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Hi Rick, thanks so much for the workshops you did for lead up to the 8th Biennial Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Show and Cultural Festival , the kids loved them and we are still getting fantastic feedback. Please find attached a confirmation letter for your workshop on the 17th of May for the day of the festival, we look forward to seeing you there, thanks heaps

Dear Rick
The event was fantastic and to see the kids with their Emu feathers was just amazing. They all thought that they were the toughest warriors out there! Thank you again

Hi Rick,
Thank you - the kids loved it! Very hands-on and the best way to learn. The other teachers loved it too and have already asked me to book you for next year.

Thanks Rick!!!! We are blessed to have you working with our students

Dear Rick
Thanks so much for everything…you have been so easy to deal with! I help organise a large literature festival…if only all the presenters were as easy as you…

I did send you the ‘plan’ didn’t I? Attaching again in case!

Hey Rick,
As always you are a star.

Dear Rick
I was one of the participants at yesterday’s NAIDOC week celebration that was organised by the Department of Communities and Child Safety at the Mt Gravatt Service Centres. I didn’t really know what to expect from the day but I have to say I enjoyed the activities immensely. I absolutely admired your ability to make fire within minutes. One thing is for sure, I am not going to try getting on the Survivor!!! Thankyou for making yourself available for the day and that you have imparted some of the Indigenous traditions to us. It was a fantastic and fun day!! I hope we will you see next year, too!

Rick Roser Aboriginal Events Management ABN 92283142828 Fax 07 3319 8940
Blue Card ********/* P.O. Box 247 Fortitude Valley QLD 4006 Ph. 0422275601
Email: rickroser@bigpond.com or mavericktrading@optusnet.com.au

ABORIGINAL ART & CULTURE WORKSHOPS AT SCHOOL
(Accredited - Education Queensland Programs Touring Queensland Schools)

My name is Rick Roser - I am an Aboriginal Artist in Queensland, Australia, my artworks have been collected in the National Gallery & State Galleries, Museums etc....my Grandmothers country is Bigambul..(S.Qld)

I have visited more than a thousand Qld Schools, over the last couple of decades presenting many thousands of hands on workshops, creating murals and installations etc...with Teachers, visitors, students, Headmaster... everyone getting involved..............!! and it's been fantastic, terrific, wonderful and fun.

These hands on workshops have proven to be excellent for engaging kids...and with big shells of ochre, millions of emu feather hair decorations, scores of firemaking sticks, didgeridoos, boomerangs, spears, necklaces, arm bands...what's not to love? All the good things, all hands on - fully accredited & perfectly safe.
Because the Students learn real skills in a such a memorable way the activities have proven invaluable for Teachers to use as Indigenous references throughout the curriculum.

Hi Rick, Trust you are well. I'm trying to get you in early for next year again for an Aboriginal workshop session as you have wonderfully done in the past. Looking forward to hearing from you.

Dear Rick Thank you so much for yesterday. The students are happy and we are happy.I look forward to working with you again soon. Kind regards.

Rick
Thank You so much for today. You are a legend how you handled such large groups of children. I promise next year to split the groups. Anyways back to you, the children and teachers all gave positive feedback to your demonstration.

Dear Rick
I would like to again thank-you. The children enjoyed the interaction and took away lots of useable information on Aboriginal Culture and mementos. I will be in contact with you over the next week regarding resources.Look forward to talking to you then.

Hello Rick,You are an absolute gem! Everyone was very happy from the State Librarian to invited guests and as I was here again over the weekend, a lot of people have been asking when you will be here again!

Hey Rick,
Sorry buddy, I had to dash away for a couple of minutes of Sunday arve and by the time I got back, you were gone.Just wanted to say thank you for such a great week. Your knowledge and abilities are beyond extraordinary. It was a true marvel and privelidge to watch you at work.

Hi Rick,
Thanks for that fantastic experience you shared with us. I really enjoyed the experiences, and I loved being able to try things for myself. That beautiful fish you did on my arm lasted for 3 days (although the fins on my fingers came off when I washed the dishes that night). I showed all my friends and they loved it as well. Thank-you so much for that privilege.I hope to see you again next year for NADOC week.

