Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Program

Marrung Education Scholarship

Well done to Ella Johnson for receiving the Marrung Education Scholarship. This scholarship is used to support Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander students to complete years 11 and 12. The scholarships recognise students who demonstrate a high potential to succeed in their chosen pathway. It was a pleasure to see Ella among the 30 successful applicants, representing Reservoir High. 

Deadly Choices

This year, the Deadly Choices Program has been running at Reservoir High. The program gives participants an understanding of the long association with tobacco that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples have had, which helps them to gain insights into the current use and acceptance of tobacco in the community. As well as the educational lesson, students also had the opportunity to learn about and play some traditional games. 

Reconciliation Pathway and Artwork 

Our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students were given the opportunity to imprint eucalyptus leaves into the concrete of the new Reconciliation Pathway to our new building. The eucalyptus leaves were chosen to represent the beautiful trees around our school as well as Wurundjeri Country. ‘Wurun’ meaning the Manna Gum tree and ‘djeri’ the grub which can be found in the trees. 

In addition, our artwork by Woi-Wurrung Wurundjeri and Yorta-Yorta artist Simone Thomson has been hung in the new building. This piece pays respect to the Creator Spirit, Bunjil, who comes in the form of the wedgetail eagle. He created the heavens and earth and the mountains and valleys. He created the rivers and bushland, our sacred environment. He created his people from the rusty red earth and moulded them into humans, then took the string from the stringy bark tree and used it for their hair. He breathed life into them so they could take care of Country. The connected circles represent the past, present and future. They are the acknowledgement of the first peoples who walked this land from the beginning of time and pay respect to the Wurundjeri People, the Traditional Custodians. The second and third circles symbolise Reservoir High School and its present-day school community guided to the future by Bunjil.  

We are very grateful to Simone for creating such a wonderful piece of art for our school. Thank you. 

National Sorry Day and Reconciliation Week

‘Every year on 26 May, National Sorry Day remembers and acknowledges the mistreatment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who were forcibly removed from their families and communities, which we now know as ‘The Stolen Generations’. – Reconciliation Australia

This year, Ms Watmough along with our school captain, Kaitlyn McCleary, spoke with all students about the meaning of National Sorry Day and the work that must continue to achieve a reconciled Australia. It is everyone’s responsibility to acknowledge and understand the history of this country and to participate in the truth-telling. We must work together to care for Country and its Traditional Owners. 

During Reconciliation Week, we were lucky enough to have a visit from Reconciliation Australia who came to see all the fabulous activities that we were running. These activities included special Reconciliation themed clubs, such as traditional games, Indigenous animal origami making, Reclaim the Void weaving, Reconciliation Tournament and much more. We were also lucky enough to have Indigenous football player Jamie Bennell visit the school to tell his story about the different adversties he experienced in his life and career and how they were a learning opportunity which shaped him into the person he is today.  

Looking Forward…

We are looking forward to the Term ahead when we will be working with Essendon Football Club and holding a Campfire Conversation with students, parents, and Wurundjeri community members. If you are a carer or parent of one of our Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander students, please contact me if you would like to attend. 

Stephanie Swain

Wiradjuri

Koorie Educator