CATHOLIC schools across the Brisbane archdiocese have welcomed the Federal Government’s historic apology to Australia’s indigenous population for the Stolen Generations.
Staff and students took time out on February 13 to celebrate, discuss and reflect on the occasion in their own special ways.
The community at St James’ College, Spring Hill, gathered in the morning to watch a recorded version of the parliament sitting.
They also listened to a speech from St James’ teacher aide and indigenous support officer Theresa Nunn, who was among the tens of thousands of indigenous people forcibly removed from their families.
Year 9 student Hayley Ross was overwhelmed with emotion.
“Hearing Mrs Nunn’s speech was just so moving, it really put into perspective how bad things were,” she said.
“We have such a widespread indigenous community at this school and now the Government has said sorry and we’ve celebrated this at St James’, I hope they can heal properly.”
Students at Lourdes Hill College, Hawthorne, also watched the apology, and heard indigenous music throughout the day instead of the usual bell sound to indicate break times.
St Agnes’ at Mt Gravatt held a school assembly attended by Murri Ministry co-ordinator Ravina Waldren, who is also the grandmother of two St Agnes’ students, and Aboriginal elder from Inala Aunty Muriel Tatten.
Aunty Muriel gave a welcome to country, acknowledging the traditional landowners and their descendants, and the assembly concluded with the national anthem being sung in an indigenous language.
Principal Rick Sheehan felt it was very important for St Agnes’ children to be part of the historic event.
“We wanted to share in the moment, and doing that at school was a way of continuing the relationship we have with our indigenous people by reconciliation through education,” he said.
Another reflective exercise carried out in schools was the writing of individual sorry messages.
The library wall at Our Lady’s College, Annerley, displayed a quote from Prime Minister Kevin Rudd’s apology, which was surrounded by meaningful words on paper hands.
Every Catholic school across the archdiocese received a “Saying Sorry” resource kit, put together by the Brisbane Catholic Education religious education team.
Each kit contained a variety of suggestions to help schools commemorate the event in the best possible ways
