{"id":24857,"date":"2026-08-21T12:51:27","date_gmt":"2026-08-21T02:51:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thebuzz.net.au\/serviam\/?post_type=article&p=24857"},"modified":"2026-08-21T12:51:27","modified_gmt":"2026-08-21T02:51:27","slug":"naidoc-week-4","status":"publish","type":"article","link":"https:\/\/www.thebuzz.net.au\/serviam\/article\/naidoc-week-4\/","title":{"rendered":"NAIDOC Week"},"content":{"rendered":"

NAIDOC week at St Ursula\u2019s was a great opportunity for all students to learn more about Aboriginal and Torres Strait cultures, histories and languages and celebrate all they have contributed to Australian society.<\/span><\/p>\n

As they entered the front gate, a welcoming group of twenty students and teachers offered each student a bracelet made of red, yellow and black yarn and Aboriginal elder Aunty Emma Peel and her daughter, Coral Peel, greeted them with \u2018yaama\u2019 and gave them the opportunity to have ochre painted on the back of their hand. The 1100 bracelets were made over the course of last term by 75 volunteers. That day Aunty Emma spoke to Year 11 Studies of Religion students about her life and Aboriginal ways of living. She was also on hand at lunchtime guiding students in Aboriginal art symbols and skills for the artwork they were designing on wooden discs. <\/span><\/p>\n

On Wednesday, every student had the chance to sample native jams of rosella, finger lime and quangdong flavour on pancakes cooked from your generous donations. On Thursday, students lined up for the chance to win an AFL ball by passing our home made possum skin ball through the NAIDOC back board showing skills of marngrook – the traditional Aboriginal version of AFL. <\/span><\/p>\n

To cap off a tremendous week, on Friday students could try their luck at a kahoot quiz and watch a group of Year 7 students perform an Aboriginal dance in the piazza. They were also interviewed by College Co Captain, Olivia Holt, who made sure all the important movements were explained. Olivia added a Dreaming story she had researched to give everyone a taste of the wide range of roles played by people, plants and animals in living gently on this great land.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Many thanks to all the student and staff volunteers who made these activities possible and of course to all the students who came with open hearts to learn and enjoy why NAIDOC is <\/span>Fifty Years Deadly<\/b>!<\/span><\/p>\n

Karen Horder
\nAboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Student Support Teacher<\/strong><\/em><\/h5>\n