Deakin mourns as Australia reels

DEAKIN University lowered each of its Aboriginal flags to half-mast earlier this month in response to Australia’s devastating bushfires.

The unprecedented move was made in a symbolic attempt to mourn and respect the parts of the country that have been affected by fire.

Students were notified of the gesture in an email sent by Deakin Vice-Chancellor Ian Martin, which said the request was made by Waurn Ponds’ Institute of Koorie Education (IKE).

Director of IKE Gabrielle Fletcher said understanding and valuing the traditional knowledge of Indigenous Australians is a critical part of addressing the loss caused.

“Aboriginal and non-Indigenous Australians all understand that by lowering a flag we acknowledge that something has died or that something is dying,” she said.

“It is a symbol of mourning. There are so many people who are feeling anguish.

“I think this action symbolically describes the collective realisation that we’ve lost so much more than what can be seen and is a true wake-up call.”

Professor Fletcher thanked Vice-Chancellor Martin for his support in the gesture and suggested that the lowered fabrics become “the message sticks for urgent change”.