O'Donoghue/Kenny Day

NAIDOC Week at Berwick College was full of opportunities for students to celebrate and learn about Indigenous culture, with Ken-Donoghue Day providing a fantastic way to finish off the week's celebrations.

The lunchtime BBQ was a huge success, with our Kanga Bangers, traditional beef sausages and the ever-popular O'Donogh-nuts all selling out. Thanks to the incredible support of our students and staff, the event raised well over $700, with all proceeds being reinvested into future student projects and initiatives at Berwick College.

Throughout the week, students also took part in a Buroinjin tournament, a traditional Aboriginal ball game. What started as a simple lunchtime activity quickly grew into one of the highlights of the week, with students from all year levels enthusiastically getting involved. The level of participation, sportsmanship and house pride on display was outstanding, and it was fantastic to see so many students embracing the opportunity to learn and compete.

Ken-Donoghue Day was just one part of a broader celebration of NAIDOC Week across the college. Students also enjoyed Indigenous films, cultural activities and other initiatives throughout the week, all helping to recognise and celebrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories, cultures and achievements. A special mention goes to Stephanie Swain for her leadership in coordinating many of these initiatives, including the introduction of our new "Deadlies" positive recognition cards, which have already been making a positive impact around the school.

Events like this simply don't happen without a huge team effort. A sincere thank you goes to the many staff who volunteered their time behind the scenes to organise, cook, serve, referee, set up and pack away. Your willingness to jump in wherever needed made the day run smoothly and created a fantastic experience for our students.

Finally, congratulations to our Student Leaders, whose enthusiasm and commitment were evident throughout the week. A special acknowledgement goes to House Captains Ava Daniels and Kamran Mohibbi, along with Muaaz Khan, Jordi, our School Captains Michelle Abdelkodous, Teale Utber and Riley Mollison, and our wonderful Year 7 volunteers. Your leadership, energy and willingness to serve your school community played a huge part in making the week such a memorable success.

Thank you to everyone who contributed to another fantastic Ken-Donoghue Day. We can't wait to see it continue to grow in the years ahead.

Daniel Bowen

Leader of Student Leadership, Voice & Agency