Cooinda News

A big hello from the team at Cooinda and this year has been one of our biggest yet. The Cooinda kids have been truly Deadly this year and we are all so proud of them. They have all stepped up big time by challenging themselves to do things outside of their comfort zones. It has been such an awesome year for us all. Below are some pics of the good times we have had and the great things the kids have done. 

Thanks to Ari, who designed our Cooinda shirt we were all able to wear it to many of the events we participated in as you can see below:

Left – Ari presents her design to the whole school. Middle – Ari, Nixon and Presley and Right – the students who bought the first edition of the Cooinda shirt.

And we wore it to:

NAIDOC DAY CELEBRATIONS – Gosford High School

And we competed in it at:-

THE COOINDA CUP at Gosford High School

SAY HELLO TO OUR PODCASTERS ON MOB POD:-

Ethan, Laura, Bryce, Jasmine, Charlie, Sarah, Brendan, Zane and Ethan and a massive big thanks to Peppa Griffioen who offered this to us and then became the most amazing mentor to the kids. What a journey we went on and we all learnt so much about mob and podcasting. We will be forever grateful. Big thank you to Uncle Gavi Duncan, Alison Preece, Uncle Ken Warren and Uncle Anthony Leslie for allowing the kids to have a yarn with you on NAIDOC Day up at Wyong. Thanks to Mike at MMAD, Liesl Tesch and Gordon Reid who also put so much of their time aside to yarn with our young ones, they loved every minute with you both. 

WE ALSO DANCED ON THE NEW YARNING CIRCLE ON OUR FARM AND THE BOYS MADE THEIR DIDGERDOOS WITH CASEY NATTY 

And more biggest thanks to Casey for spending time with our kids teaching them dance and sharing your stories with them. You made such an impact on them with your presence and knowledge. What a joy it was to see them with you and a big thank you to Luke Fabila for organising it all. 

A BIG CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR STUDENTS WHO EXCELLED CULTURALLY AND ACADEMICALLY THIS YEAR:-

From Left to Right - Laura for best and fairest at the Cooinda Cup, Bryce, Ethan, Dylan and Larna at the Cooinda AECG awards and Jasime, Laura and Ethan with Tristan at the Youth Summit this year. Always stepping up you mob and we love you for it. 

AND A SPECIAL MENTION MUST GO TO ETHAN:-

Ethan from Year 10 has stepped up in so many ways and is well on his way to being a leader in this country. This year he experienced what it was like to be a politician by visiting Parliament House and hanging out with many of our Indigenous politicians who inspired him to follow his heart into politics. Ethan steps up to any challenge and opportunity that is offered to him. He is a high achiever academically and culturally and we all look up to him and support him here in Cooinda and HK.

Thank you to all our parents and caregivers for supporting your amazing kids and for allowing us to be part of their journey through school and culture. Every single one of them is important to us and we wish to see you all next year. Hope the holidays are safe, happy and most of all restful. Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. 

Lisa Selsby

Cooinda Cultural Coordinator