Our ‘school within a school’, Gawura, is a highly regarded model, a unique, coeducational Kindergarten to Year 6, day school, for First Nations children who live at home with their families. We are proud to have been named 2020 Australian School of the Year.
Gawura acknowledges Traditional Owners of Country throughout Australia and recognises their continuing connection to land, water and communities. We pay our respects to Elders, past, present and emerging. It is our privilege to work and learn on Gadigal Land.
Today we acknowledge all the men and women who valiantly fought and served for our Country, including all the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
Lest we forget.
Image credit: Lee Hampton at Koori Kicks Art ... See MoreSee Less
With ANZAC Day approaching, Gawura pays tribute to all the Diggers who bravely fought for our Country.
We also acknowledge those Coloured Diggers who never returned back home, or when they did, were unable to join their mates marching side-by-side on ANZAC Day or partaking in a cold beer in the pub afterwards, sharing memories. Nor were these soldiers offered land under the Soldier Settlement scheme, like other Australian soldiers, or military funerals or membership within the RSL.
In the same year that Gawura was founded, Pastor Ray Minniecon also co-founded the Coloured Diggers march on 25 April, 2007. The name Coloured Diggers is based on a poem by Sapper Bert Beros.
This march was to draw attention by hundreds of Aboriginal veterans and their descendants marching along Redfern Street to St Saviour's church in Sydney's first Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Anzac Day parade.
The march was established to highlight the inequities and lack of recognition in our society at the time.
Over 1,000 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples served in WWI and around 70 fought at Gallipoli. An estimated 3,000 Aboriginal and 850 Torres Strait Islander peoples served in WWII.
We thank Pastor Ray for his leadership and courage to shine a spotlight on this, and champion change once again.
We also thank each and every one of our brave diggers, including the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander diggers who have stood up proudly for our society.
Lest We Forget.
To learn more about the Coloured Diggers March - click here. www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/awaye/awaye-segment-template-(copy-and-paste-to-use)/10478388 ... See MoreSee Less
At the end of last term, we sadly said goodbye to one of Gawura's beloved teachers, Ms Lavinia Gibbs.
Lavinia is a true educator, storyteller and openheartedly shares her culture so that we can all learn and not only improve ourselves, but our society as a whole.
Aunty Vin will be missed by her gudha, her students, their families and her colleagues. But it is time for Aunty Viv to fly like the magpie that she is, and share her stories and knowledge beyond Gawura, for many more to benefit from her edifying, enlightening wisdom.
Lavinia has started her own teaching and consultancy business, which will include coming back to Gawura to help us recognise the significance of Reconciliation Day. We have no doubt that she will succeed in this exciting endeavour.
Mandaang Guwu Aunty Viv from Gawura and all in our community. Your impact on Gawura will be long lasting.
As there is no word for goodbye in Wiradjuri or other First Nations languages, see you soon our mudyi. ... See MoreSee Less