Reconciliation Assembly

National Reconciliation Week has begun! We started our commemorations on National Sorry Day (Thursday, 26th May) with a Reconciliation Assembly at the Middle Campus. Year 10 students opened the assembly with an Acknowledgement of Country. After Parish Priest Fr Mike Delaney guided us in prayer, Jesse Frost (a descendent of Fanny Cochrane Smith) delivered a moving speech about the stolen generations. Showing great pride in their heritage, Jack Batchelor and Archer McMeekin wore traditional palawa attire including ochre. Together with Emily Scanlon, the boys explained the significance of the 1967 Referendum. College Principal, Mr Eamonn Pollard spoke to students about the Uluru Statement from the Heart, and our Director of Teaching and Learning (K-12), Miss Sarah Adams commended students on their presentations and discussed Vincent Namitjira’s painting ‘Stand Strong For Who You Are’. 

NRW Lunchtime Forum

On the anniversary of the 1967 Referendum, Friday 27th May, eleven Year 10 student leaders attended a lunchtime forum at Hobart’s Function and Conference Centre. Listening to guest speakers including Aria Ritz (lutruwita youth Mob) and the Right Honourable Lord Mayor of Hobart, Anna Reynolds, students learnt above some of the brave actions of First Nations People. The group were able to meet and chat with guest speakers before eating lunch together.

Year 10 English - Guest Speaker - Mr Adam Thompson

Year 10 students are in the middle of an English unit that explores textual representations of Indigenous Australians. The College was fortunate to have Mr Adam Thompson, an emerging pakana author, travel down from Launceston recently, to share his perspectives and experience with students. Adam also spent a lesson with our Year 9 First Nations students, sharing information about tayaritja (the Furneaux group of the Bass Strait Islands). The students learnt about some families on Flinders and Cape Barren Island. Adam also talked to the students about muttonbirding.

Year 7 History

‘Ancient Australia’ is a unit studied by Year 7 students in Term 2. Each year, our Aboriginal Student Success Teacher, Ms McWatters, delivers a lesson that focuses on pre-colonial technology. Students are given the opportunity to handle cultural artefacts and weapons. This year, students also practised using friction boards and discussed ancient fire making methods. The lessons explored aspects of traditional palawa culture here in lutruwita/Tasmania as well as mainland Australian systems of knowledge and traditions. Students particularly enjoyed holding spears, shields, waddies, collamons, a stone axe, spinning a bull roarer and throwing a boomerang.

Reconciliation Breakfast at Wrest Point Casino

St Aloysius staff were joined by Uncle Rodney Dillon and Fr Mike Delaney at Reconciliation Tasmania’s annual breakfast. The group listened to guest speakers Thomas Mayor (a signatory to the Uluru Statement from the Heart) and Kaytlyn Johnson (Tasmanian Young Australian of the Year 2022).