written permission to include 21 different language names from communities around Australia. Some of the the songs include language words from the Bundjalung, Wiradjuri and Pitjantjatjara languages.

The lyric content of the new songs was reviewed and is supported by the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander language groups included in the song lyrics and Aboriginal Education and Community based Groups in NSW.

Rehearsals began with: Nardi Simpson (Stiff Gins and Freshwater vocalist/songwriter) - vocals/harmonies; David Roberts - bass; Ashley Donovan (The Donovans) - drums. The kids rehearsed the songs with Wendy in her kitchen: Nayden Simon, Taleena Simon, Rick Golding, Tyrrel Freeman-Mafi, Bre-arna Freeman, Jay-lara Freeman, Shanice Vincent, Syrenne Anu, Kuiam Anu, Izabella Tunis-Notley, Heba Alameddine and Laielle Alameddine...and they were great.

happy to be me was recorded and produced in 2004 with the money that Wendy had saved from performances and CD sales over many years.

2005-2007: The happy to be me Teacher Resource Book was developed in collaboration with Aboriginal education consultants and reviewed by the NSW Aboriginal Education Consultative Group and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Early Childhood Support and Advisory Group.

The 132 page Teacher Resource Book includes the illustrated dance actions to ten of the songs on happy to be me, extension ideas and blackline masters to support the songs.

The Teacher Resource Book was published by Blake Education in 2007 and can be bought directly from Aunty Wendy's Mob via this website. Blake Education plan to publish 10 of the songs on happy to be me as picture story books, illustrated by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists in 2008.

Wendy continues to present her songs, dances and stories in preschools and schools and regularly volunteers her time back into the Community.