Reconciliation Week
Vermont Secondary College
Vermont Secondary College
Reconciliation Week - National Sorry Day
On Monday 26 May, our school came together to acknowledge National Sorry Day as part of Reconciliation Week 2025, themed 'All In'.
Students worked collaboratively to record a special assembly, which was televised into all classrooms on the morning of the 26th — a great way to make sure every student could be part of this important occasion.
A big thank you to all students involved in the recorded assembly:
MC – James P
Opening Address – Juliet O
Acknowledgement of Country – Theo P
Speech on Reconciliation & our school's commitment – Xavier F and Naz E
Paul Keating's Redfern Speech – Olivia M
Poem: Song of Hope by Oodgeroo Noonu (Kath Walker) – R
A special mention to Xavier and Naz, who wrote beautiful pieces reflecting on the theme of 'All In' — being recorded is no easy task and they did a wonderful job. Xavier and Naz's speeches are shared below.
On Tuesday the 26th of May, a group of Student Leaders attended the Whitehorse Council’s Sorry Day Ceremony. The day included a speech on Reconciliation from the Mayor and a Welcome to Country smoking ceremony from Uncle Colin Hunter the 4th, alongside the formal raising of the Aboriginal Flag.
The day marks a commemoration of the National Apology delivered by Kevin Rudd in 2008, to acknowledge the trauma and hardship that First Nations children and families were exposed to at the hands of the government throughout a period known as the Stolen Generation.
Thank you to all the students who gave up their time to attend, and a big thank you to Ms Westmore for organising it all.
We are proud of the way our students approach moments like these and look forward to continuing this journey of reconciliation together.