It was National Reconciliation Week last week and our student Pod groups had some conversations to brainstorm what an Acknowledgment of Country is and what it means and is a starting step in creating our own school’s Acknowledgement of Country. Although this is a work in progress, it is important for the final document to be an accurate reflection of our thoughts, ideas and wishes.  Some of the thoughts the students have contributed so far include:

• I'm grateful I can live here
• focus on natural features such as gumnuts, native animals, rivers, beaches and trees and taking care of these
• locations such as Christies Beach, Port Noarlunga Reef, Moana Beach and Morphett Vale Recreation Park are some of the places we can acknowledge
• the beliefs and relationships with the land which go back thousands of years
• acknowledging that indigenous people of any land have the right to be raised with their culture.
• the first peoples of this land are the Kaurna people
• understand the spiritual connection with the forming of this land
• it is a speech of respect.

In a great phone conversation with my dad over the weekend I found out he went to school with Neal Winmar the father of Nicky Winmar, the footy legend.  Nicky Winmar famously stood up during an AFL game, lifted his guernsey and pointed to his skin to proudly acknowledge his colour in response to an audience who was racially abusing him.  This action became a strong statement, a symbol for anti-racismand one of the most powerful images in Australian sport. Nicky Winmar is credited as a catalyst for the movement against racism in Australian football.  The conversation with my dad gave me more insight into his childhood and made me think about what else I would like to know about him as a younger man.

If you could have a conversation with anyone, alive or dead, who would it be and what would you want to talk about?

We have a Wish Gift Card to the value of $20 for the best original response.

Entries must be submitted by 9.30am this Friday May 5, 2020 for consideration by our judging panel.  You can email them to dl.1059.info@schools.sa.edu.au or drop them into the Administration Office.

Kind Regards

Penny Wilde

Principal