National Reconciliation Week 27 May – 3 June

The National reconciliation week 2023 theme “Be A Voice for Generations” is a challenge for all individuals, families, communities, organisations and government – to be brave and tackle the unfinished business of reconciliation so that we can make change for the benefit of all Australians. … National reconciliation week is a time for all Australians to learn about shared histories, cultures, and achievements, and to explore how each of us can contribute to achieving reconciliation in Australia.

Thank you to Ms Andrews for organising Troy from Wadjiny to present and perform at this week’s incursion Thursday 25 May.  The incursion will be an informative interactive cultural experience. Further learning about reconciliation will happen across the coming week in classroom and at next week’s assembly, thanks to Ms Andrew’s development of culturally and age appropriate materials for staff.

National Sorry Day is Friday 26 May; a day which acknowledges and raises awareness of the history and continued effect of the forced removal of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people from their families, communities and culture. National Reconciliation Week celebrates and builds on the respectful relationships shared by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and other Australians.

These dates commemorate two significant milestones in the reconciliation journey— the successful 1967 referendum, and the High Court Mabo decision respectively.

27 May 1967 On this day, Australia’s most successful referendum saw more than 90 per cent of Australians vote to give the Australian Government power to make laws for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and recognise them in the Census.

3 June 1992  On this day, the Australian High Court delivered the Mabo decision, the culmination of Eddie Koiki Mabo’s challenge to the legal fiction of ‘terra nullius’ (land belonging to no one) and leading to the legal recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the Traditional Owners and Custodians of lands. This decision paved the way for Native Title.

Reconciliation must live in the hearts, minds and actions of all Australians as we move forward, creating a nation strengthened by respectful relationships between the wider Australian community, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Teneriffe Festival

This Saturday 27 May many of our students and staff will be supporting our local Teneriffe Festival with a number of performances planned.  This is a wonderful local event and I hope families are able to attend and enjoy this event which directly supports local business and community.

P&C Meeting Thursday 25 May 6pm in the school hall – all welcome.