NAIDOC Week
🖤💛❤️ NAIDOC Week 2025 @ Mazenod College ❤️ 💛🖤
A week of pride, learning and cultural celebration filled with sport, culture, reflection and community connection. From powerful assemblies and Mass to spear throwing and bush tucker tasting, our community came together to honour and celebrate First Nations culture and identity.
🏀 Monday: Indigenous All Stars vs Staff Basketball
Energy and excitement filled the gym as the Indigenous All Stars faced off against the staff in a friendly but fiercely competitive basketball match resulting in a 25-23 victory for staff. Full of laughs, skill and passionate support from the crowd, it was a powerful start to NAIDOC Week.
☕ Tuesday: Morning Tea & Annual NAIDOC Football Match
A warm morning tea in the Boarding House allowed staff to connect over traditional foods, prepared with care by our boarding catering team.
In the afternoon, our top oval hosted the Annual NAIDOC football match, preceded by a heartfelt Welcome and Smoking Ceremony by respected Whadjuk Elder Josh McGuire. A beautiful moment of connection with Country and culture.
⛪ Wednesday: NAIDOC Mass & Assembly
The day began with a reflective and faith-filled NAIDOC Mass, led by Fr Michael Twigg OMI, celebrating the spiritual significance of the week. At the NAIDOC Assembly, our First Nations students led a powerful celebration of voice, story and pride.
Highlights included:
- Welcome to Country by Josh McGuire.
- Inspiring address from guest speaker Samuel Stubbs.
- Cultural performance by Guildford Grammar’s Boodjar Bidi Program.
- Launch of the Marmun Yirra Boodja program and new student-designed shirt.
- Videos featuring Indigenous students, Old Boys and cultural leaders.
🎥 Watch for these videos on our social media soon.
🪃 Thursday: Spear & Boomerang Throwing Workshop
Students took to the top oval to test their skills with traditional spear and boomerang throwing. With a few near hits (and a few comical misses), it was an engaging and adrenaline-filled afternoon that highlighted traditional knowledge and hands-on learning.
🎀 Friday: Braiding Workshop & Bush Tucker Tasting
Our final day featured a braiding workshop in the quadrangle where students crafted bracelets and anklets in Nation colours. Alongside this, students sampled kangaroo meatballs, native sausages and kangaroo sausage rolls - a great way to connect through food and culture.
On behalf of the College and the Indigenous Education Team we want to express a heartfelt thank you to our students, staff, families, cultural guests and performers who helped make NAIDOC Week such a powerful and memorable experience. Your openness, participation and pride helped us as we learn and walk together and to keep culture alive - today and for the generations to come. We look forward to continuing the growth of NAIDOC week celebrations here at the College.
📷 More photos and highlights will be posted soon on socials...
Miss Amelia Nunnerley