Schools Local Constitutional Convention

Shepparton High School was given the opportunity to run a School’s Local Constitutional Convention on Friday Aug 19. The topic for the day was “Should we recognise Indigenous Australians in the Commonwealth Constitution?”.

Students from our School, Notre Dame College and Wanganui Park Secondary College were treated to a Welcome to Country ceremony by Tristan Miller and traditional dance performances by the Dungala Warriors.

Guest moderator Lisa McKenzie (Lighthouse Project) conducted a very informative panel discussion obtaining and linking information from guests Hope Briggs (Rumbalara Healthy Lifestyle Leader), Matthew Briggs

(Rumbalara), Phil Guthrie (ASHE) and Dr Sharman Stone (recently retired Liberal MP for Murray).

Students were then able to ask some thought provoking questions of the panel. The Students moved into a variety of groups to delve into their chosen topic and to discuss the implications of what they found on the topic of the day.

The topics ranged from Health, Sport, Sovereignty, Language, through to Economic Development and the significance of Australia Day. Each of the groups were helped out by the Panel Members along with Mrs Mary Stewart (retired local solicitor).

Students then came together and fed back their findings to the rest of the group and gave their recommendations for the upcoming vote.

Following this, they voted electronically with the overwhelming response being that we should recognise Indigenous Australians in the Commonwealth Constitution as the first of a raft of future measures.

Participating students now have the opportunity to attend the Schools Regional Convention in Melbourne next term.

Zarina Fleming, Amanda Neilson, Leo Cruz, Linda Miller, Cam Reid