Mannena & Laudato Si Official Opening

On Thursday, 16th September we celebrated the opening and blessing of our outdoor learning space for Aboriginal education mannena and the new Laudato Si’ vegetable garden at the Junior Campus. Both areas sit side by side with the shared intention of teaching children to care for Country and our common home: Earth.

Mannena (meaning earth in the south east dialect) was officially opened by local Aboriginal Elder Uncle Rodney Dillon. Palawa knowledge holder Jason Smith spoke to students about this year’s NAIDOC theme: Heal Country and led a smoking ceremony with eucalyptus leaves. Bron Dillon led an ochre ceremony.

In 2015 Pope Francis wrote a very moving and powerful letter addressed to all the world’s people. This encyclical letter called Laudato Si’ calls for humankind to take greater care of our common home: earth. Inspired by Laudato Si’, SACC supported our Environment Officer Michelle Dance in working with students to build a vegetable garden nearby to the sand circle of mannena. Parent Mark McKenzie volunteered his time and all the materials to build the vegetable garden.

The College is grateful to our Parish Priest Father Mike Delaney who spoke words of wisdom to all gathered, prayed and blessed the garden. It was a wonderful and very memorable event.

Year 8 Camp

First Nation students from Year 8 recently travelled to Bruny Island to learn about traditional Aboriginal land management practices. Staying overnight at the Shearer's Quarters on Murrayfield Station, North Bruny, the children were instructed by cultural burning educator and fire practitioner, Jason Smith. Students were given an introduction to using cool burning techniques to encourage the regeneration of native grasses and yucca trees. The group were joined by Uncle Rodney Dillon who spoke to the group about the history of different sites including a stone tool rock quarry site. Students had a wonderful time and came away with valuable new understandings about how to care for Country.