Bangawarra is a significant Diocesan event held twice a year to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Students within our our large Diocese: A Senior Students’ day focussing on career and educational post school pathways and a Junior Day that celebrates the power of culture and education within our Catholic framework. Asleigh Maguire (a former St John’s student) was the keynote speaker on the day. Students enjoyed a BBQ and a number of games and activities that were run by AEAs from across the Diocese. Thank you to Aunty Chris who ran the weaving workshop and Uncle Archie who ran the Dance workshop.

GUNHADGAL MARRING AND HEADSPACE

Over the last seven weeks we have been fortunate to have Gungungal Marring and Headspace come to the school working with a number of our Year 10 students in supporting cultural and mental health and wellbeing. This work has been supported by Uncle Archie and a number of staff members. Thank you to Aaron and Nelson from Gunhangal Marring and Emma from Headspace for your support of our students.

We would also like to acknowledge the continued work of Waminda  does also with supporting our female students in our school context with twice a term school based workshops.

DIOCESAN ABORIGINAL AND TORRES STRAIT ISLANDER MASS

This term is a significant one as we celebrate our graduating Year 12 Aboriginal Students as they now finish up thirteen years of school before moving onto new pathways, continuing a legacy of those that have come before and creating one of their own for future generations. This milestone was celebrated last Thursday 2nd September with a Diocesan Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Mass and lunch held in Wollongong. Father Brian spoke beautifully in his homily recognising the success of our students and their families. These were some of his words:

“As a people you know something of that loss, through dispossession, disruption, and disconnection.But you also know deep strength, deep resilience, and deep spiritual identity. This is not just a message for the past. It is a message for right now. And for you…

You are stepping into a role not only as a student who has finished school, but as a bridge, a healer, a hope-bearer for your families and communities. You carry the memory of your ancestors, and the dreams of your descendents”

SHOALHAVEN INDIGENOUS GRADUATION

Students and their families were further acknowledged and celebrated at the 22nd Shoalhaven Indigenous Graduation Dinner held on Monday 8 September. On the  night over sixty Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders students across the Diocese were presented with awards recognising this milestone. Speakers spoke passionately about the importance of culture and education, noting that in the first year of the dinner only seven Aboriginal students were present. Aunty Chris has worked on the steering Committee for the graduation dinner for over twenty years and set up the sacred space for the night's celebrations. We thank all those that attended including our principal Mr James Eirth and Nick Garner the Year 12 Leader of Wellbeing alongside representatives from the CEDoW and Gooroon Staff. Congratulations to Caitlin Montgomery who also received a Bendigo Bank Award. Most of all we would like to acknowledge the graduating students of 2025: Cristina Alvarez, Kayen Bannon-Harrison, Bryse Harper, Jack Woods, Aidan Cook, Caitlin Montgomery and Preston Royals’. On behalf of Gooroon, we wish you every success in whatever endeavour you choose to undertake.