From Ms Allum
National Reconciliation Week began on Friday of last week and concludes at the end of this week. Reconciliation has been at the forefront of SCEGGS activities throughout this week as we strive for equality and justice for our Indigenous communities.
The dates for National Reconciliation Week, 27 May to 3 June are important – each of these dates marks an important milestone in Australia’s journey to reconciliation. On 27 May in 1967, a referendum saw more than 90% 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. And, on 3 June 1992, the High Court settled the Mabo decision which led to the statutory recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the Traditional Owners and Custodians of lands.
Committed to social justice, community outreach and reconciliation with our Indigenous community, we are proud of the steps we have taken towards reconciliation over a number of years. Through our Indigenous Scholarship program, established in 2004, we have had the honour of seeing the amazing contributions these students have made to our school community. We recognise that education is one of the keys to address the economic and health disadvantages experienced by many Aboriginal people over generations. By providing these scholarships, we demonstrate our commitment to take action where we can, to make our society a better place. Our connection with our Indigenous students has been enhanced with the appointment of Miss Jola Cumming in 2020 to the newly created full-time role of K -12 Indigenous Students’ Co-ordinator. A proud Butchulla and Garawa Salt Water Murri woman, Miss Cumming has brought great new perspectives to our programs generally as well as providing additional mentoring for our indigenous students.
We have been working on our Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) since 2017 and we continue to refine, improve and implement ideas in striving for Reconciliation. Both our RAP Committee and our Student RAP Committee, under the co-leadership of Miss Cumming and Ms Grattan-Smith, have made a significant contribution to planning of different events over the last year, including in NAIDOC Week and National Reconciliation Week.
Throughout National Reconciliation Week our staff and students have been involved in a number of activities including acknowledging Sorry Day by wearing handmade Native hibiscus flowers, through discussions and artistic expression and attending commemorative assemblies for the Primary and Secondary School students respectively. In 2021, inspired by ANTaR’s (Australians for Native Title and Reconciliation) Sea of Hands display, the Student RAP Committee coordinated with Miss Cumming to produce our version of the Sea of Hands which were displayed on the lawn. This year, our Sea of Hands were placed throughout the School’s gardens. Our Visual Arts Committee has created a beautiful reminder of the 2022 NRW theme, “Be Brave. Make Change”. And our Bush Tucker Garden continues to grow and thrive. We believe that we have made meaningful contributions but also recognise that it is ongoing work – and there is still lots more we can do!
At our Ascension Day Service on 26 May, which coincided with Sorry Day, Rev Garry Lee-Lindsay reminded the Year 11 and 12 girls as well as the Old Girls in attendance, of the importance of Reconciliation in helping us all to grow and understand more about our past and present as being springboards for a more optimistic future. While at the Secondary School Assembly on Tuesday, Isaiah Dawe, the CEO of ID. Know Yourself, was a challenging and thoughtful guest speaker who reinforced to the girls that “you are enough.” These three words encapsulate all that SCEGGS is striving to achieve for every student; to feel strong and confident, to know that they are loved by God and that they are known and acknowledged by their community.
“Be Brave. Make Change” is not a statement to act on for a one day or even a week; it is a call to all of us to reflect, take action, be courageous and to continue to advocate for change!
