Reconciliation Action Plan

In honour of National Reconciliation Week 2021, The School orchestrated several celebratory events across both the Senior and Primary School, including educational activities to learn about Indigenous culture and a traditional smoking ceremony.

This was an opportunity to share with students and the broader community the protocols and interactions that are already in place, and to outline CGS commitment to awareness and inclusion for the future.

As part of the celebration, a special assembly was held, with Father Andrew introducing the assembly with a prayer and Welcome to Country. Along with this, Elder Richie Allen delivered a formal Welcome to Country, a video of the traditional smoking ceremony by the Indigenous Scholar students was shown and an introduction was given to guest speaker Dr Tjanara Goreng Goreng. Dr Goreng issued a sombre and powerful message akin to the theme of National Reconciliation Week 2021; ‘More Than a Word, Reconciliation Takes Action,’ a notion echoed by Dr Garrick, who encouraged the School community to aim high and commit to reconciliation efforts leading to meaningful change. During this week, the School also held a formal launch of the newest version of the Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP). The purpose of the Reconciliation Action Plan is to detail the goals and actions that CGS will undertake to support the vision for reconciliation within our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education Plan. Past and current students from the School’s Indigenous Scholars Programme have and will continue to be an integral part in formulating the RAP. Throughout 2021, the School and P&F collaborated on a Bush Tucker Garden at the CGS Campbell campus. Following the launch of the Canberra Grammar School Reconciliation Action Plan this year, the Northside community has worked to develop an Indigenous edible garden. Anna Murray (Bachelor of Design, Swinburne University of Technology) developed the garden with the children and teaching staff and consulted with local Ngunnawal Kamilaroi man Aaron Chatfield about plants the Ngunnawal people used for both food and medicinal purposes.

Aaron will ensure that each student gets the opportunity to place one small tube-stock plant in the new Indigenous Garden. This beautiful project was financed through the hard work of CGS Northside P&F Auxiliary President Megan Jeremenko, her executive and committee.

– Ryan Hall, Marketing and Communications Officer