Ibu Dinah teaching about Wayang puppets
In Week 3 this term, Vasse Primary School hosted our first Indonesian Language Learning Ambassador for 2026. Ibu Dinah took a week away from her marine research at the University of Western Australia to visit Vasse PS and share Indonesian culture including Wayang Puppets, the Kecak Dance from Bali and huge masks and puppets from Java called Ondel-Ondel. She spoke about wildlife in Indonesia, including the Ikan Mola-Mola (Sunfish), which lives only in very warm, deep oceans (these would be handy in Busselton as they eat jellyfish).
Students enjoyed learning about Batik, the wax-resist dyeing technique used to create patterns on the fabric of Indonesian clothing. They also learned about traditional Indonesian games and sports, tried skipping with a rope made of rubber bands and marvelling at videos of Sepak Takraw (soccer x volleyball) and Pencat Silat (martial art). Some students helped Ibu Dinah prepare Es Campur, an iced drink containing Jackfruit, coconut jelly cubes, strawberries, apple, Coco Pandan syrup and sweetened condensed milk.
Skipping with a rope made from woven rubber bands. • Ibu Dinah teaching about Ikan Mola-Mola (Sun Fish). • Batik demonstration with Room 28, drawing with a Canting.
“It was interesting listening to everything about Indonesia.” Hanna
“The coconut jelly was good. Where can you get it?” Emelia
“I’m interested in learning about the stilts. How do they do that?” Billie
“It was interesting to see what people do in Indonesia.” Grace
Making Es Campur, a traditional Indonesian Drink.
Terima kasih banyak (thanks a lot) to Ibu Dinah for visiting us and to the Australian Government for funding the Indonesian Language Learning Ambassador Program through the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
Ibu Jackie Drake
