Gathering in our first assembly since NAIDOC week celebrations began, we thank Clinton Brewer and Luke Mallie for joining with us and sharing their knowledge and culture of the Yugambeh Country.
Clinton's 'Welcome to Country' was lively, engaging and descriptive. By sharing the language, and the history of the land around
us, we continue to appreciate the wonderful environment we live in and thank our first nations people for the contributions they have made to this beautiful land.
Our staff and students look forward to working with Luke Mallie over the coming weeks to create a mural inspired by the surroundings of Merrimac. Luke has over 20 years of art experience, and his main inspirations come from his rich traditional Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander culture. Our Students will be involved in painting sections of the mural which we hope becomes a part of an enduring visual legacy, part of our school identity and indicative of our commitment to Reconciliation. This is the first initiative of our 'Reconciliation Action Plan' committee and we look forward to sharing this with you all over the coming weeks.
This year's NAIDOC theme - Heal Country - calls for stronger measures to recognise, protect, and maintain all aspects of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture and heritage. It is an opportunity for all Australians to come together to celebrate the rich history, diverse cultures and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.