NAIDOC Week came early for Gawura because this year it falls during the July school holidays, from 4 to 11 July.

This year’s theme, Heal Country calls all of us to continue to seek greater protections for our lands, waters, sacred sites and cultural heritage.

Once again we had a full of activities starting with a Smoking Ceremony for the Gawura children on the roof of our school.  We thank Uncle Les who performed this for us.

All of the Junior School and Gawura School had a mufti day and could wear a First Nations designed outfit or the colours of the Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander flag. Everyone looked amazing.

We had an author visit from Jasmine Seymour, Darug woman who about her books ‘Baby Business’ and ‘Cooee Mittigar’, bush tucker and about the great Eora warriors; Bennelong, Barangaroo and Pemulwuy.  Jasmine’s books celebrate Darug culture and language.

All of the teachers had a trivia competition, courtesy of Mrs Price and Thursday was the big one – our best ever NAIDOC assembly.

This included a dance performance (the dance choreographed by Uncle Matt Doyle as seen at the Souths game), a wonderful guest speaker, Wiradjuri and Gamilaraay Man Jonathan Jones and a beautiful performance by Mi-kaisha Masella, a proud Darumbal Murri and Tongan woman.

The centrepiece of the assembly was a beautiful Dreaming Story, from Yuwaalaraay Nation on The Creation of the Narran Lake.

The assembly was a wonderful celebration of everything Gawura is about, culture and celebrating excellence.  We thank and congratulate all of the teachers and staff who worked so hard on this year’s celebrations.

We hope you enjoy the photos of the assembly and Smoking Ceremony.