26 May 2021
Waratah Campus acknowledged National Sorry Day with a very special assembly led by our School Captains, Darren Woodhouse, Ms Macdonald, Sharni H. (Year 8) and Ariana S. (Year 10).
It is an incredibly significant date in our country’s calendar and this is why we as a school always pause to reflect and think about its meaning.
Reconciliation Australia’s theme for 2021, More than a word. Reconiciliation takes action, urges the reconciliation movement towards braver and more impactful action.
2021 marks twenty years of Reconciliation Australia and almost three decades of Australia’s formal reconciliation process. 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.
20 Actions for reconciliation can be found on the Reconciliation Australia website but today I would like you to think about two of them.
The first action is Move from “Ally to accomplice” – an Ally is a friend: an accomplice helps create change. A willing accomplice steps up when needed and they commit to assisting the change they want to see. The second action is Call Out Racism when you see it or hear it. Speak up, have difficult conversations with friends and sometimes even our family. It’s easy to look the other way or close our ears to racists comments, jokes or attitudes. It takes courage to speak out. Move from safe to brave on issues affecting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
During the reconciliation week take the time to be curious and learn more about how you can act for change.
Thank you everyone – I hope you all have a thoughtful and meaningful Reconciliation Week."