Monday marked the sixth annual Reconciliation Day in Canberra. Reconciliation Day is part of National Reconciliation Week which takes place across Australia from 27 May to 3 June each year. Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs Rachel Stephen-Smith emphasised this and said Reconciliation Day is a time for the ACT community to come together to learn about our shared history and First Nations cultures and achievements, and to explore how each of us can contribute to achieving reconciliation.
There are many reasons why Reconciliation Day is important. It allows us to acknowledge our past wrongs in order to repair relationships, and individuals and communities to foster a better future together. It gives us an opportunity to build trust and cooperation to find common ground and work towards shared goals, creating more resilient communities.
Reconciliation must live in the hearts, minds and actions of all Australians as we move forward, creating a nation strengthened by respectful relationships between the wider Australian community and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. St Edmund’s College remains committed to helping all of our young men be a voice for generations. At its heart, reconciliation is about strengthening relationships between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and non-Indigenous peoples, for the benefit of all Australians. By learning about the practices and traditions of different cultures, our boys can develop a greater appreciation for diversity and learn to celebrate differences.
Recognising, nurturing and celebrating the qualities of every member of our community is core to the St Edmund’s Mission and we acknowledge the Ngunnawal people as traditional custodians of the ACT and recognise any other people or families with connections to the lands of the ACT and region. We acknowledge and respect their continuing culture and the contribution they make to the life of this city and region. By educating our boys about Reconciliation Day, they will learn to become more compassionate and empathetic individuals, equipped with the skills and knowledge needed to build positive relationships with others and create a better future for all.
At St Edmunds, our boys are part of a vibrant and diverse community that extends beyond the school grounds, and we all have a role to play when it comes to reconciliation and building communities that value Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, histories, cultures, and futures.
Robert Dix-
Head of Treacy House