The following speech was given by Rachel Aden, the Koorie leader representing St Helena Secondary College at Nillumbik Shire Council’s flag raising ceremony on Wednesday May 29, 2024
Good morning, My name is Rachel Aden and I am the Koorie leader representing St Helena Secondary College today.
During this National Reconciliation Week, let us turn our hearts towards a deeper understanding. Reconciliation isn’t a simple apology, but a bridge built with respect and understanding for the rich cultures that thrive here. It’s about recognising the strength of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who have weathered hardship with incredible resilience, it’s about building genuine relationships, understanding and respecting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, and it’s about working together to create a more just and equitable future for all Australians.
Reconciliation is important because it’s about acknowledging the traditional owners of this land, a land that has been continuously occupied for over 65,000 years. It’s about recognising the strength and resilience of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples who have faced incredible hardship throughout history.
The 2024 theme, “Now More Than Ever,” is particularly important because there’s still so much work to be done. The theme this year, “Now More Than Ever,” rings true. The conversation can’t be confined to a single week. We need to keep the conversation going, not just during Reconciliation Week, but throughout the year. We must be open to learning, confronting our biases, and truly understanding the histories and cultures that share this land. How can we each contribute? We can become students, immersing ourselves in the stories and knowledge offered by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander voices. We can support their artists and businesses, their vibrant expressions of identity. But most importantly, we can listen. Lend an open ear to their experiences, their hopes, and their dreams.
Only through genuine listening can we build the bridges of reconciliation and walk together towards a reconciled Australia.