Cultural Education
Walking Together in Respect: NAIDOC Week Street March
As part of our NAIDOC Week 2025 commemorations, a group of our Year 3 and Year 5 students proudly participated in the local community NAIDOC Street March on Monday 30th June, joining with Elders, community members, and schools from across the region to walk in solidarity and celebration.
The march was a powerful act of unity and respect, honouring the enduring strength, vision, and legacy of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Our students carried banners and balloons, and walked alongside friends, families, and community leaders with a deep sense of purpose and pride.
This year’s NAIDOC Week theme, “The Next Generation: Strength, Vision & Legacy,” was clearly reflected in the energy and leadership shown by our young people. Their respectful presence demonstrated a commitment to learning from the past, embracing cultural identity, and working toward a more just and inclusive future.
As a Catholic school, we are proud to support opportunities that encourage compassion, justice, and solidarity. We thank all students, families, and staff who took part in the march, and we continue to walk together as a community, committed to truth-telling, healing, and hope.
NAIDOC Week Ceremony 2025 – Celebrating Culture, Strength and Legacy
During the last week of Term 2, our school community gathered to commemorate NAIDOC Week 2025, embracing this year’s theme, “The Next Generation: Strength, Vision & Legacy.” It was a powerful and moving ceremony that honoured the proud histories, cultures and contributions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. We were also privileged to share the experience with Gunnedah Baptist Pre-School and Sacred Heart Boggabri staff and students who visited our school for the ceremony.
We began the morning with the Acknowledgement of Country, beautifully read in language by Stepanie Cameron. Hearing the words spoken in language was a reminder of the richness of Australia’s First Nations languages and the importance of keeping them alive for future generations.
A particularly special moment was a Smoking Ceremony, performed with great care and cultural wisdom. We extend our heartfelt thanks to Braithen Winsor for leading this sacred tradition, which welcomed us onto Country and reminded us of the strength and spirit of connection.
Gunnedah High School Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students then proudly shared traditional dances that captivated and educated us all. Their confidence and pride were deeply inspiring, and we commend them for generously sharing their culture with our school community.
The raising of the Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander, and Australian flags was another powerful highlight. As the flags rose together, so too did our commitment to reconciliation, respect, and unity.
We are incredibly proud of the way all our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students participated; they respectfully engaged with the ceremony and reflected on what NAIDOC Week means. Their enthusiasm and openness to learning are a sign of hope for a stronger, more united future.
As a Catholic school, we are committed to walking together in faith and reconciliation, recognising the spiritual and cultural significance of the First Peoples of this land. May we continue to honour their legacy, uplift their voices, and learn from their stories.
Learning Through Culture: NAIDOC Week Corroboree
As part of our recent NAIDOC Week celebrations, a group of our Aboriginal students; Ruby Ricketts, Jack Levett, Maleyah Miller, Charlotte Wiggins, Lokie Jolliffe, Lewy Seach, Mila Thompson, Abbey Bayliss, Ava Wells, Jerimiah Watson and Larah Pisani experienced a very special journey — they performed traditional Aboriginal dances at a community Corroboree.
Under the guidance of local Elders, cultural leaders and Budgi Budgi Butterfly Dance Company, our students have been learning dances that hold deep cultural meaning, passed down through generations. These practices connect them with their heritage, Country, and ancestors in powerful and spiritual ways. The experience has been one of pride, reflection, and shared joy for our students.
Our students have shown incredible commitment and respect throughout the rehearsals. They’ve embraced the opportunity not only to learn, but also to understand the cultural significance behind each movement, song, and story. Their enthusiasm has been contagious and has inspired both their peers and teachers.
The community Corroboree, held during NAIDOC Week, provided a platform for our students to share what they’ve learned, celebrate their identity, and strengthen community ties. It is a proud moment not only for the dancers and their families, but for our Gunnedah community.
As a Catholic school, we believe in nurturing the dignity and voice of every child. Supporting our Aboriginal students in connecting with culture and walking proudly in their identity is part of our mission of justice, reconciliation, and respect.
Year 5 NAIDOC Perimeter activity
Enjoy some photos from our Year 5 students along with Sacred Heart Boggabri students participating in a NAIDOC perimeter activity. Students designed, measured (using informal body units) and constructed the perimeter of bases of "humpies" or "windbreaks".
