Reconciliation Week

Reconciliation Week (held from 27th May to 3rd June) is a time to reflect on the past and acknowledge the hurt caused by the first European settlers towards the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. It is also a time to think about how to improve and mend the relationship between the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and non-Indigenous people.  27th May marks the anniversary of the 1967 referendum when Australians voted to remove parts of the Australian Constitution that discriminate against the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. 3rd June marks the 1992 Mabo decision where the High Court of Australia recognised native title. 

At school, we reflected on the suffering of Aboriginal people and created art pieces to recognise and express our regret and condolences. We also learnt more about how we can work together in harmony with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to create a better country for our future generations. 

In Year Six, we read the book, ‘Sorry Day’ which is a story that recognises the significance and importance of National Sorry Day and the Stolen Generations. The Indigenous children were being taken away from their families, this was then named the Stolen Generation and was still happening up to the 1970’s.

On the 3rd of June, the Year One’s had their assembly and their topic was Reconciliation Week. They showed their art pieces which were collages of the Australian, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people’s flags. They also beautifully sang the Aboriginal ‘Our Father’. 

Gabriel and Lucas