Reconciliation Week

Reconciliation Week at Viewbank College

Friday the 25th of May marked the beginning of Reconciliation Week.  Reconciliation Week is a week to commemorate the rich and ongoing culture of Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander peoples.  It’s a week, which invites all Australians to learn more about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and customs.  It is also a time to recognise the ways in which colonisation has impacted Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, in both our history and in ways that continue today.  Last Friday my fellow Year 12 Ruby and I attended a Reconciliation Week smoking ceremony at the Ivanhoe Town Hall. A speech from Wurundjeri Elder (Stuart) made us aware of not only the hurt within the Aboriginal community through the legacy of the Stolen Generations and colonisation but also the hope that we must continue to work together towards a greater justice in the future.

To further acknowledge Reconciliation Week at Viewbank College, Neville Jetta, who is a Noongare man and a player for the Melbourne Football Club, came to speak to Year 8 and 9 students.  Neville spoke passionately about his own personal experiences and the importance of being made aware of Australia’s history in moving forward, as recognised in Reconciliation Week.

As the SRC Diversity Captain, it has been inspiring to see so many staff and students reflect on the way in which Aboriginal culture is embedded within our past, present and future over the course of Reconciliation Week.  We hope that this awareness and recognition will continue to be a regular feature on our calendar for years to come.

Halima Weli

SRC Diversity Captain