Sofia Prep A - A finalist in the Ellen Jose Reconciliation Awards

Reconciliation is a journey for all Australians – as individuals, families, communities, organisations and importantly as a nation. At the heart of this journey are relationships between the broader Australian community and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

We all have a role to play when it comes to reconciliation, and in playing our part we collectively build relationships and communities that value Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, histories,  cultures, and futures. 

Each year, in the lead up to national Reconciliation Week, Bayside City Council conducts a flag raising ceremony to recognise the importance of coming together to promote reconciliation with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.  

View Bayside City Council's Reconciliation Week Ceremony Video  that includes artwork created by BPS Prep A student, Sofia Emilson.

Sofia and her family recently moved to Bayside and in an effort to engage with their new community, subscribed to the Bayside City Council newsletter.  It is here she learned of the Ellen Jose Reconciliation Awards.  Ellen Jose lived in Bayside for over 25 years, a strong woman of Torres Strait Islander decent, she was also campaigner for justice.  On Ellen's passing, she had two wishes: 

• To promote reconciliation between this country's first nation's people, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders and to the rest of the community.
• To build awareness of Reconciliation by inviting the children of Bayside schools to participate in Reconciliation Week in the form of an annual art competition.

Sofia and her family discussed the importance of Reconciliation Week and what it means for all Australians. 

Coming from a multicultural background herself, and living in several different countries, Sofia's exposure to many different cultures and experiences that have taught her the value of respecting differences and accepting people for who they are. 

She began researching Aboriginal Art and was inspired by the different types of dot style of artwork, which can be visually beautiful but also disguises sacred meanings behind the stories in the paintings. When asked about her painting Sofia explained, "I have done the background in different colours but the dots are just dots, just like us, just humans."

Brighton Primary School congratulates Sofia for her inquiry of Reconciliation Week and her creativity in producing her award winning for the Ellen Jose Reconciliation Awards.