Yarning Circle

Senator Lidia Thorp - Melbourne Visit

Last year Senator Lidia Thorpe acknowledged and honoured Wangaratta High School Year 12 student, Lillian Oats Mason by reading out in Parliament a heart felt speech created by Lillian about challenges in rural settings.

Senator Lidia Thorpe is a strong supporter of Indigenous rights and on May 5th our Yarning Circle students travelled to Melbourne to meet with her.

The students spent the morning with Senator Thorpe as she shared her journey and what makes her strong; strong in self and strong in culture.

The students also managed to fit in some time to wander in the city and lunch in Degraves Street.

Visit From VACCA

Yarning Circle students met with Dale form VACCA to hear about the fabulous opportunities and programs that are being held to support Aboriginal culture and learning.

This year is the 50th Anniversary of NAIDOC week and marks a powerful milestone: 50 years of honouring and elevating Indigenous voices, culture, and resilience.

'The theme, "The Next Generation: Strength, Vision & Legacy," celebrates not only the achievements of the past but the bright future ahead, empowered by the strength of our young leaders, the vision of our communities, and the legacy of our ancestors.'

50 Years of NAIDOC

This year marks a significant milestone — 50 years of NAIDOC — a powerful platform that promotes the voice, culture, and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

The 2025 theme, The next generation: strength, vision, legacy celebrates the strength, vision, and legacy of the next generation. At Wangaratta High School, we honour the achievements of the past while looking ahead to a bright future for our students and the wider community.

Throughout this week, students from all year levels have taken part in yarning circles — a space to share stories, knowledge, and cultural practices. These sessions have focused on nurturing the next generation of leaders within our school and beyond.

NAIDOC Week is a fantastic opportunity for our entire school community to come together to learn, reflect, and grow in understanding of First Nations cultures and their deep, enduring histories.

There are many events happening across our local area during NAIDOC Week, and we encourage everyone to take part in the celebrations if possible during your school holidays.

Andrea Belci

Marrung Lead