Deniliquin High School Aboriginal education officer Keisha Egan with the Aboriginal Leadership Group members (back, from left) Ronnie Owen, Lydia Hamilton, Rebekah Bridge and Eden Hansen; (front) Miley and Braxton Hansen and Emily Reeves.
A first of its kind leadership program for Deniliquin High School was officially established during Reconciliation Week last week.
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At a special assembly to mark the week last Wednesday, the school announced the members of its inaugural Aboriginal Leadership Group.
Group chair and Year 9 student Rebekah Bridge said the role of the Aboriginal Leadership Group would be to encourage ongoing learning and celebration of culture in the school community.
Joining her on the committee are Emily Reeves, Ronnie Owen, Lydia Hamilton and Miley, Braxton and Eden Hansen.
“The group was formed to help young people embrace their culture,” Rebekah said.
“When I started school here in Year 7 I didn’t even identify as Aboriginal, and there are probably others the same.
“We (some of the school’s Aboriginal students) met with our teachers and principal to see what more we could do to shape the future.
“Our group will have meetings and organise events and activities.
“It’s been a process, but we’re very proud of it.”
Members of the leadership group were actively involved in the special Reconciliation Week assembly, with Lydia giving the Welcome to Country and other members and indigenous students featuring in a video about the importance of the tradition.
Special guests of the indigenous and wider community were invited to join the school for the event, which started with an outdoor smoking ceremony.
Inside the Multi Purpose Hall, the assembly included a performance by the Yarkuwa Indigenous Knowledge Centre’s Waripa Dancers and a rendition of the Warumpi Band hit Blackfella/Whitefella.
Deniliquin Police Sergeant Morgan Hadjialexiou worked with the school band and the Year 7 student group on the musical performance, and joined the students on stage in the performance.
As well as being a lot of fun for all involved, it supported the work of Police Aboriginal Community Liaison Officer Tegan Fox.
School principal Glen Warren said this year’s Reconciliation Week theme - Bridging Now to Next - perfectly summed up the aims and of the school and its desired for its students.
“Reconciliation is more than a symbolic gesture - it is a shared responsibility,” Mr Warren said.
“Bridging Now to Next asks us to take the progress we’ve made - the conversations, the awareness, the commitments - and carry them forward into real and lasting change.
“Reconciliation begins with understanding. It grows through education, and it flourishes through action.
“Every single one of us has a role to play. Whether you choose to learn more about local Indigenous culture, participate in community events, support your peers, or simply commit to being more inclusive - your actions matter.”
Some of the Waripa Dancers members during the performance.
Sergeant Morgan Hadjialexiou joined the Deni High band and Year 7 students to perform Blackfella/Whitefella at the Reconciliation Week assembly.
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