On Friday 31st July Vasse PS celebrated NAIDOC day. We opened the day under a beautiful blue sky with Wadandi Cultural Custodian, Iszaac Webb welcoming us to country. He mesmerised the students from K-6 speaking in Wadandi and English with the story of the land which Vasse sits upon.
Some of the Year 2 classes then lead the whole school singing ‘We are One’ in Noongar, English and Auslan and we closed with our Year 6’s leading us in the song ‘Gunnai’ which they sang in a language from Gippsland, a tribute to all our fellow Australians in Victoria. The Undalup Association presented to all of the classes teaching them about how Aboriginal people have lived in unison with the land and the student enjoyed a close up of the cultural display and tasting a bit of Bush Tucker too. 
Some students got to hear the story of the Wargaal from Kim, our AIEO, and others were lucky enough to learn about the tradition ways to make damper from Gwen, AIEO from BSHS, and her mum Cindy. The Year 6 students were privileged enough to have Dylan, a local Aboriginal Artist, demonstrate his incredible painting talent and share his knowledge of culture with them. Nearly everyone had their faces painted and many classes engaged in other art, craft and cultural experiences with their teachers throughout the day. But the day was extremely special for our group of local Emerging Aboriginal Leaders from Years 4-6 at VPS and the high school students that joined us from Cape Naturaliste College and Busselton SHS who helped out with activities and face painted their hearts out all day. It was definitely great to see them step up into the lime light to shine and be proud role models for each other and all of the students.
We hope they’ll all come back again next year! We definitely had fun and ‘kicked up the dust’ as Iszaac had encouraged us to do at the start of the day. Our NAIDOC celebration certainly was filled with unity, community and joy at VPS this year. It was a great day! See more Photos in the Gallery.
