FIRE Carriers
National Reconciliation Week 27th May - 3rd June
In 2022, the theme for National Reconciliation Week is
“Be Brave. Make Change.”
The theme is a challenge to all Australians — individuals, families, communities, organisations and government — to be brave and tackle the unfinished business of reconciliation so we can make change for the benefit of all Australians.
Ngata (hello),
Throughout the week our F.I.R.E Carriers have organised a range of activities to recognise National Reconciliation Week for our students. The main activity was the OLA Indigenous Reflective Walk on Wednesday afternoon. This involved the whole school visiting a series of 12 stations with their classes. At each station their class viewed an image, read information and discussed a wondering question. This encouraged our students to see, listen and reflect on various aspects of our Indigneous culture.
We congratulate the Sara, Maggie, Connor and Lucas for their dedication and time in preparing this special event for our school.
Below is a sample of a few of the stations.
Evonne Goolagong Cawley
When she was a little girl she was not allowed to participate or practice on the tennis courts because of the color of her skin, but she practiced hard anyway and still became a champion. Evonne started a program for Australian kids who want to play tennis. She believes in Aboriginal rights and stands up for herself and her people.
Wondering: How would you feel if you were not allowed to play your favorite sport because of the colour of your skin?
Free the Flag
The Aboriginal flag was designed by Harold Thomas. The yellow represents the Sun, the red represents the land and the black represents the people. Harold Thomas licensed the flag which meant that anyone who wanted to use it would have to pay. In January, 2022, the Australian Government bought the rights for everyone to use the flag. Now everyone can use it freely.
Wondering: How would you feel if you didn’t have the right to use something freely?
Family History
My name is Lucas and I am in Grade 5.
I am a descendant of the Wadi Wadi people of the Yuin nation on my mother’s side. My great Grandmother was sent to live with a white family in Sydney when she was three years old after her mother died. She ran away from them a few years later to reunite with her family.
My pop grew up with his extended family travelling picking fruit. My pop was 15 years old in 1967 when Australians voted to include Aboriginal people in the census. The totem of my great grandmother's family is a turtle.
Wondering: How would you feel if this happened to your family?
Boon Wurrung Land
We are on the traditional lands of the Boon Wurrung (or Bunurong) people of the Kulin Nation. The Boon Wurrung people have lived in this area for over 40, 000 years, sustainably and respectfully caring for the land and animals.
They used bark canoes to travel to the islands. The sea, foreshores and creeks allowed them to fish and hunt for seafood, plants and animals.
Wondering: Can you imagine what this Boonwurrung land looked like 40,000 years ago?
Reconciliation is about recognising our mistakes and saying sorry.
During this week is the anniversary of when Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people were recognised as equal citizens of Australia.
We recognise that they are the traditional owners of this land and we need to respect their rights to the land of Australia.
This year we are asking everyone to make change beginning with brave actions in their daily lives – where they live, work, play and socialise.
Be Brave, Make Change.
Wurruk (regards),
Maggie, Sara, Connor, Lucas,
Fiona Lee & Gen O’Meara