How we treat our environment greatly impacts the animals that live there. 

After noticing how tourists were treating native bush animals such as the vulnerable Quokka on the sacred Noongar cultural site of Wadjemup (Rottnest Island), artist, storyteller and respected Yamatji-Noongar elder Aunty Rhonda Collard-Spratt co-wrote Old Nana Quokka, to help spread a message of environmentalism, and shed light on the wisdom of our elders.

The story follows Old Nana Quokka, a small wallaby from south-west Western Australia, who is a healer and keeper of wisdom, who helps the other Australian bush animals who are becoming sick and injured as a result of tourist activities. In this Aboriginal Dreaming story, the animals teach us how to look after our sacred land and its animals. 

The Wire’s Aryana Mohmood spoke to Aunty Rhonda Collard-Spratt, to find out more about her book and the teachings it offers to readers and listeners…

Image: Source: Spirit of the Dreaming Website / Old Nana Quokka

Produced By: Aryana Mohmood

Featured In Story: Aunty Rhonda Collard-Spratt, respected Yamatji-Noongar, artist, storyteller and stolen-generation survivor

First aired on The Wire, Monday 3 July 2023