NAIDOC Week

We acknowledge that this college is located on Aboriginal land and recognise the strength, resilience and capacity of the Yorta Yorta & Bangerang people. We acknowledge and pay respect to Elders past and present - we recognise and respect their cultural heritage, beliefs and relationship with the land, which continue to be important to the people living today.

It was fantastic to finish Term 2 on a high note as we celebrated NAIDOC Week, including our whole-of-school assembly. Our First Nations leader Olivia Gibson did a wonderful job leading the ceremony and we were grateful to have had Uncle Dixon complete a smoking ceremony, Jada Cooper did a Welcome to Country, Josh Atkinson, President of Rumbalara Football Netball Club was our guest speaker and our student performers included Shanika Allen-Jones who read a poem and the Marrung dancers performed.

Many other events and activities have been held throughout the week including a cultural exchange program with Mt Scopus Memorial College, a celebration morning tea for our local Elders, traditional games, art, basket weaving and beading at recess and lunchtime and traditional food tasting. These foods included kangaroo stew, kangaroo meatballs, damper, Jonny cakes and lemon myrtle shortbread.

The Koorie Big Day Out was a highlight. Delivered by Toorong Marnong and the Shepparton Education Plan, the event was hosted for First Nations Students from across the Goulburn region, featuring careers and aspirations exhibits, panel speakers and breakout sessions focusing on First Nations specific opportunities to pursue higher education, training and employment. Community connection, cultural strength and health and wellbeing were also hot topics on the day.