Bairnsdale West Primary School is inviting the community to come to its annual Reconciliation Day assembly on Friday, May 31, at Nova Hall from 10am.
National Reconciliation Week (May 27 to June 3) is a chance for all Australians to learn the shared histories, cultures, and achievements and teacher, Paul West, encouraged everyone to go along and experience this first hand.
“The assembly is part of National Reconciliation Week and is one of the biggest dates on the calendar for us,” he said.
“That is because it has a positive influence on the community and spreads our belief that we should all come together.
“I have been here for 14 years so the first one would have been eight years ago in 2011.
“We are finding that it is getting bigger every year and more of the community is coming as well. That is really good to see because the message we are trying to spread is important.
“It is a community invite, but we also target certain people, hoping they would come. “‘Grounded in Truth Walk Together with Courage’ is this year’s theme and we are making sure that the true history is being spread.
“I am 35 and when I was at school I didn’t have any knowledge of the true history. A lot of people my age would be the same.”
There will be several guest speakers at the assembly including Monash University indigenous language expert, Doris Paton, Gippsland and East Gippsland Aboriginal Co-Operative chief executive officer, Jamie Williamson, Gunaikurnai Land and Waters Aboriginal Corporation’s Grattan Mullet and Rob Hudson, of The Keeping Place, student speaking and a morning tea afterwards.
“Doris has been working with the school for six months developing an indigenous lanuage/culture program four kids about the Gunaikurnai people,” Paul said.
“The school choir sings appropriate songs on the day and there is morning tea afterwards.
“The kids always have an impact whether it is displaying some art or research they have done into their family with the school.
“Some of them didn’t have much idea about their family history until they did some research. One of the kids asked their parent ‘why didn’t you tell me?’ and they said back ‘well you never asked’.”
Principal, Doug Vickers, said it is a great opportunity for people of different cultures to come together.
“For a number of years we have had a focus on this assembly because we believe it confronts, challenges and helps us work closely together and made sure there is a Koorie voice in the community,” he said.
“The school has been involved in celebrating that and will continue to do so
The assembly motivates staff as they talk about each other’s journey, while giving the kids an insight into the need for reconciliation.”
PICTURED: Bairnsdale West Primary School’s, Paul West (teacher), Ebony Morgan, Lyzell Gadel, Rose Langley, principal, Doug Vickers (principal), Ciara Stewart, Tate Aumann, Flynn Wong, Donald Hood-Marks and Aurora Diggins invite everyone to come to the school’s Reconciliation Day assembly on Friday, May 31, at Nova Hall from 10am.
