Elite Adelaide private school St Peter’s College introduces traditional Aboriginal game Parndo

One of SA’s most prestigious schools is introducing a new sport to its footy field – one that uses a possum-skin ball and some old rules.

St Peter’s College students Oscar Kleinig, 13, and Hugh Harper, 13. Picture: Matt Loxton

Kaurna football is coming back to country with the game of Parndo soon to be introduced at one of South Australia’s most prestigious schools, St Peter’s College.

Parndo, an original football-style game played by the Kaurna people of the Adelaide Plains, is being used to build cultural knowledge and understanding with the game being taught to students in a new five-week course.

Leading researcher in physical education and sports coaching, Associate Professor Shane Pill said the approach to teaching Parndo – which uses a possum skin ball – encompasses eight ways of Indigenous learning.

“When we teach a new sport, most commonly we take a skills-first approach,” he said.

“But in our work with St Peter’s College, the school made it a priority to teach the core nature of the game – what its place is within Aboriginal culture and then over the five weeks, they set about introducing the skills of Parndo at a manageable pace.”

St Peter’s College students, Oscar Kleinig, 13 and Hugh Harper, 13 with the head of personal development Matt French (centre). Picture: Matt Loxton

Mr Pills said there has been a noticeable absence of Aboriginal games in the high school sport curriculum.

“Working with the school, we put together a five-week unit for Parndo using (Tyson) Yunkaporta’s work and the ideas of a learning map and of story sharing,” he said.

By incorporating Parndo, the game known as ‘Buroinjin’ in Kaurna language, Mr Pills says it became more than simply incorporating Aboriginal culture into the curriculum.

Student Oscar Kleinig, 13, kicking a Parndo ball. Picture: Matt Loxton

Parndo ball at St Peters College. Picture: Matt Loxton

Kaurna elder, Uncle Jeffrey Newchurch, welcomed the intuitive and said the “cultural intent” was good.

“It opens up the door for us to do cultural exchange,” he said.

“Our culture should be more valued and more on an equal footing within the education system because at the present moment, it’s not on an equitable footing.

“I notice that private schools are leading the way in cultural intent and they’re putting meaningful cultural intent by having proper engagement and equitable standing with Aboriginal communities.”