THE hopes, love and dreams of Midland’s Moorditj Maaman men’s group rang out across Mandoon estate’s gardens last Saturday, carried through the songs they composed in Noongar language.

Midland’s Moorditj Maaman are a group of Indigenous men who have been working for months to create an album of lullabies that preserves Noongar language.

The theme of the album, Maaman Weitj, revolved around the nurturing side of male guardianship, as symbolised by the father emu from which the album takes its name, as reported in Lullaby legacy for Noongar men.

Under the overcast sky, the men’s group members looked out at the crowds of families gathered on the lawns with picnic rugs, ready to watch their album launch performance.

For the youngest Moorditj Maaman member Michael Cross, his personal song for the album was a chance to show his nephews and nieces how much he loved them.

When the members were asked who wanted to go on stage to perform their individual songs, Mr Cross was the first to put his hand up.

“My leg was shaking like hell,” he said.

“Getting on stage was really (nerve-wracking) for me, so I kept looking down at the songbook, but I got through the nervous part.

“I did my own song because I love my nephews and nieces.

“I love them to pieces, and I just thought about them when I sang the song”

The Midland community were first given a preview of the album’s songs during Midland’s NAIDOC celebration, as reported in Swan Lullabies celebrate language.

Mr Cross performed his song Djoorabiny, meaning happy, to the accompaniment of Community Arts Network language facilitator Kobi Arthur Morrison’s guitar playing.

The lyrics spoke of happiness found in simple pleasures like eating with the children in his family and the joy of conversation.

Mr Cross said learning Noongar language, which was a recent pursuit for him, and then putting the words into his own lullaby was an accomplishment he valued.

“I didn’t really speak in Noongar myself,” he said.

“I got taught by the men’s group which was pretty good, and we got taught through the (Noongar Boodjar Language Cultural Aboriginal Corporation) in Cannington.

“We got taught through the lullabies and it was an achievement to be able to speak Noongar through the songs.

“It’s really important that we got out there and sang in Noongar — it’s an opportunity for us to help our culture in our situation and I can’t wait to celebrate everybody with a lullaby.”

Moorditj Maaman member Darren Tyson also sang his lullaby Koorlal Ngany which was an anthem of leadership and bravery.

“My song is called Follow Me,” he said.

“It’s about walking alongside the Elders — when you walk, you never walk alone.

“I’ve always been a bit of a natural born leader and walk everywhere I go.

“I did a big loop around to Geraldton and just a big, long walk trying to find myself.

“I even walked all the way to my hometown of Meekatharra, walking out of Perth, past one town and then another getting blisters on my feet.

“My cousin is Clinton Pryor who did the walk of justice from Perth to Canberra and all my family walk, so it’s an important thing that connects us.”

Mr Tyson said he hoped Noongar language would be kept alive, and he still finds joy when he surprises people with seldom-used Noongar words.

“I spoke it pretty fluently when I was younger but stopped using it for a while, but I still like speaking it and using uncommon words or phrases and hearing people say, ‘I haven’t heard that in years’,” he said.

“It’s our own way of communication for me and my kids, and I teach them small phrases here and there.

“(My song) is for the children and keeping language alive.”

As at Midland’s NAIDOC performance, the group honoured the memory of Yagan’s role as a father, brother, son and leader through performing the lullaby they collaboratively composed: Booraka Yagan.

The sun began breaking through the rain clouds as the Moorditj Maaman members gathered on stage to perform the piece.

“Brave Yagan, strong leader,” the men sang in Noongar.

“Brave man, shout, spirit of Yagan.”

Children ran across the grass, some waving straw boomerangs they weaved at the totem making stall, while others sat with their parents, listening to them read the lyrics from the Maaman Weitj songbook.

The group finished up the album launch with an invitation for attendants to reflect on what they were grateful for, before performing their final song: Yeyi Yokai, meaning now celebrate.

“I’m grateful for that patch of blue sky,” Mr Morrison said.

“And I’m definitely grateful for these Moorditj Maaman.

“What are you guys grateful for?”

After a moment’s contemplation, people in the crowd began shouting back.

“I woke up today,” an attendant said.

“To be here with family and friends.”

Mr Morrison’s mother’s answer cut through the gap between the other offerings.

“Having a moorditj son,” she said.

The Maaman Weitj Noongar Lullabies from Swan album is now available on all major platforms.

The full album and songbook may be accessed by visiting the Community Arts Network website.