Written by Lewis Donaldson
Now it’s not often you learn that a grandmother and grandson are graduating together from university. Karen Coe and Isaiah Church share their unique story after graduating from Charles Sturt on April 14th.
Last year, the pair completed the Graduate Certificate in Wiradjuri Language, Culture and Heritage, having studied part-time between 2023-2024.
Talking about why they chose this course, Karen said she wanted to speak the Wiradjuri language fluently.
“I’ve grown up in an era where I was stopped from speaking my language,” she said.
“But I can honestly say that I was so very proud that Isaiah chose to do it with me.
“I went to university to do this course after I supported him to complete year 12.”
It was a similar case for Isaiah who also wanted to learn the language and was motivated by his grandmother to continue studying.
“Learning new things with the person who inspired me to love learning in the first place… it meant a lot,” he said.
“Nan was intent on doing the course to learn the many things that she sadly missed out on from her elders.
“I can’t speak for her, but I know that I 100% would not have been able to get through it if she wasn’t studying alongside me.”
Karen, a proud Wiradjuri and Bundjalung woman, was raised on her mum Winnie Marlowe’s country at Brungle Mission – between Tumut and Gundagai – until she was 12.
She also has strong links to her dad Eric Marlowe’s Bundjalung country from Cabbage Tree Island.
In 1978, she completed her HSC at Tumut High School. Since then, she has worked in a variety of positions from education to health and employment, before retiring in 2022.
In 2004 Isaiah was born and raised in Canberra by his Wiradjuri family on his mum’s side and Barkindji family on his dad’s side.
Unfortunately, last year Karen’s daughter and Isaiah’s mother, Bianca Coe, passed away. But despite hardship, the two motivated each other to finish their degrees.
“[We] worked extremely well with each other,” Karen said.
“We’ve shared an unbreakable bond from the day Isaiah was born.
“He could use the technology which I found hard to understand and I can talk underwater with a mouthful of marbles!”
Isaiah, now 21 years old, noted the difference when working together.
“I remember feeling very unmotivated when I had to work on tasks by myself,” he said.
“But when we worked together, our different skill sets and knowledge complimented each other perfectly.
“[And at uni] it helped to be one of the younger students… I could get lots of help and advice from the older ones.”
Looking back, Karen said she was “honoured” to watch Isaiah and the other students become more confident throughout their studies.
“It’s extremely important that we continue to empower our younger generations,” she said.
“I was so proud to pass on stories from my Elders to the other students.
“The cultural connections we shared were invaluable.”
Now having completed their courses, Isaiah is setting his sights on a career in music.
“My dream is to become a professional composer… making scores for things like movies and games,” he said.
“I would love to incorporate my culture into my music.
“I’ve been learning how to play keyboard and guitar instrumentals that I’m looking to incorporate into full songs.”
For Karen, she hopes to use what she’s learned to help others.
“At this stage in my life, I will continue to support my Wiradjuri and Bundjalung mobs through my cultural knowledge,” she said.
“There are many people who are ‘lost’ in their cultural identity and who are misrepresenting our mob in society today. I hope to help address that with this degree.
“A big part too is constant truth telling. Just being honest and having honest conversations with people.
“I’m also currently writing a ‘Journal of a Lifetime’ – a way of putting my story down for Isaiah. It will help my grandchildren and others understand my story as a very proud Aboriginal woman.”
Now if there’s one thing to take away from this story, it’s that it’s never too late. Keep learning, keep doing – because you can make this a world worth living in.
Charlie blog is a SSAF funded initiative.
