Reconciliation Week 

Over the past two weeks, the Carroll College community have commemorated National Reconciliation Week. Reconciliation Week is a time for all Australians to learn about our shared histories, cultures, and achievements and explore how we can come together and move towards a shared future, where all Australians have what they need to thrive. 

On 24 May, our Indigenous students and members of the Senior Leadership Team travelled to Batemans Bay to participate in the Sorry Day Bridge Walk. Through their participation, our students demonstrated their commitment to reconciliation within our community and recognised the mistreatment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, who were forcibly removed from their families as part of the ‘The Stolen Generations’. 

The Combined Schools' Mass also provided an opportunity to reflect on the significance of Reconciliation Week. As part of the reflection, our students joined with Indigenous students from our feeder primary schools to create a short film highlighting the importance of reconciliation to them and offering insights into how we can achieve it within our community. 

Our Indigenous leaders also used this week’s assembly to highlight the importance of sharing Aboriginal histories and culture with the wider school community as part of the move towards reconciliation. Carroll College has recently re-named all of our classroom blocks, giving each a name from the local Aboriginal language, Dhurga. All of the chosen names link to the ocean, reflecting the significance of our location. Our leaders invited local Elder and knowledge holder, Patricia Ellis to address the assembly and teach the school community the pronunciations of each of the names.

These are:

dhaawarri (B Block ) - Dolphin

gwiyaala (C Block)  - Stingray

muriyira (D Block) - Whale

marra (E Block) - Fish

daarlawan (G Block) – Great White Shark

djungga (M Block) - Octopus

dhuril (P Block) - Crab

bidhanga (S Block)  - Oyster

barra barra (Aboriginal Contact Centre)  - Ocean

Gurubangamba-ga Mentoring and Transition Program

This week we also welcomed Indigenous students from Years Five and Six from our feeder primary schools to the college for day two of the Gurubangamba-ga Mentoring and Transition Program. The students enjoyed a fun-filled day with their Carroll College Mentors learning about the importance of resilience. We thank our mentors for their fantastic work on the day. 

Kind regards,

Michelle Katuke
Contact Teacher for Aboriginal Education