St Columba Anglican School celebrated NAIDOC (National Aboriginal and Islander Day Observance Committee) with a day full of workshops and activities which engaged students in learning more about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture and language.
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Year 11 students painted faces in ways which reflected deep, spiritual significance for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders with dots around the eyes, symbolising strong family ties.
The Indigenous families of St Columba attended a morning tea with their children before students and guests were welcomed to an assembly. Year 10 student Ebony Carrero performed a moving and inspirational Indigenous dance piece, choreographed by Year 12 student Rhiannon Summerhill, followed by Steven Donovan on the didgeridoo.
Charlie Maher, the first Indigenous runner to finish the New York Marathon, gave a moving presentation to the whole school about his upbringing and power of believing in yourself and making the most of chances in life.
“The harder the struggle, the greater the reward,” he said.
Charlie was given the chance to achieve greatness through the Indigenous Marathon Project, run by Australian world champion marathon runner, Rob De Castella. Initially in disbelief, he listened to his mother’s advice and took the chance to change his life for the better.
Throughout the day, Kindergarten to Year 11 students celebrated the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders with a language workshop, traditional games, a Move It Mob Style dance, touch football, tiwi design and printmaking, boomerang painting, weaving and making art through natural resources.
The theme for NAIDOC 2017 is Our Languages Matter which emphasises the essential role that Indigenous languages play in cultural identity, linking people to their land and water and in the transmission of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander history, spirituality and rites, through story and song.
Members of the local Indigenous community, Aunty Rhonda Radley, Arlene McInherney, Trish McInherney, Steven Donovan and Kathy Graham shared their cultural knowledge with students throughout the day with reference to our local Indigenous language, Gathang.