Reconciliation Week: Be a Voice for Generations
Trinity College has endeavoured as a community to be a beacon for reconciliation to ensure that our boys are a Voice for Generations. Our students participate wholeheartedly in several events throughout National Reconciliation Week.
We started our week with the Captain of the Fremantle Dockers, Alex Pearce, visiting the school to speak to our Aboriginal program students and their invited friends. He talked about his football journey, the importance of reconciliation, his family history as a Palawa man from Tasmania, and how he connects with his culture. An inspiring individual, our boys thoroughly enjoyed his visit and discussion points to help create a conversation to raise awareness on National Reconciliation Week.
Students then experienced an Art Incursion, where the boys were allowed to paint a picture of their story and what is most important to them. Assisted by Trinity Old Boys Emmet Hodder-Ryan (2022) and Colby Sibosado (2022), the boys could share their stories through traditional Aboriginal symbols and artwork.
A visit from Trinity Old Boy Jake Ricks (2016) and Sergeant Nathan Hansen delivered a presentation to all Year 8 and 9 students, sharing their stories and the adversity they faced as young Aboriginal men transitioning into community leaders. We're grateful to have these two men open up about their challenges and inspire all of our students to be the change for future generations. Following this, Mr Callum Walley and Mr Mitchell Walley expressed their family history, discussing the impact of the Stolen Generation on their family and the challenges that were overcome to Year 7 and 11 students.
The Indigenous fixture against Wesley was a spectacle, and to acknowledge Reconciliation Week, the school painted the Aboriginal Flag on the playing fields. Robyn Collard, Josh Kelly and TC Old Boy Tryse Rioli (2022) performed a Welcome to Country and Smoking Ceremony as our First XVIII's played in the newly designed Indigenous Jumper created by Carl Morrison (Year 12). The design starts with the Derbarl Yerrigan (Swan River) that flows along the bank of Trinity College. The footprints signify the history of the land in which Trinity College is located, Whadjuk Noongar Boodja. Indigenous people have lived and survived on this land for thousands of years. They also represent today's Trinity College community, where boys come to school to learn and grow.
The Noongar symbols for the meeting place are used to represent the school, and Optus Stadium is a place where people gather and come together in the location we are situated. The Trinity College colours of blue and green are used throughout the jumper to showcase the school's history and journey to where we are today.