RUNNING ORDER
.........Each individual activity takes approx 15 mins
At the workshop the students break up into groups of 4 and are given the necessary materials. I give a detailed demonstration and then the groups set to work. I start with fire making , show how it's done then invite the student groups to have a go, (Don't worry only I can rub 2 sticks together so hard they make a spark, then catch that spark in a handful of dry grass and puff on it to make a fire...but everyone loves to have a try. For younger students there is a Dreamtime story about the coming of fire rather than a lot of hands on and there is a discussion on safety and don't play with matches/lighters etc.) 10 - 15 mins
The firemaking activity is used to link all the activities
After a while I call a break and bring out the different coloured Ochres, demonstrate their properties, meaning, discuss their history.
Then I show how to make and apply the Emu feather and Beeswax hair decorations.
Call for volunteers who don't mind getting "a little bit messy"... all the hands go up... pick 2 and show the Emu Dreaming story through face painting, hair dressing/emu feather decorations and Corroboree. Ask who else wants to do that...all the hands go up again so we start with the first colour (Red).
After each person is painted and decorated they go back and have another go at the fire making or make more emu feather and beeswax hair decorations while they wait for the others to be painted with the red ochre...
Then I apply the last layer of ochre (White). As kids are completed they have a final go at the fire making or emu feather and beeswax hair decorations while they are waiting for the rest to finish. 15 - 20 mins

Then we go out to the oval and I show the boomerangs, different throws, huting methods etc and the use of a woomera to throw a spear a real long way and why.
Depending on the length of the sessions as required by the school, students may all take a turn at throwing the boomerang. 15 - 20 mins or just watch 5 -10 mins.

If time permits we finish with didgeridoo playing (polypipes - not really didgeridoos so there is no hoodoo for girls having a go, only I have a real didge**)10 mins

After 22 years presenting these workshops and performances all things are possible...30, 45, 60, 90 minute or even all day sessions are easy. Less of this session, more of that....

I routinely adapt the timetable to fit in with the requirements of the school.

Community involvement is often a feature of the workshops and permanent artworks; Murals, Sculpture & Artefacts have been created. (and Great B.B.Qs, morning teas etc)

A Typical Time Table could look something like this:
Session 1........... 9.00 > 9.45 ..........Session 3........ 11.00 > 11.45 .........Session 5........ 1.30 > 2.15
Session 2........... 9.45 >10.30..........Session 4........ 11.45 > 12.30 .........Session 6......... 2.15>3.00
Or as you require eg : 30 minute classes will give 9 sessions, preschoolers might double up etc.

The workshops are usually located in an undercover outdoor area close to the oval.

Hands on workshops are best suited to single or double class sizes ...with teachers present. Multiple class sizes are best suited to Demonstrations.

COST $750 per day + GST. All materials supplied (Travel costs may apply)

Thank you for taking the time to read through all this,
I do hope you find this outline of interest and look forward to hearing from you.
Best Regards
Rick Roser

Hi Rick, We had an amazing day last Thursday and the children have been able to make connections between what you have taught them and what we have been reading in fiction and non fiction texts, for example the Rainbow Serpent, which we have read a few times this term. We also love our mural and we hope to see a picture of it in the Western Times next week. I have forwarded your name onto my last school on the Sunshine Coast as i loved the hands on learning experiences. I hope we can get you back here next year! Take care

Hi Rick
Thanks for coming to our school. The kids loved it and still talk about the boomerang throwing and fire making especially!! The photos turned out well and you can see how engaged they were. When I asked them what they had learned it was surprising what they could recall and understood.Also surprising how some of the quieter ones had more to tell.
Please keep in touch and we hope to see you next year.


Dear Rick,
I'm so sorry I missed you on Wednesday. - when I came to say goodbye and pay you, everyone had gone.Thanks again for a fantastic presentation at convention. It was all I hoped for.Best wishes,

**There is an absolutely ridiculous myth that girls can't play the didgeridoo. There are examples of how this is incorect too numerous to mention but it has taken on a life of it's own and now it is accepted as general fact...that's why I use poly pipes, they work beautifully and only a complete dummy would call a piece of poly pipe a didgeridoo.