St Joseph's Nudgee College

May 28, 2009

Members of the St Joseph's Nudgee College community were given an insight into some of Australia’s indigenous traditions on Tuesday as the College celebrated National Sorry Day.

The College's weekly assembly was the venue for the celebrations in which Year 8 student Lachlan McRae welcomed everyone with a didgeridoo performance. Ten Aboriginal and Torres Strait students then performed a traditional Thursday Island dance of peace.

Dean of Community and Mission Mr Chris Ryan said standing in solidarity with the College’s indigenous brothers and sisters on National Sorry Day was a way to give thanks for their friendship. 

"In recent years, Nudgee College has developed a growing commitment to relationships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island communities", he said.

"The presence of almost 50 indigenous students and staff at Nudgee College in 2009 enriches our story and experiences each day and improves our capacity to authentically support the 'closing of the gap'."

In addition to the student performances, those present were also treated to a video presentation that used a painting by Indigenous Support Officer Ms Yvonne O’Neill to explain the College’s history. The painting, which will hang in the Tracey Building, uses various elements from the indigenous culture to represent Nudgee College.

The middle of the painting contains a flower. In Indigenous culture, flowers mean growth so this flower is representing Br Ambrose Treacy, who led the foundation of 30 Christian Brothers schools throughout Australia from 1865 to 1895 and who travelled throughout country Queensland on horseback seeking financial support for Nudgee College. 

Other elements included in the painting include a circle which represents the gathering of the College community and an emu which represents Yvonne coming to Nudgee College last year.

A second series of paintings in the shape of jigsaw pieces, also painted by Yvonne, were presented to the College’s nine House Deans as a symbol of reconciliation. Each jigsaw piece included a main circle in the middle with many smaller circles surrounding the larger circle. The middle circle represents the House Deans with the smaller circles representing members of the house.

Yvonne also presented College Principal Mr Daryl Hanly with a framed copy of the apology speech delivered by Prime Minister Kevin Rudd in 2008, on behalf of the indigenous community at Nudgee College.

Mr Ryan believes that all members of the Nudgee College community have a responsibility to ensuring Australia’s indigenous people are not forgotten.

"As a Catholic School in the Edmund Rice Tradition, our community is committed to reconciliation with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island peoples of Australia and, in our humble way, to ‘closing the gap’ on indigenous education, health and poverty."

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