Community
7 June, 2024
Reconciliation Week: Now more than ever
SCHOOLS across the district recently marked Reconciliation Week through various activities, including Camperdown College and Derrinallum P-12 College.
Camperdown College junior campus principal Jacinta Tolland said students discussed National Sorry Day at their weekly library session.
“Students discussed our nation’s history relating to the Stolen Generations and each constructed a native hibiscus flower as the official symbol for this day, with these hibiscus flowers adorning our front entry,” she said.
“Each day was started with a beautiful picture story book that explored our First Nations peoples’ history and culture, stimulating discussions and clarifications to ensure informed and important messages were shared with our students.
“At lunchtimes throughout the week, our school pride leaders Onaya Senarath and Fletcher Gibbins, along with our art leaders, Zhai Krish Deposoy and Zander Horan, led activities that focused on the Aboriginal flag and the Torres Strait Islander flag.
“Sticks from our local bush areas were wrapped in wool representing the colours in the flags, whilst discussions about the importance of the flags and what their colours and symbols represent were facilitated. These pieces of art are proudly on display in our flowerpots in full view of our flags.”
Ms Tolland said the school also held a raffle during Reconciliation Week, with year one student Xanthe Harris taking home a donated Emma Stenhouse print.
“This print was raffled over the past three weeks with money raised going towards another First Nations cultural activity later in the year with the goal of furthering our awareness and understanding in this area,” she said.
“Emma Stenhouse kindly donated this print to our school in 2023 after working with our students to create a mural that represents the beautiful lands we call Camperdown.”
Camperdown College’s senior campus, meanwhile, engaged in discussions and activities throughout the week.
This included exploring the significance of National Sorry Day, looking at the story of a Stolen Generations Survivor, and learning about Eddie Mabo.
Students also marked the anniversary of the 1967 referendum to remove Indigenous Australian discrimination, as well as Torres Strait Islander Flag Day.
At Derrinallum P-12 College, students participated in activities focusing on how they could work towards reconciliation.
Acting assistant principal Sharni Moloney said students participated in school-wide exposure activities, including environmental collage, colouring competitions and educational videos.
“They’ve done some environmental at, and they’ve done some hand painting and then put it on the wall,” she said.
“We’ve done a few different things, lots more exposure looking at Sorry Day, like former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd’s apology, in the secondary end.
“Trying to get some more information out there about what Reconciliation Week is, why we do acknowledgements of country and things like that.
“The kids in the Prep/One/Two area made pledges of commitment to how they’re going to support reconciliation, which has been really good.”
Ms Moloney said students approached Reconciliation Week with open minds and have been “really receptive”.
“They’ve been responding really well, and really motivated to complete the activities and learn more about it,” she said.
“What we’re hoping for them to take away is more understanding about why we celebrate and why it’s important to celebrate and respecting Aboriginal culture and people.”
