Students from Koorawatha, Wyangala Dam, Woodstock, Gooloogong and Greenthorpe Public Schools came together last Friday to celebrate NAIDOC Week as a small schools community.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The students enjoyed a Welcome to Country, a performance from Cowra High School's Wagambirra dance group and a number of workshops on the culture of the Wiradjuri people.
Koorawatha Principal, Vanessa Benett, said the day was about celebrating the diversity of culture in Australia.
"I want us to recognise and embrace cultural diversity through an event like this," she said.
"We have really rich learning going on here, whilst this is extracurricular, we have a local Wiradjuri member Uncle Harry who comes in and teaches Wiradjuri language to the children.
"This is about building on our school values of kindness and courage and adding a third value Yindyamarra which is Wiradjuri for respect," she said.
KARI cultural officer and Wiradjuri man Tim Fisher said he enjoyed working with the country students.
"There's something about the country kids, they are more receptive, so I relish the opportunity to come here and teach culture," he said.
"As I tell our kids and go to schools around Sydney, it's not just our culture, it's the culture of the land, we are just the custodians of it.
"It belongs to them as well, we want it to be that kids of any race and colour can grow up and embrace this culture," he said.
Wiradjuri elder Uncle Pat Connolly said what the students learnt would be spread throughout their families
"This is about breaking down barriers, giving the kids an opportunity to understand," he said.
"Every time we talk to the kids they go home with this information and tell their mum and dad.
"It's my belief that we are all one people, we all deserve somewhere to live and need to respect that."
What do you think of the small schools NAIDOC celebration? Have your say
