The school held early NAIDOC celebrations this week, so that we could honour the special occasion during the school term before the official week commences on July 4th. As Imogen and Aliyah explained in our live streamed ceremony on Monday morning, NAIDOC Week celebrations are held across Australia each July to celebrate the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. NAIDOC is celebrated not only in Indigenous communities, but by Australians from all walks of life. This year’s theme is Heal Country. We were honoured to have a number of special guests assist in our celebrations. Mrs Justine Dillon, Ngarang-Wal G.C.A.A Inc. led a Welcome to Country and smoking ceremony. Students and staff walked through the cleansing smoke in reflection and artist Ms Rhianne Williams took our newly commissioned artwork through the smoke to be blessed. The artwork is a representation of the school as a meeting place for different community groups with the Coomera River featured. The artwork will take pride of place in the school and images from the painting will soon be seen worn on staff T-shirts.

Next term the Yarning Circle area will be transformed with native plants and to commence this process the school's Bullang Jarjums team presented the school with a grass tree.

Following the ceremony guests enjoyed a morning tea in the iCentre and viewed a special NAIDOC week display. Mr Michael Crandon, Member for Coomera, contributed to the display - loaning the school a special didgeridoo which was created in 2009 as part of a special program for at risk youth. He also loaned us the incredible before and after photos and story of it being made so our students could learn about it. 

NAIDOC Week gallery