Narragunnawali Award Winner

On Thursday 8 June the St Virgil’s College community officially named our new water carrier, which includes a trailer, tank and firefighting unit, purchased with the prize money we received after winning the Narragunnawali Reconciliation Schools Award in 2021. The water trailer was named layna lumi which means water is here and will be an important part of our ongoing Cool Fire Burning Program. 

The naming ceremony included an Acknowledgement of Country by Trent Prouse, a concert performance by our Early Years choir led by Mrs Jill Norton, a Smoking Ceremony led by Jamie Graham-Blair, and a Blessing from Fr Suresh. Bridget Jenkins gave an overview of our Reconciliation Journey throughout the last 20 years and Karen Mundine, CEO of Reconciliation Australia, gave some final words of the importance of this years’ Reconciliation Week theme A Voice for Generations. The St Virgil’s College catering team, Mark Bushy Smith and Carleeta Thomas created an amazing cultural feast for afternoon tea.

This special gathering was attended by members of our Reconcilition Action Plan Working Group, and palawa students, families and Elders as well as guests from Karadi Aboriginal Corporation, Reconciliation Australia, Reconciliation Tasmania, Edmund Rice Education Australia and the Tasmanian Catholic Education Office, Tasmanian Fire Service, and the University of Tasmania, the St Virgil’s College Advisory Council, Old Virgilians Association, and St Virgil’s College staff, students and friends. Also present were the families of the late Mr James Whitworth, Mr Mark Waddington and Aunty Wendal Pitchford.