Principal's Report

Today, it is important that we take a moment to remember and reflect on the past policies that forcibly removed Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children from their families. On our pathway toward Reconciliation, all Australians are invited to participate in our nation’s reconciliation journey, to reflect on the sad and painful history of the Stolen Generations and recognise moments of resilience, healing and the power of saying Sorry. 

As we head into National Reconciliation Week we remember the two milestones in Australia’s reconciliation journey: The 1967 referendum and the historic Mabo decision, respectively.  The 1967 referendum was Australia’s most successful referendum and a defining event in our nation’s history, which saw over 90 per cent of Australians vote to give the Commonwealth the power to make laws for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and recognise them in the national census.

June 3rd is Mabo Day, the day we commemorate the High Court of Australia’s landmark Mabo decision in 1992, which legally recognised that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have a special relationship to the land—a relationship that existed prior to colonisation and still exists today. This recognition paved the way for land rights or Native Title. The Mabo decision was named after Eddie Mabo, a Torres Strait Islander man who challenged the Australian legal system and fought for recognition of the rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the traditional owners of their land. 

Reconciliation must live in the hearts, minds and actions of us all as we move forward, creating a nation strengthened by respectful relationships between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and non-Indigenous peoples. The theme for the week is “Let’s take the next steps.”

Some of our students participated in a National Sorry Day event at Banyule Council, where they witnessed a traditional smoking ceremony and heard testimonies from Elders and the Stolen Generation.  At school, we have hung the Aboriginal Flag, raised awareness through COMPASS posts and created displays for National Reconciliation Week.  We are in the process of acquiring new flagpoles so we can fly the Australian, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags at all times. This will signify to the community that we welcome everyone into our school.

It was significant that on this day, we “turned the sod”, an event that marked the beginning of our school’s rebuild.  Colin Brooks, Member for Bundoora, dug into the soil at the place where the new Senior Building will be situated.  He was surrounded by students in hard hats and high visibility jackets. past and present Principals and School Council Presidents, School Councillors the builders from the Lloyd Group, the architects from dwp Suters and staff and students. This week, site fences will be erected and the work will begin.  The next steps for Greensborough College are underway.