Why Ocean Shores Public School made Reconciliation Week its flagship Indigenous event

OCEAN Shores Public School students participated in Indigenous art and language workshops and attended a special ceremony to mark National Reconciliation Week, which provides an opportunity to learn about our shared histories, cultures and achievements.

While many NSW public schools celebrate NAIDOC Week in July as their major Indigenous cultural event, Ocean Shores Public School decided three years ago to make National Reconciliation Week its flagship community gathering, recognising its call for all Australians to play a role in reconciliation.

The event has been championed by assistant principal Alicia Morgan, a proud Bundjalung and Gumbaynggirr woman who teaches Bundjalung language daily to Stage 3 students.

Fighting back tears as she addressed the school community, Morgan spoke about how this year’s national theme, All In, reflects the idea that reconciliation is a shared responsibility.

“The theme All In means nothing if you don’t come together,” she said. “Today we honour those who came before us, fought for change and led the way. It’s now up to us to ensure we carry this forward.”

The school has 14 Aboriginal students who meet twice each term as part of the Jarjum Student Voice, a structured forum that provides First Nations students with a dedicated space to share their views and help shape school life. Their families also come together once a term for the Community Yarn Up, a yarning circle held on school grounds.

The assembly opened with a Welcome to Country by year 1 student Yura’kai Thompson-Murray, a proud Bundjalung jarjum. Indigenous students also performed a lullaby and shared their thoughts on what Reconciliation Week means to them.

Six-year-old year 1 student Molly Mortam said she was proud to be a Wiradjuri girl.

“I love learning about my culture with my family, friends and school,” she said.

Bundjalung and Gumbaynggirr artist and storyteller Jason King, who was born in Murwillumbah and raised in Tumbulgum, also attended the assembly before leading students in workshops focused on language and storytelling.

He said it was important to keep Indigenous languages alive.

“They have been going for thousands of years so we can’t let them die out,” he said.