Reconciliation takes action

Reconciliation Week, held on 27 May to 3 June, is a time for each of us to explore how we can contribute to achieving reconciliation in Australia. Students across the College connected with Reconciliation Week through a range of activities, assemblies and experiences serving to build our understanding of the world’s oldest continuous living culture.

Share our stories

This year, Reconciliation Australia celebrates 20 years of advocating, promoting and progressing reconciliation in Australia and is galvanising us to reflect on our 'own contributions' and 'strive to do more'.

'In 2021, reconciliation is more than just raising awareness and knowledge. The theme More than a word. Reconciliation takes action, urges the reconciliation movement towards braver and more impactful action.' - Reconciliation Australia

Across all three of Wesley’s metropolitan campuses, Reconciliation Week is a significant time and recognised in a number of different ways, giving students an opportunity to engage authentically and wholeheartedly.

Whether a reflective moment at a Reconciliation Chapel, or listening intently to the voice and story of Indigenous Australians, we can show our support for creating a stronger Australia.

Learn our truth

Reconciliation Week encourages us to amplify First Nations’ voices, and for Alex Crisp, a Year 12 student at the Glen Waverley Campus, listening is equally important.

‘One thing that stood out to me [after visiting the Yiramalay/Wesley Studio School in Year 10] was just how much you can learn when you simply listen. Whether it was a presentation from the Elders or just a casual conversation with one of the local students, they provided me with so much more insight than school could ever give, just by listening. Listening to their stories and experiences, listening to their feelings and opinions, and ideas about how we can reconcile and fix the inequality in this country.

‘Listening is really important because reconciliation is not about us standing up here and talking, it is about all of us listening to what Indigenous Australians have to say and working together to finally make real change. And going to Yiramalay and being able to have those conversations has allowed me to gain a much deeper appreciation and understanding of just how important Reconciliation Day is,’ Alex said.

Alex shared those words at the Glen Waverley Campus Reconciliation Breakfast, and students experienced a moving morning and later, a special assembly. For many, the highlight was seeing the clear warmth and friendship as student Antonio Vaitohi interviewed friends Banjo McIntosh and Jason Baird, who are Aboriginal students boarding at Wesley College.

The Reconciliation Breakfast also raised funds for the Be Deadly at Somers program, a program for young Indigenous Australian students to develop their cultural identity, confidence and leadership at the Lord Somers Camp.

Paige Heavyside, Year 12, said at the Breakfast. ‘The theme of Reconciliation Week for 2021 is “More than a word. Reconciliation takes action.” I feel proud to be part of a school which takes action. We have an amazing relationship with our Yiramalay/Wesley Studio School and I urge students who are visiting Yiramalay this year to form new connections, ask questions, share stories and to embrace the lessons you can learn there.’

At the Yiramalay/Wesley Studio School in WA, Reconciliation Week was recognised through several activities onsite, including the creation of a mural, a Reconciliation dinner and a camp. The Studio School is focused on creating positive change through education, empowering our Indigenous Australian students and opening the minds of non-Indigenous students.

David Johnston, a member of the Boon Wurrung Foundation and a world leader in the field of Indigenous Australian archaeology spoke to students at the St Kilda Road Campus, invited as a guest speaker by students of the Public Question Society and Wesmob student advocacy group to speak at their latest lunchtime lecture. David has worked on more than 2,000 heritage projects over 27 years as a consultant archaeologist. David shared stories of how he found his passion in archaeology, his work and activism in the climate movement and spoke eruditely on the history and political treatment of First Nation’s Peoples. Throughout his responses, David reinforced for the audience the importance of embracing their purpose, of coming together as young people and taking action, and of questioning and challenging injustice.

David’s Welcome to Country and presentation on the history, culture and language of the Boon Wurrung was streamed as a live event to Middle School homerooms and Senior School tutorials. In saying Womin Djeka to the school community, David communicated the meaning of this word which is to ‘come with a purpose.’ Significantly also, in his telling of the history of the Boon Wurrung and Eastern Kulin Nations peoples, David impressed upon the audience that this history needs to be seen as a shared history and one that cannot be told in isolation.

At the Elsternwick Campus, Middle School students were encouraged to reflect deeply on what we must do to achieve a greater level of reconciliation through a Chapel service and reflection activity. Pastor Kaylea Fearn and students from the Wesmob student advocacy group led the Chapel service.

For our younger Junior School audience, the Elsternwick Campus is sharing Indigenous Australian stories and perspective through the reading of books and sharing of songs. Moments of reflection invite students to consider the lessons more deeply, and students’ responses to reconciliation were shared at assembly.

At the St Kilda Road Junior School, Year 4 students took a walking excursion to visit the Ngargee tree. Located in the busy St Kilda junction, the 20-metre-tall river red gum tree is a 500-year-old link to an important part of Australia’s history. For generations, the corroboree tree was a meeting place for boys embarking on initiation journeys and women travelling to learn birthing secrets. A place of ceremony and connection for the Boon Wurrung, the First Peoples of Port Phillip, this ancient tree is a symbol of survival and reconciliation.