Celebrating our indigenous links

Kutcha Edwards entertains the crowd

Renowned performer and member of the Stolen Generations Kutcha Edwards had the audience in the palm of his hand at the College’s inaugural Reconciliation Assembly on 24 June at the Pakenham Campus.

Kutcha spoke passionately about his family history and the importance of recognising Australia’s Indigenous people, as well as cracking jokes and inviting staff and students on stage for some good-natured ribbing.

When students sang an alternative version of Advance Australia Fair, which Kutcha helped write with musician Judith Durham, he was moved to tears.

“I am 45 years old and was crying, out the back, like a baby,” he told the audience, adding it was the first time he felt compelled to rise to his feet for the National Anthem.

This year’s College theme is Embracing Diversity and Beaconhills has a number of students with an Indigenous heritage, who joined Kutcha on stage at the assembly.

For the past three years, Year 5 students have studied Indigenous Australia. Teacher and assembly organiser Lynette George, whose two children Jack and Hailey are descendants of the Wurundjeri people, says the assembly was a great way for students to experience Aboriginal culture firsthand.

“I am hoping that by having this assembly, the whole school will embrace our Indigenous culture and improve our understanding about what it is to be Aboriginal,” Ms George says.

She says the College has started to integrate Aboriginal cultural learning into many subjects throughout the school, from Early Learning at Little Beacons through to Year 12.

The Year 5 students go to an Aboriginal Cultural camp and Murrundindi (head elder of the Wurundjeri people) is a regular visitor to the school, giving talks and demonstrations.

Ms George says last year’s studies of Indigenous Australia were highly successful because students were able to grasp the meaning of the Stolen Generations and why the Prime Minister at the time, Kevin Rudd, made an apology to the Aboriginal people.

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