Always was, Always will be

National Reconciliation Week: All In, All Year

National Reconciliation Week takes place from 27 May to 3 June, and this year’s theme is “All In”, a call for all Australians to commit to reconciliation every day through learning, listening and taking action.

This week, we are sharing the Reconciliation Week page from our published Always Was, Always Will Be Book, created by our AWAWb team. The page explains what National Reconciliation Week is and reminds us that reconciliation is about truth-telling, respect, learning from First Nations peoples, and walking together as a community.

At our whole-school assembly, our Year 6 Student Action Team leaders shared a thoughtful message about what reconciliation means at our school. They reminded us that reconciliation is an ongoing journey, not something that only happens during one week of the year. They also introduced two Woiwurrung words: Biik, meaning ground or Country, and Wilam, meaning home, camp, hut or shelter. These two chosen words help us think about connection to Country, community and belonging.

At the front entrance of the school, our Year 3 and Year 4 Visual Art display also beautifully reflects this learning. Students created colourful A4 acrylic landscape paintings inspired by the work of Arrernte artist Albert Namatjira. They imagined what the land around our school, home or favourite places may have looked like before roads, buildings and cars. It would be full of native wildlife, plants and open natural spaces. Through this artwork, students explored connection to place while developing colour-mixing skills using only red, yellow, blue, black and white paint. Please take a moment to have a look when you walk past.

We would also like to celebrate Carli J, one of our Koorie students, who was able to attend Dreamtime at the ‘G with her dad. This AFL match between Richmond and Essendon is a major celebration of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture, featuring traditional dance, music and special Indigenous guernseys. What a special experience to be part of!

As a school, we continue to be All In,  not just for 8 days, but throughout the whole year, across our classrooms, learning spaces and community. Stay tuned for our next newsletter, where we’ll continue sharing more wonderful learning, stories and actions from across our school!

First Nations Events + Resources 

(our school is not affiliated with any of these)

• Until 6 June: Uncle Larry Walsh’s story, Theatreworks, St Kilda
• 18 June, Thurs, 5-6.30pm: Glen Eira Storytelling Festival opening night, Carnegie Library and Community Centre — Forecourt.
• 21 June, Sat, 2 -3.15pm: The Shortest History of Australia, Glen Eira Town Hall — Auditorium, corner Glen Eira and Hawthorn Roads, Caulfield

Have suggestions for this page? Contact Ms Chong: michelle.chong@education.vic.gov.au