NAIDOC Week

NAIDOC Week celebrations commenced for staff on Monday, 21 July, with a Professional Development day. Staff attended Cultural Infusion sessions including Bush Tucker Tasting, Art, Noongar Culture and Stolen Generation Stories.

The NAIDOC events for the whole school began on Monday, 28 July. The Senior and Middle School hosted Brenton McKenna, an Indigenous Graphic Novelist from Broome for the week. Brenton presented both cartooning and writing sessions to several classes.

The Junior and Middle School decorated Boomerangs and learned about the different symbols and meanings used in Indigenous art. The Middle School boys learned how to throw Boomerangs and hopefully make them come back again.

Several Senior School Indigenous boys spent time in the Junior School sharing their Culture. The boys told Dreamtime stories, sang traditional songs, showed traditional weapons and painted the Junior School boys' faces as warriors.

On Wednesday, 30 July, a handful of Middle School boys cooked damper for the rest of the students with help from some of the Senior School Indigenous boys. The Middle School boys enjoyed eating their damper with a selection of Kangaroo, Emu and Crocodile sausages.

Bush Tucker was served in the Senior School on Thursday. Both Indigenous and Non-Indigenous boys made 36kgs of flour into damper, which was served with Kangaroo Stew, Kimberly Fish Soup and fish.

Friday's Assembly started with the raising of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags, accompanied by Yarlalu Thomas (Year 11, Stuart) playing the Didgeridoo and a Smoking Ceremony. Following the marching, guest speaker, David Bell, told us of his experience in the Navy, which linked to this year's NAIDOC theme of 'Serving Country - Centenary and Beyond.' Yarlalu Thomas and Troy Cook presented a short history on the Inaugural Indigenous Football Match and gave the new Indigenous jumper to the Coach and Captain of the First XVIII Football team. Vincent Carter (Year 12, Keys) and Tarquinn Brownley (Year 12, Keys) provided an overview of the Indigenous Programme for the past year. Following the assembly, the guests and Indigenous students attended a morning tea hosted by The Headmaster and the Indigenous Programme Co-ordinator.

Saturday, August 1, saw the Inaugural Indigenous Round for football. The game was played at Scotch College against Trinity. A traditional Smoking Ceremony kicked off the game and Scotch came out convincing winners.

Felicity Byres

Indigenous Student Programme Coordinator