NAIDOC MEDAL OF EXCELLENCE

National Writing Competition

During Term 2, the Department of Education, Koori Kids and state counterparts ran a national Essay Writing Competition to celebrate NAIDOC week, which we advertised to students here at Lilydale High School.

The theme of the essay was the purpose and importance of reconciliation in Australia.

The entries were judged by a panel that included Aboriginal Elders, Agency Delegates and other members of the community.

Across the state, 20 students were awarded with the “NAIDOC Medal of Excellence” for their outstanding submissions.

Two Lilydale High School students have received this award; Valentina Aloysius in Year 9 and Charli Garrett in Year 7.

On Friday 6 December, Valentina and Charlie were presented with their medals by the State Minister for Education, Mr James Merlino, at the 100 Year Book Launch and Gallery of Achievement.

Congratulations, ladies!

Below are the girls entries for the competition;

NAIDOC Writing Competition

Reconciliation, the restoration of friendly affairs. Reconciliation Week is all about trying to restore the relationship between the Aboriginal communities and the government and people of Australia. Reconciliation Week is a time for children and even adults to learn more about the history between Aboriginals and the English back when Australia was colonized by Captain James Cook and after the Australian Government took away many Aboriginal Children. 

When James Cook reached this land on his ship, he declared it, ‘Terra Nullius’ or, ‘No man’s land’ in English naming it, “New Holland”. James Cook and his English ship crew only thought of the original custodians of our land as Flora and Fauna or animals and plants. Aboriginals were only treated widely as people in 1962 after they were given the right to vote in the Australian Election. 

From around 1910 - 1970 Aboriginal children were taken from their parents to be raised in, so-called, ‘Better Homes’ of English families. As many as 1 in 3 Aboriginal kids were taken from their mothers and fathers and raised in white families. The authoritative and brutal taking made many children scared and worried. It left a bad mark on the aboriginal children affected and the parents they were taken from.

Charli Garrett 7A

Leah Shields

Head of Humanities