The School gathered to celebrate First Nations culture, learning and contribution during NAIDOC Week.
During the last week of June, the School community gathered to celebrate NAIDOC Week. The various events and activities were hosted by Gawura School, the First Nations School within St Andrew’s Cathedral School. This week was scheduled ahead of the national dates (7-14 July), which fall during winter break.
Guided by the 2025 theme The Next Generation: Strength, Vision and Legacy, students, staff, parents and carers reflected on the milestones of the past 50 years of NAIDOC while looking ahead to a future shaped by proud, empowered and culturally grounded First Nations young people.
On Wednesday 25 June, Gawura School students visited the Art Gallery of NSW with Aunty Gail Mabo. A proud Meriam woman, Aunty Gail is an Australian visual artist who has had her work exhibited across the county. She is the daughter of land rights campaigner Eddie Koiki Mabo and educator and activist Bonita Mabo. Our students enjoyed having her lead an art lesson and they were able to view her own work, currently on exhibition.
On Thursday morning, Gawura School led our Junior School community in a moving and powerful NAIDOC assembly in the Cathedral, followed by morning tea. In line with this year’s theme, the assembly honoured the rich culture, history and achievements of First Nations peoples. We were deeply honoured to welcome Aunty Gail, as our guest speaker. She shared reflections on her ancestry, the legacy of her father and the enduring importance of standing tall in your culture, carrying stories forward and striving for truth-telling and recognition.
Students from Gawura School performed a series of traditional and contemporary dances, led by Aunty Rayma Johnson, including The Travelling Dance, Cod Dance, Speak the Truth and a powerful farewell to our Year 6 Gawura School students, as they prepare to transition into Secondary School. The dances were a vibrant expression of culture, identity and connection to Country.
A highlight of the assembly was the presentation of the Mudyi Awards, recognising friendships and cultural engagement between First Nations and non-Indigenous students. ‘Mudyi’ means ‘friend’ in Wiradjuri, and these awards celebrate the spirit of connection and mutual respect at the heart of our School.
In the afternoon, the Secondary School assembly also took place in the Cathedral. It was led entirely by the Year 12 Aboriginal Studies class, whose leadership, storytelling and presence embodied the strength and vision that NAIDOC Week celebrates. Students showcased what it means to ‘Bridge Worlds’, highlighting how culture and ally-ship can walk hand in hand through respect, learning and shared action.
Later that day, Aunty Gail met with our Aboriginal Studies students to hear about their Personal Projects and share insights into her own work as an artist and cultural educator.
NAIDOC Week this year provided a wonderful opportunity for all of our students to meaningfully engage with First Nations culture.
“NAIDOC Week this year provided a wonderful opportunity for all of our students to meaningfully engage with First Nations culture. We saw it expressed through dance, music, art and more,” said Head of Gawura School, Mr John Ralph.
NAIDOC Week is a dedicated moment in our calendar, providing a platform for truth telling and healing. The values it represents – respect, truth, resilience and community – live on every day in the life of our Schools. Through strong partnerships with Elders and cultural leaders, we walk together on this journey of learning and listening.
