Culture & Inclusion

Head of Special Education Services (HoSES)

Cultural Committee

NAIDOC Day at GSPS

Gundy State celebrated NAIDOC Day on Wednesday, 24 June 2026. This year's theme, '50 Years of Deadly!', marked the 50th anniversary of NAIDOC Week, celebrating five decades of recognising and honouring the history, culture, achievements and resilience of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. The theme acknowledged the Elders, leaders, artists and communities who have shaped this movement while celebrating the strength of culture, identity and community. It also looked to the future, inspiring the next generation to continue sharing stories, strengthen culture and work towards a more just and inclusive Australia.

We began the day with an Opening Ceremony led by our school leaders, Chloe and Tyriek, under the guidance of Mr Jackson, followed by Aunty Cheryl, who welcomed everyone to Country.

We were grateful and honoured to welcome Bigambul Elders Aunty Cheryl, Aunty Val and Aunty Di, along with Tanya Kirkegaard (DrumArm), Adam Osborne (Fire and Cultural Burning), and Kym Skinner from Goondiwindi Regional Council. We were also fortunate to have the First Nations Police vehicle, two BNTAC Rangers and the GSHS Mirii Dreamers join us. A special thank you also goes to Mandy and Mel, who cooked delicious Johnny Cakes at the Yarning Circle throughout the day.

Students enjoyed a variety of rotational activities, including learning with Aunty Cheryl, hearing about cultural burning and firefighting from Adam Osborne, exploring artefacts and games with Tanya, face painting with the Mirii Dreamers, outdoor games with Chappy Sonia, making nature bracelets, completing puzzles and colouring activities, identifying animal tracks, and, of course, enjoying the delicious Johnny Cakes!

The Cultural Committee would like to thank everyone who contributed to making our NAIDOC Day celebrations meaningful, memorable and a wonderful success.

NAIDOC Town March

On Friday, 26 June 2026, students in Years 4–6 proudly represented Gundy State School by participating in the NAIDOC Town March. Students marched alongside the community in support of NAIDOC Week, listened to Tanya Kirkegaard speak about the significance of NAIDOC Week, and enjoyed a cultural performance by Josh Brown and the Gaalaamay Dance Troupe, who shared stories through language and dance. The morning concluded with students sharing a delicious morning tea with members of the community.