MADALAH UPDATE
The year has raced by, and it already seems so long ago when we welcomed our first intake of MADALAH students from all over Western Australia to our boarding and day school.
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We kicked off the year with a cultural day trip to Rottnest with Christ Church Grammar School MADALAH students; for many, this was their first visit to the island. This was followed by a Future Footprints Welcome to Country smoking ceremony on the banks of the Swan River, which all MADALAH students attended. This provided our girls with the opportunity to connect with family members and friends from other Perth schools. Students have been busy with MADALAH Camps, visiting the Wirrpanda Foundation and playing an inaugural Aboriginal netball game with PLC, to name a few activities from the year. The Reconciliation Committee organised activities for National Reconciliation Week and NAIDOC Week. We were lucky enough to have several inspirational
Aboriginal women speak and share their stories, including our own Year 11 MADALAH student Mani. NAIDOC Week finished with a festival feel Friday of face painting, ‘roo’ stew, and damper on the fire pit while listening to the live tunes from South Summit in the Great Court. We have shared a lovely dinner with our Reconciliation Committee and their families and were lucky enough to be guests at the launch of CCGS Totem Trail. In 2022, the Reconciliation Action Plan Committee is working to have the first stage of the Plan ready to present. Thank you to our community members, parents, staff and students who are part of this journey to bring such an important piece of work to fruition. I have thoroughly enjoyed working closely with the girls and their families throughout the year and helping them transition from life away from home. We look forward to welcoming another two MADALAH students from our North West in 2022. Catriona Nixon Indigenous Liaison Coordinator
