Dear parents and guardians,

Our Moulton House assembly on Tuesday was a great platform for boys and staff to learn about National Reconciliation Week.  The dates for National Reconciliation Week are the same each year – 27 May to 3 June.  They commemorate two significant milestones in the reconciliation journey – the successful 1967 referendum and the High Court Mabo decision respectively.

National Reconciliation Week is a time for all Australians to learn about our shared histories, cultures and achievements, and to explore how each of us can contribute to achieving reconciliation in Australia.

Our very special guest was Mr Mark Morrison OAM.  Mark has been principal of the Macleay Vocational College since 2012.  Newington and Macleay Vocational College share a 10-year relationship, started by Dr David Mulford who sits on their advisory board.  Jordan Harrity, in his speech introducing the Kempsey Tour video, said his visit to Kempsey had been an eye opening and defining moment in his life.  He urged all boys, if they got the opportunity, to go on the tour.

Will Stormont and Addison Eastway invited Mark and Mr Steve Muir to take part in a Q&A.  Mark had some very powerful stories to tell in answer to the questions he was asked.  Please ask your son about it.

Year 9 boarders Tallis McEwen and Laiken Robinson-Cooper shared their personal stories with us at assembly.  Tallis is a proud Wiradjuri and Kamilaroi man who comes from Wailwan country at Gulargambone 382km north-west of Sydney.  Tallis told us about his totem, an emu, his spiritual animal in the dream time.  His totem has existed for more than 60,000 plus years. He explained the totem flows in your blood from your mother’s side.

Laiken is a proud Wailwan, Kamilaroi and Torres Strait Islander man.  He loved the opportunity to speak about something that is incredibly important to him – reconciliation.  Laiken told us how important this week is to people who have had to fight for the right to do normal things, like voting and being accepted as a citizen in your own country.

Both boys reflected on the opportunities provided to them through the Chris Wild (ON 1991) Indigenous Scholarship. This Scholarship provides an educational opportunity for Indigenous boys but also, and importantly, an educational opportunity for other boys and their families to learn and understand more about the oldest living culture on this planet.  Please take the time to listen to Tallis and Laiken speak here.

Assembly finished with a musical item, ‘Waiting on the World to Change’, performed by Henry Biessel, Aiden Carter, Addison Eastway and Will Stormont.  Our boys and staff got involved and spontaneously started clapping along – a great way to end a very special assembly.