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This week we have celebrated National Reconciliation Week which is an important time for all of us to stop and reflect on the reconciliation journey with our First Nations brothers and sister.

We are fortunate at Notre Dame College to be able to provide ongoing support for our indigenous students and on Tuesday we were able to celebrate the indigenous culture with a wonderful full school gathering coordinated wonderfully by Tina Thompson.

Our Reconciliation Assembly provided an opportunity for us to be welcomed to country by Nikki James, be inspired by Jarvis Atkinson who spoke so well to the students about the importance of being kind and we were entertained by indigenous dancers from both Notre Dame College and Greater Shepparton Secondary College. Our own students also performed a memorable performance of the Goanna song- Solid Rock. As part of this assembly we were able to recognise Sienna Dean, Ava-Jae Singh and Jade Davison for the great work they have done in celebrating their culture through writing, poetry and art.

Talking after the assembly with Jarvis Atkinson he said that it is an ongoing journey that we need to take towards reconciliation and to be continually making our students and staff aware of and invite them to be a part of this journey.

This reminded me of the words of St John Paul II who visited Alice Springs in 1986 and spent time with our indigenous people. He said to them, “Your culture, which shows the lasting genius and dignity of your race, must not be allowed to disappear. You are part of Australia and Australia is part of you. And the Church herself in Australia will not be fully the Church that Jesus wants her to be until you have made your contribution to her life and until that contribution has been joyfully received by others.”

How true these words remain today. May we all continue to recognise the importance of our First Nations people and join them on their journey towards reconciliation.

Have a wonderful week!

Brendan Lindsay

Deputy Principal

Catholic Identity