Cultural News
St Mary's School Mooroopna
Newsletter Indigenous Education
Term 2 Week 4
New - Short Black Opera
Last week, Ellara Power, participated in Short Black Opera For Kids. The FIRE Carriers interviewed Ellara to find out what she did last week.
Question: Tell us about your participation in Short Black Opera. Where was it held?
Answer: It was at Rumbalara
What did you do during the week?
Answer: I played indigenous games, had different types of food and learnt to sing some songs.
Question: What was the name of the songs that you learnt to sing?
Answer: Bera Fura and Our Song
Question: On Friday, there was a concert. Tell us about that.
Answer: It was good. I did it with some of my friends. I really enjoyed the concert.
Question: Would you recommend the program for others in the future?
Answer: You should go to the Short Black Opera so you can spend time with your friends and make more friends, and it is good to learn about your culture and to know more about the indigenous culture.
New - National Walk for Truth
Classes have been following the Walk for Truth with Travis Lovett, a Kerrupmara/Gunditjmara man who served as Deputy Chair and Commissioner for the Yoorrook Justice Commission, began the National Walk for Truth from the Steps of Victoria’s Parliament House and he will be walking more than 840 kms from Melbourne to Federal Parliament in Canberra. The FIRE Carriers have been tracking where Travis is and have been following his journey by viewing articles or videos.
If you would like to read more - https://melbournecatholic.org/news/national-walk-for-truth-a-journey-towards-healing
If you would like to show your support the National Walk for Truth you may like to get involved by signing the open letter to the Prime Minister.
If you would like to read more - Support the National Walk for Truth - Catholic Social Services Victoria
New - Women’s Business
This term our Indigenous girls from Year 3 to 6 will have the opportunity to engage in women’s business. On Friday, 15th May, Tahlia has organised an incursion with Thara from Wala Connections.
It will be a full day activity to work on a story or theme that relates to them and they will create a song with language and add this into a dance. More details to come closer to the date.
An Update from our FIRE Carriers
Throughout the remainder of the term, the FIRE Carriers will begin to learn about Sorry Day, Reconciliation Week and Mabo Day, which they will then share with the whole school during Assemblies.
Some significant dates for Term 2 –
26th May – Sorry Day
27th May – 3rd June – Reconciliation Week
3rd June – Mabo Day
Updated - Reconciliation Week
The theme for National Reconciliation Week 2026 is All In, a call for all Australians to commit wholeheartedly to reconciliation every single day.
All In makes clear that reconciliation is not a spectator sport and that all of us must step away from the sidelines and take action to make change.
The theme also reminds us that reconciliation and advancing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ rights isn’t a passive activity, and it is not solely the responsibility of First Nations people, who have carried the weight of championing, explaining and acting for far too long.
Reconciliation will not happen by itself, and it will not happen without all of us.
The artwork for this campaign is by renowned Gumbaynggirr/Bundjalung artist Otis Hope Carey, who applied his distinctive style to create a colourful and optimistic visual representation of people from all walks of life being ‘all in’ to make change.
New - WEAR IT YELLOW
On Friday 29th May we will raise money for Children’s Ground. This organisation focuses on narrowing the gap with our Indigenous kids around Australia.
We will wear a splash of yellow during the “Wear It Yellow Day”.
Students are able to wear a yellow t-shirt, yellow socks or ribbon, and encouraged to bring a gold coin to donate to this great cause.
Families are welcome to donate by scanning the QR code.
Ganbina - Education Scholarships
At Ganbina our annual scholarships are designed to support all Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander participants from Prep to Year 6 in Greater Shepparton.
Ganbina provide a range of support to participants including financial support for educational expenses occurred, such as school fees, school uniforms, camps/excursion/swimming, books/stationary, etc. We also provide an internal accelerated learning program for our primary school participants to help get them on track or keep them on track with their schooling.
Ganbina's Scholarship registration flyer for 2026 is below for more information -
2026 Registrations opened on January 27th.
To register for this Scholarship please either click on the link below or contact -
Project Officer - Chrystal Chapman on 0438 217 399 or email chrystal@ganbina.com.au
Ganbina Jobs4U2 Registration Form 2026
Acknowledgement of Country
At St Mary’s Primary School Mooroopna we Acknowledge the Traditional people of this land. The Yorta Yorta Nation are the Traditional Custodians of this area and we remember their elders, past, present and future. We remember that the Aboriginal people of Australia will always be the traditional owners of the land on which we gather today. We continue to grow through education and reconciliation to a better future for all Australians.
