Assistant Principal - Learning and Teaching
Considering the role of Aboriginal Spirituality at St Paul’s and the Macleay Valley, Week 10 has presented St Paul’s with an opportunity to support our current Year 10 students with opportunities leading into their next phase of life.
Our current Year 10 cohort have been afforded a range of opportunities over the last week of Term:
- Discussions with visitors and staff regarding Aboriginal Spirituality
- Consideration of important literacy skills fundamental for Stage 5 & 6 learning
- Discussions with local businesses about the needs of the work force in 2022 and ongoing
- The opportunity to create a unique student identifier (USI) and complete NESA mandatory All my own work
- and to share with Year 12 during their final week’s celebrations.
The College was privileged to welcome Uncle Bob Smith, as well as Jo and Jeffrey from the Kinchela Boys Home Aboriginal Corporation to address our Year 10 students about Aboriginal Spirituality with a special emphasis on the Macleay Valley.
Uncle Bob spoke of his life growing up in Kempsey, the rules and regulations associated with government mandated missions at Burnt Bridge and Bellbrook and segregated rules impacting on Aboriginal people in Kempsey in the 1950s and 60s.
He also provided a detailed outline of the history of the Dunghutti people, the stories of the Rainbow Serpent and totem gurginj (Praying Mantis) in forming the land and the impact of dispossession on the rituals, language and ceremonies of the Dunghutti people since the 1920s.
Our beloved staff member Aunty Sharon Kelly then spoke to our students about her experiences as a child living in the Burnt Bridge mission and then subsequent aspects of her life growing up and working in Kempsey. Aunty Sharon is a wonderful role model for Aboriginal students and families in our school.
Her sister Jo Kelly is the leader of the Kinchela Boys Home Aboriginal Corporation and a recipient of a 2022 Australia Day award. Jo and Jeffrey from KBHAC both spoke about the history of the home, with over 600 young boys sent to live at the home between 1924 and 1970, with only approximately 60 survivors alive today. They spoke of the harsh rules imposed, the resulting abuse at the home and the impact on the young boys still today.
Jo informed our students of the upcoming referendum regarding the Voice to Parliament and what it meant, as well as the other aspects of support provided by KBHAC.
We were blessed to listen to the stories of our esteemed visitors, our students demonstrated great respect while these stories were presented - we have some wonderful students in Year 10. These topics are foundational in Year 11 and 12 studies so the information provided is invaluable evidence to support their writings.
Mr Geoffrey Melville - Assistant Principal - Learning and Teaching
geoffrey.melville@lism.catholic.edu.au