Lake Macquarie Students Gather to Mark Reconciliation Week

Hundreds of students from schools across Lake Macquarie will gather at two events this week to mark National Reconciliation Week in support of its aim of sharing histories, cultures and achievements to support reconciliation.

---

Both events will be on Thursday 1 June.

About 400 Year 5 to Year 8 students from Lake Macquarie High School and its feeder primary schools will meet at Macquarie Art and Culture to take part in a number of sessions, indoors and outdoors, including:

- an artefact display including possum skin cloak

- scratch art printing, making symbols on display boards to be returned to schools

- a ceramic workshop

- cyanotype printing – an old monochromatic photography process producing cyan-blue prints

- meeting local illustrator and author Aunty Fern Martin

- a weaving workshop

- a canoe workshop

The principal of Lake Macquarie High School, Brendan Maher, thanked Lake Macquarie City Council for its support of the event and the preparatory workshops.

“We are very grateful to the council for helping to enable students to have this opportunity of increasing their understanding of Aboriginal culture and its significance for our current and future way of life,” said Mr Maher.

“I’m confident the students and staff taking part will share their experiences with their peers and support us in working to make this an annual event.”

The day will start at 9.30am with a smoking ceremony, with activities ending at 2.30pm.

Meanwhile at the Rathmines Park foreshore about 1500 students from Toronto High School and its eight feeder primary schools will gather at 10.30am for a smoking ceremony and welcome to country, involving local elders.

The Reconciliation Walk will then begin, finishing at a stage set up for performances by local artists and students from participating schools.

The Relieving Principal of Toronto Public School, Michael Murphy, said the day will reinforce the principles of reconciliation – truth, equity and healing.

“Meeting together to take part in cultural experiences reinforces students’ understanding of local history and its importance in fostering reconciliation in our communities today,” he said.

The event concludes at 12.30pm.