Fire Carriers

Welcome to our weekly FIRE (Friends Igniting Reconciliation through Education) Carrier section of our OLA school newsletter. Each week, one of our four student FIRE Carriers share a story about Australia's rich Indigenous history. These stories connect us more deeply to the land, the people, and the sacred spirit of this Country. For Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, the land is not just a place to live; it is a sacred part of who they are. Every tree, waterway, and animal holds a story and a lesson about respect, community, and looking after one another. By listening to these ancient stories, our school community learns how to walk together in harmony and protect our beautiful earth. We look forward to sharing these special stories with you throughout the term. 

Cathy Freeman

Cathy Freeman is an Indigenous Olympic gold medalist. 

She was born on February 16th, 1973 in Queensland to parents Norman Freeman and Cecelia Barber. She had four siblings, Anne- Marie, Gavin, Garth and Norman. 

In 1992, Cathy made her first appearance at the Olympic games in Barcelona, Spain. She was only 19 and made history as the first Aboriginal woman that competed for Australia at the Olympics. She competed in the 400 metre individual event and the 4 × 400 metre relay. She then competed in the same events 4 years later in Atlanta and won a silver in the 400 metre sprint. She ran her personal                                                                best of 48.63 seconds.     

In the same year (2000) Cathy lit the Olympic torch at the opening ceremony. The ceremony was held at the ANZ stadium in New South Wales. Australian Olympic Committee president John Coates chose Cathy Freeman to light the cauldron. He selected her as a reigning world champion, a prominent Aboriginal icon, and a powerful symbol of national reconciliation. 

At the 2000 Olympic games in Sydney Cathy won the 400 metre sprint! She ran it in 49.11 seconds, making her the second indigenous Australian to win a gold medal at the games. Cathy Freeman holds the 11th fastest time for the women's 400 metre sprint.  When she won, she ran a victory lap with both the Aboriginal and Australian flags. Cathy retired from athletics at the age of 30 in 2003.

Sophie Morel

FIRE Carrier