Grammar News No 140 July 2022

Page 24

SCHOOL NEWS

A commitment to understanding and change “For me, reconciliation means aboriginal people and non-Aboriginal people (coming together) to create an awareness of our culture, to share the richness of our ancestors’ knowledge that has been passed down through our bloodlines for hundreds of thousands of years, and to not shy away … from doing so. I believe that … we should all be joining arms with each other in being one unit, one mob.”

T

hese were the stirring words spoken by Caleb Paterson, a young Larrikia and Bunitj man hailing from Darwin and West Arnhem land at the commencement of Reconciliation Week at Melbourne Grammar School this year. Caleb is also a Year 12 boarder and Co-Chair of the Reconciliation Committee at the School. Wadhurst and Senior School students and staff came together to mark this important moment, participating in a smoking ceremony led by an Indigenous elder. They walked through the cleansing smoke to signify their commitment to reconciliation. Grimwade House had held a similar ceremony on Louisa Briggs Day the week before. Students across the School were also treated to performances of traditional dances by our Indigenous students during the week. They were a clear demonstration of the unbroken connection of our Indigenous people to land going back at least 60,000 years. While at Grimwade House, our Wadhurst and Senior School Indigenous students also taught our Prep students an Indigenous song.

24 Melbourne Grammar School

“Reconciliation Week is a significant time in our country. It serves to highlight the importance of our connection between Australia’s First People and those who came to the country later,” says Headmaster Philip Grutzner. “However, as a School, our commitment to taking action to promote reconciliation is steadfast throughout the year.”

At a recent sermon, Grimwade House Chaplain Helen Dwyer, herself a proud Indigenous woman, said: “At School … we teach children to empathise and feel sadness at someone else’s struggle or misfortune without having to feel personal guilt for their situation. It is no different when we consider Indigenous reconciliation. We might not have caused the division, but we have been part of a world that has caused it, and what we do (now) matters.”


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Articles inside

Obituaries

2min
page 35

A gift of care and affection

1min
page 34

The Old Melburnians

9min
pages 28-33

A timetable change leads to new opportunities for learning

2min
page 27

Students make their mark on Motor Works

1min
page 26

A commitment to understanding and change

1min
page 24

Tut, Tut! was great, great

3min
pages 22-23

You are invited to a special event

1min
page 21

A new classmate brings more joy to Grimwade

2min
page 20

Community service shapes deeper understanding

1min
page 25

Building empathy and resilience at Wadhurst

2min
page 19

A more inclusive view of leadership

2min
page 18

Connection and support across generations

2min
page 17

New accolades for VCE students

2min
page 6

Finding success by following a craving

2min
pages 12-13

Balancing change and tradition over two decade

4min
pages 14-15

A new view of innovation and success

2min
page 11

Classics and Latin at Melbourne Grammar

1min
page 10

Why Latin and the Classics still matter

2min
pages 8-9

An open-minded view on spiritual connection

2min
page 16
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