Our NAIDOC Assembly was held on the first Thursday of Term 3, as NAIDOC Week fell during the holidays this year. Ex-student and Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre worker, Kawanji Greaves welcomed us to country in palawa kani (language of Tasmanian Aboriginal people) and presented Mr Frerk with books, in the language, by two of our students, Heidi and Paige. Trudy Maluga, Queechy parent and Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre worker, spoke on the theme Blak, Loud and Proud. Her powerfully delivered speech was commendable proof of the pride and resilience of her community.

Grade 9 students Bella, Wentworth and Rihanna then presented a commemoration of the battles fought by Aboriginal people to retain their lands and culture, followed by a very respectfully held moment of silence. Tristan concluded the commemoration by presenting a banksia tree to the school, to ensure that the memory of what Aboriginal resistance fighters endured is not forgotten. The plaque, made by him in MDT to go with the tree, reads- “My history and culture are rich like the soil I'm embedded in, my roots guide my growth, I stand here tall and proud. - to commemorate the struggles of the Palawa people.”  

We were proud of our students who had completed Deadly Choices, a healthy lifestyle program. Our thanks went to its deliverer, Cody Apted, from Karadi Aboriginal Corporation, who presented successful students with graduation packages and to our SLB co-presidents, Millie and Ollie who shared their views on the significance of NAIDOC Week. The assembly was closed by Barkindji man, Bob Wilson, who sang songs he had written that reflected on his life as an Aboriginal, growing up in an old tin shack with newspaper walls. He is always a popular performer whose teaching tool is his music.

We are grateful to community members who attended, including Judith Rose Thomas who is engaging in an art project with students, and Helen and Jacquie Spotswood who catered for our nutritious NAIDOC lunch. With such community support our students will continue to be loud and proud.

We were proud of all of us for being able to get that assembly together, so everyone could acknowledge our culture. It was a very heartwarming assembly. All of the speeches everyone made were respectful and heartwarming. We were lucky to have that experience.