Always was, always will be

Acknowledgement of Country

Our official student acknowledgement with accompanying hand gestures that we have been sharing at assembly:

Here is the land,

Here is the sky,

Here are my friends,

Here am I.

Today I acknowledge the Traditional Owners of Country, the Wurundjeri Woiwurrung People of the Kulin Nation, past and present;

on whose Land we learn, sing and play.

The staff have also been learning this too, thanks to Stuart Jones. Thank you to 2A and Ella Tregaskis for sharing it at assembly.

Reconciliation Week

Last week was Reconciliation Week, the Always was, Always will be Team have been involved with planning some special events for our school community. This year’s theme is ‘Be a Voice for Generation’.

We hosted a special assembly and had lots of special guests joining us including our Kooyong member Dr Monique Ryan and Koorie Engagement Support Officer Mark Lumley (Wiradjuri and Yorta Yorta) and Kristie Salamtis the Assistant Principal from Auburn High. 

On the day it was also Grandparents and Special Friends day so they came to our assembly too before going into classrooms to do some special activities. At the assembly, we talked about Books n Boots which is an organization that gives footy boots and books that are in good condition to Indigenous communities that might not have access to them as they are in rural and remote communities. We also sang Little Things Big Things Grow together. 

The Always was, Always will be team have been planning and hosting workshops for all year levels. Reconciliation Week is a week where we recognize Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. The Preps have been doing some activities, such as choosing to finger paint either the Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander flags that look like this 

also, reading a book called Respect written and illustrated by Aunty Fay Muir and Sue Lawson . And looking at the Indigenous Australian map. Fun fact Torres Strait Islands are actually called Zenadth Kes in language. 

It was exciting that we are making a change. It also makes us feel happy that people care and respect Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Let’s be a voice for generations!

Millie Cowl and Holly Sparke                                                                           

Thank you for sharing your voices!

Always was, Always will be Student Team

Woiwurrung Word of the Week

Thanks to the KESO team for sharing these Woiwurrung words.

First Nation Events + Resources

(Our school is not affiliated with any of these)

RISING: 

Many events including 

• Shadow Spirit 
  FLINDERS STREET STATION
  07 JUNE — 30 JULY 
  A new First Peoples exhibition in Flinders Street Station’s abandoned rooms. Be immersed in Ancestral systems of knowledge. Traverse time and celestial worlds. Reflect on the shadows of Australia’s history.
   
• ELECTRIC: SPIRITS OF THE LAND
  7 JUNE — SUN 9 JULY
  Hamer Hall’s iconic façade plays host to First Peoples’ spirit stories in a large-scale projection work from Aunty Zeta Thomson (Wurundjeri/Yorta Yorta).

Connecting to Country walk with Alana Marsh

Sun 2 July, 11:30 am

Maranoa Gardens, Balwyn 

This is a special NAIDOC week event.

Alana Marsh is an emerging local leader hailing from our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples who has lived in inner eastern Melbourne for over 17 years.  Alana is a Wayapa Wuurrk Practitioner supporting people to connect to the earth through ancient earth mindfulness, meditation, movement and storytelling.

Alana Marsh will draw on her Wayapa training and cultural knowledge to engage walkers to support their mind, body and spiritual connection to Country.

Limited spots - Free - Bookings

LUME:  Connection - Breathtaking Stories Through First Nations Art & Music

Opening June 23, Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, South Wharf

The most comprehensive telling of our country’s story through art, Connection brings together First Peoples’ art, music and culture in an immersive new experience fusing the world’s oldest culture with the most cutting-edge technology.‍Connection features over 550 digital and original artworks from more than 110 visual and musical artists, representing the largest collection of First Peoples’ art ever assembled.  More info

We come with this place: Debra Dank author talk

Tuesday 4 July 

7pm - 8pm

We come with this place: Debra Dank author talk | City of Boroondara

Join Debra as she takes us on a personal journey and a new understanding of connection to Country, culture, and family, as practised by the Gudanji people. Debra Dank is a Gudanji/Wakaja woman. Her book, We Come with this place, is a tribute to her family and the Gudanji Country in the Northern Territory, and was shortlisted for The Stella Prize 2023 and won a record four NSW Prime Minister’s Awards 2023.