St Joseph's Nudgee College

June 1, 2011

As part of National Reconciliation Week St Joseph’s Nudgee College was called to reflect on and embrace three actions: Remember, Recognise and Rectify.

May 26 marked National Sorry Day and the start of National Reconciliation Week which continues to June 3. The theme for National Reconciliation Week is that “It’s time to all move forward together!”

In order to achieve this there are important actions Nudgee College is called to do:

    1. Remember — remember that a rich culture of people lived on the land on which Nudgee College stands for thousands of years.

    2. Recognise — recognise that the colonisation of Australia took this land away and that this has caused hardship, dislocation and disempowerment for Aboriginal people for over two centuries and that this journey continues today.

    3. Rectify — embrace our part in the responsibility of rectifying the mistakes of the past and as a Catholic School in the Edmund Rice Tradition celebrate the presence of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island students, staff and families in our community and pledge to “move forward together” in search of peace, justice and reconciliation. 

Staff and students were involved in a number of activities to celebrate the week.

During College Assembly on May 24, the National Reconciliation Week theme was launched. It was also announced that for the opening of the newly refurbished Treacy Building a plaque will be placed in the middle of the sacred heart garden which acknowledges the Turrbul people.

On May 26 the youngest students in the College, Year 5 boys, shared their lunch in this special space as a symbol of the College’s ongoing commitment to reconciliation. Indigenous students from all year levels joined the boys and shared stories and shook hands.

At the rugby and football home game verse Gregory Terrace on May 28 a simple and moving ceremony took place before the commencement of the 1st XV match. Indigenous Nudgee College students spanned the length of the field and walked the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags across the field.

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