We acknowledge… We are Marian.

Today we celebrated NAIDOC day. What a way to finish a term! Today Marian used their ‘voice’ and listened to the voices of others in a step towards a stronger future. Today this is all my newsletter will focus on as today reflected everything that is great about Marian.

NAIDOC Week celebrations are held across Australia each July to celebrate the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

NAIDOC is celebrated not only in Indigenous communities, but by Australians from all walks of life. The week is a great opportunity to participate in a range of activities and to support your local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community.

Marian celebrated in style today, all starting with an assembly in front of our newly upgraded Reconciliation Garden. We welcomed special guests Jayde Warde, Kelly Humphrey, Luke Wighton, Annmaree Ingram and staff and students from St Patricks Primary School by lighting the fire pit in the middle of the garden. It was symbolizing the ever burning flame of reconciliation and we talked about its importance after Arana Curphey welcomed us to country.

I stated that today eventually this flame of spirit and positivity would be physically put out. It was through the experience of today that we hoped a flame was lit in us all to build a stronger future of inclusiveness and unity.

In our assembly our captains spoke affluently and proud around the meanings of NAIDOC. We were then taught by Jayde Warde the State Manager of Policy and Programs in Catholic Education around the importance of acknowledgement to country. How everyone can and should be doing it. This was fitting as Marian Catholic College unveiled a video acknowledgement compiled of our students by our students for all to see. Kelly Humphrey then spoke around the theme and explained the power of voice, treaty and truth.

We were blessed with a performance from Bonnie Browne who lifted the roof singing We Got Love by Jessica Malboy. The songs speaks of all the hardships in our lives that seem impossible to beat but how through resilience and the power of love, we can do anything. This links to this year's NAIDOC theme of reconciliation as it can relate to the difficult times that people have had to suffer through to reach reconciliation and how it would have never happened without passion and love leading the way.

The students half way through started to jump up dancing and clapping. They were uniting in voice. It was a truly magical moment. We followed this by St Patricks Year 4 students speaking around what they have learnt this year in class around Aboriginal Culture. They spoke with confidence and excitement around what they could show and sing. It was a special occasion that reminded us all how to lead with our own knowledge and talents to bring reconciliation.

We concluded with a discussion panel where Luke, Kelly, Jayde, Lorelei and students from St Patricks and Marian answered questions from the crowd around what it meant to be an Aboriginal and steps we can all take towards reconciliation. Once again a question from a St Pat's Year 4 student “what is your most favourite thing about Aboriginal stuff?” which was competently answered in “everything” by one of the panel members.

More students then brought tears to some audience members as they performed a rendition of From Little Things Big Things Grow. We then exited the hall to play traditional aboriginal games, face painting, decorating and fun.

I would like to thank all of the teachers who contributed. They had classes making hands of reconciliation, paintings, posters, tree decorations and much more. It was a collaborative display of the care and respect we hold to NAIDOC. Today we shouted we are ready to work together for a shared future.

I have said enough and not done justice at all. They say a picture says a thousand words so I will let them speak for me. You can also watch most of the assembly in the link below as it was streamed live on Facebook.

https://www.facebook.com/mccgriffith/videos/619901608532084/

NAIDOC Poster Competition

The winners of the NAIDOC poster competition will be announced at the start of next term at our first assembly. Thank you for the awesome entries that were displayed at the assembly.

Have an awesome holiday everyone. Rest, relax and have a great time with family and friends. Once again I remind you “We must strive to do ordinary things extraordinarily well”

Heath Neville

Director of Mission

Year 9 News

ENLIGHTEN PROGRAM - Friday 28 June