This week is Reconciliation Week and I have been delighted to see us all involved in a range of activities to acknowledge the struggles that our Indigenous brothers and sisters have gone through since the time the British landed in Australia, and to pray and hope for a better future.
Staff and students were involved in a public artwork, which is displayed on the fence facing High Street. This year’s theme, “Be Brave, Make Change” is highlighted through a rainbow serpent made up of different coloured foam hands. The linking hands show our support of Australia’s First Nations people and the diversity of our community. Our display was also in celebration of the Indigenous Netball Round held nationally and on our courts on Saturday 4 June.
I came to Australia in 1985 and did not know much about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island Culture at that time.
I had seen documentaries in the UK by the Australian journalist, John Pilger, who talked about many of the terrible things that Aboriginal people had gone through.
Once in Australia, I read widely and watched movies to find out what I could about Indigenous culture and history. It also helped that I travelled quite a bit around the country and learnt more through visiting different parts of Australia and the Torres Strait Islands.
I was surprised to find out that it was only in 1962 that the Electoral Act was amended so that Aboriginal people could vote but it was not compulsory, and that Aboriginal people were not counted on the Census until 1971.
Through films like ’The Rabbit Proof Fence, The Sapphires, Samson and Delilah, Walkabout and In my blood, it runs’, we can understand some of the history, trauma and struggles of Aboriginal people in Australia. I encourage you to watch some of these movies (Please note the rating guidance on some of these films.)
Evonne Goolagong, Cathy Freeman, Adam Goodes and of course Ash Barty are all excellent athletes and role models for all Australians and in particular Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. We learn through the stories of these sports people and how they now pay it forward through foundations and activism, striving to improve the lives of Indigenous people. Aboriginal people have worked hard to bring attention to the many inequalities that still exist. Low levels of literacy and poor health outcomes are two areas where a lot of work needs to be done.
You might not be aware that an old scholar of ours, Jada Alberts is an Australian actor, playwright and director. You might have seen them in the ABC drama series Mystery Road and Cleverman.
I thank everyone who has worked hard to make Reconciliation Week a success and hope that we can build on this year by year. You never know one day we might be able to get Jada Alberts to come to an Assembly!
Kath McGuigan
Principal
Social