CELEBRATING FIRST NATIONS CULTURE
News from Bryan Carswell
Indigenous Liaison Officer
St Augustine's College Cairns
Beats of the Warup Drum, Steps of Tradition: Dancing into NAIDOC Week
Our Torres Strait Islander students have begun dance practice in preparation for next term's NAIDOC and Scholarship Leaders Dinner. Our dance group has grown from about 8 to 18 students. Many of the new dances are Saints family members from Year 7.
Many thanks to JJ Parsgaard, Torres Sabatino, Thomas King and Jack Tapim. They have taken up leadership roles in the group – whether as drum beaters, lumut players, singers, choreographers or as organisers who manage the students and offer cultural advice on the dances.
With the blessing of our Principal, Mr Glen Seivers, we have purchased a massive 1.45m long warup. We will be decorating it with Torres Strait designs in Saints colours.
The students are looking forward to our NAIDOC celebration and assembly on Thursday 31 July.
