NAIDOC week at Calrossy

NAIDOC Week and Service

NAIDOC was celebrated at Calrossy with a combination of ceremony, fun, trying new things, stepping up in leadership and hands-on learning.

The week formally started with a Commencement Cermony on the front lawn outside Calrossy House in Brisbane Street. Local Elder, Uncle Lenny Waters, shared a traditional yarn about the flying fox and welcomed those gathered to Kamilaroi country. Two Year 4 students, Pip Roberts and Ruby Pritchard, then shared an artwork made by Jamie Donovan after his time on local country at Trelawney station.

In the ceremony it was acknowledged that our history as a school and as a nation speaks of struggle, misunderstanding, oppression and heartache. Our Principal, David Smith, prayed for justice and reconciliation and we finished with a blessing written by an Aboriginal Christian Leader and Elders, Uncle Vince Ross.

In the Junior School we had a NAIDOC assembly on Monday where students delivered and acted out the Acknowledgement of Country. We also sang “Australian Ngiyani”

which is “I am Australian” in Gamilaraay. Six of our Year 5 students practiced a drama during the week that they performed at the Whole School Celebration. They mimed a story by Creed Gordon and Rhonda Ashby about a boy spending time in the bush with his Pop.

Our secondary students focused on First Nations stories and perspectives at their chapel services and assemblies. For our senior secondary students, a moving video of survivors from Kinchela Boys Home was viewed and David Smith shared his own journey of growing in understanding toward First Nations people.

There were workshops and cultural opportunities offered throughout the school. In “Indigenous tastes and smells” students had the chance to taste kangaroo sausages and chips flavoured with finger lime and Tasmanian Pepper Leaf. They also smelt Lilly Pilly handwash and got to make Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander and South Sea Islander flags with biscuits and icing.

Many students participated in weaving, art, ochre painting and learnt Gamilaraay language. The junior school workshops were entirely led by students who stepped out of their comfort zone and taught their culture. Their leadership was an excellent example of culture-sharing for the younger children.

A special treat was a visit from Latrell Allen from the Tamworth Local Aboriginal Land Council Opportunity Hub who brought a range of artefacts including traditional weapons, possum skins and coolamons. Students had the chance to handle the items and learn how they were made and used in traditional culture.

Our Whole School Celebration on Friday was a major highlight of the week and gave our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students the opportunity to stand tall in their culture and lead the school. We had more than 20 students involved in the event. Izzy Hawkins from Year 11 choreographed a beautiful dance that demonstrated how young people can reconnect to culture and country. Our Year 12 leaders, Evey Sutton and Beau-Yana Watts gave a powerful speech, challenging the school to embrace our First Nations heritage and stand up against racism.

During the Celebration our remarkable Elders, Uncle Lenny Waters and Uncle Mark Atkins deepened our appreciation of culture with their expertise. Uncle Lenny led a smoking ceremony before the celebration began and shared culture and a Welcome to Country during the service. When Uncle Mark played his didgeridoo the whole assembly were awe-struck. We felt honoured to have such leaders be with us and help us grow in our experience of Aboriginal culture.

We had a very well-attended Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) meeting afterwards in the library. Parents, students and community members came up with a number of areas where we, as a school, can improve our efforts for the benefit of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students, from the Pre-school through to Year 12. I will make the minutes available for anyone who is interested.

Our last event was a campfire with the male boarders outside at Simpson House. We were so grateful to Mykol Paulson and Harry Cutmore who joined us. Year 7 student, Henry Moore made us damper and the all the young men enjoyed yarn time.

It was a big week with great memories made and much to be thankful for. I was especially proud of the students and their willingness to take part, even when many were nervous or worried about what others might think. The feedback I have had back from staff and students was overwhelmingly positive.

There will be more information about our Reconciliation Action Plan coming soon and, as always, I welcome your input and suggestions about how we can best care for you and your students at our school.

There is s full photo gallery up on The HUB.

Kind regards,

Hannah Pollard