Reconciliation Week
Bairnsdale Secondary College
On Tuesday 27th May, our staff and students participated in a Whole School Assembly for Reconciliation Week.
The theme for this Reconciliation Week this year is 'Bridging Now to Next'. This theme reflects the ongoing connection between past, present and future. Our assembly was an opportunity to highlight as a community that we continue to step forward together, to look ahead and move forward as the past guides us.
Our assembly started with a Welcome to Country by Elder Aunty Glenys Watts. Our College Captains then had an opportunity to discuss what Reconciliation Week means to them and the importance of strengthening relationships and understanding between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and non-Indigenous peoples, for the benefit of all Australians.
In preparation for our assembly 18 students from Years 7 to 12, accompanied by Lois Whelan, Thomas Hood, Yvonne Rooney and Sam Poynton, visited the Lake Tyers Trust and The Keeping Place. During this experience the students created a short film to highlight the importance of reconciliation – not only for indigenous Australians but for non-Indigenous people as well. During the assembly students shared their reflection of this amazing journey into the heart of history and culture.
At the assembly an artwork was unveiled to our College community. This artwork has been worked on over the past 12 months by students and staff and will be placed in the Wurrin Hub.
It is an incredible piece of artwork created by so many interested, invested and talented people throughout our learning community here at Bairnsdale Secondary College. We extend our appreciation and are absolutely in awe of our Art and Technology learning areas, specifically led by the collaboration and commitment of Steph Reggardo, Shane McFadyen and Mark Molineux.
The artwork has been brought to life on a canvas that has been carefully sourced, stretched, prepared and painted by a massive group of our students throughout the entire College. This makes it a true collaboration and a powerful symbol of unity that we at Bairnsdale Secondary College should be proud of.
Congratulations to all our students and staff for their involvement in our assembly. The assembly and this week is a time to reflect, learn, and take meaningful steps forward — we all are glad of this opportunity to acknowledge the deep and continuing connection between the Gunai Kurnai people and country.