Last week, the Yirri Yaarkin Students and their Parents/Guardians, along with college staff members, all came together in the Prendiville Centre to welcome the new Aboriginal students and their families to Prendiville Catholic College.
It has now become the norm for us to come together once a year, creating the opportunity for the current parents/guardians, students and staff to introduce the new families to our College community and for the current families to reconnect and get to know each other at an informal gathering.
A special glasswork plate was made by our TIDE department and gifted to Kaide Wheelock, who has graduated in the class of 2020.
I would like to thank everyone who took the time out of their busy day to be with us on the night. And a special thank you must go to our new Café Manager Breniann Metcalfe for preparing a wonderful assortment of food for us all to enjoy.
It is also important to acknowledge year this year the Yirri Yaarkin ceremony landed on the same day as National Sorry Day. This day is to acknowledge and raise awareness of the history and continued effect of the forced removal of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people from their families, communities and culture. Further information about Sorry Day and Reconciliation Week can be found at https://www.reconciliation.org.au/
– Cheryl Lennox-Bradley (Yiri Yaarkin Coordinator)