Reconciliation Week posed an important challenge in 2022 and that was to ‘Be Brave. Make Change’. This message calls upon everyone to tackle the unfinished business of reconciliation so that we can ‘Make Change’ for the benefit of all Australians. Our little people might only be three- and four-years-old, but they absolutely rose to this important challenge.

Together with their teachers, the ELC girls read and critically reflected upon picture books. In particular, the Mamie girls took a deep dive into the story of Somebody’s Land—a powerful picture book written by Adam Goodes and Ellie Laing.

In the Mamie House, inspired by the Play School special Reconciliation episode, the girls created a symbolic piece of artwork titled ‘Walking Together’. Holding hands and walking with painted feet, the girls created a well-walked path together—illustrating that we are walking together with our shared histories and cultures as a community.

The Annie girls also built upon the same learning by creating a work of art with their hands, putting their hands up for caring for Country. They also shared a wealth of ideas about how we can all care for Country.

This learning was enriched by the work of Anesha Rahmen (Year 12) and her Poppa, Gary, when they visited the girls to share artefacts, photos and stories. Anesha shared from her perspective as an Indigenous person, about what Country means to her. We appreciated Anesha and Gary’s time and would like to thank them for creating this opportunity for our girls.

Taking this learning further, the Annie girls considered the relationship between Indigenous people and their land, acknowledging that it is one of reciprocity and respect. The girls learned that something found on the land must be returned to its original place. So, the girls created beautiful clay bowls that they can now use to collect items from the land, for careful observation and appreciation, before returning them to the land. The class reflection on the text Miimi Marraal, Mother Earth by Melissa Greenwood, which took the girls’ learning to another level.

The Mamie girls also extended their learning into clay work by creating echidnas. Not only was this an incredibly enjoyable activity, but it was influenced by Anesha’s reflection on Dreamtime stories and the reference in Somebody’s Land to telling stories. The Echidna and the Shade Tree, by Mona Green and Pamela Lofts, was the book that inspired the clay work.

As with all special weeks in the calendar, Reconciliation Week highlights learning and provokes thinking through its calls to action, but it certainly does not stop at the conclusion of the week. This work will continue in the hearts and minds of all our girls and teachers.