Reconciliation Week Assembly 2023

Today, on Friday 16 May, the nation observes National Sorry Day, which marks the start of Reconciliation Week 2023 (Saturday 27 May – Saturday 3 June). The theme for this year’s Reconciliation Week is “Be a Voice for Generations” urging all Australians to play an active role in the journey of reconciliation within their social, professional and personal lives.

As a part of Mentone Grammar’s commitment to promoting inclusivity, we held a special Years 7-12 Assembly today, to present our Firsts teams with their Indigenous sports uniforms. The exceptional design of these uniforms was created by Elders from the Lilla Watarrka community in Central Australia, with whom Mentone Grammar has a significant and established partnership. Our Firsts Teams will don these uniforms with pride at the AGSV Reconciliation Round.

We were also thrilled to welcome our guest speaker, Paul Paton (Class of 1992), a proud Gunnai, Monaro and Gunditjmara man who is currently serving as the Chief Executive Officer at the Federation of Victorian Traditional Owner Corporations. Paul shared the importance of understanding Aboriginal histories, cultures, and accomplishments and explained how we can all do our part to achieve reconciliation in our country.

While acknowledging and observing these vital days and events is a crucial part of our reconciliation journey, it is equally essential to apply our values day by day in our lives and to take inclusive action in our immediate and extended communities. We are dedicated to learning more, understanding more, and doing more, to create authentic change within our school and beyond.