Wear It Purple Day

On Friday, 31 August 2018, like many schools, businesses and organisations around the Australia, CSC celebrated Wear it Purple Day. This annual event was started in 2010 after several young LGBTIQ+ people took their own lives as a result of bullying and harassment. The Wear it Purple Day response raises awareness of the very real danger that such bullying carries and counteracts it with a celebration of the wonderful diversity in our communities.

This year’s event at CSC included the very special event of raising the Rainbow flag to fly proudly on a permanent flag pole on the school grounds, donated generously by Chill Out. In their speech before the flag raising ceremony, Diversity Group student Olivia Hocking praised ex-staff member Alana Wearne, who was in attendance, for starting the Diversity Group years ago and also the current staff mentor Shera Blaise. Thanks was also given to Principal Paul Frye for his support of the day’s activities, which included free ice-cream for the whole school, music bingo, raffles and more.

The Rainbow flag now flies in the school, signalling that gender and sexually diverse students, staff and families are welcome at CSC. This public gesture affirms the right for LGBTIQ+ students to attend CSC, be supported in their gender affirmation and free from harassment. It is up to all of us to ensure that this is the daily reality at CSC.

Fiona Gatt