For Your Information
Remembrance Day – Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are advised that this article contains images of deceased persons.
Today is Remembrance Day.
At 11:00am, on the 11th day of the 11th month, a minute’s silence is held to commemorate those who have given their lives in service to their country in times of conflict.
In Australia, a portion of the military personnel have been represented by the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, a group who, in Australian history, have sadly not always been recognised as an important part of this country.
And yet the Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, in their decision to take up arms and serve this country, have demonstrated their ultimate sacrifice: giving their lives in the hope that others might have a better one.
The Bible describes this particular attitude in this manner, “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends,” (John 15:13 NIV). This passage is often inscribed on war memorials to describe the magnitude of the service given by those who fought, especially those who did not return.
From the First World War, to the Second World War, and continuing throughout other conflicts in the 20th Century, reaching into the 21st, the Indigenous peoples of Australia have served this country. Despite their service, many of those who returned to civilian life did not receive the equalities and rights that might have been given to them while they were enlisted.
Only gradually over the course of time has the plight and the recognition of the Australian Indigenous peoples who served their country been made known, and is continuing to be brought to light through research and developing awareness of this important piece in the jigsaw of Australian history.
The horrors of world wars, the injustices between races of peoples and the conflicts that exist between individuals within any community all stand as representatives of the ultimate conflict between what is good and what is evil. It is hoped that the ultimate outcome of these conflicts being resolved will be peace, which is what was hoped for on the 11th November, 1918, when the armistice was signed in France, and then formally recognised the following year at the Treaty of Versailles.
The Bible mentions a time of peace yet to come, when all countries, nations and peoples “will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore,” (Micah 4:3 NIV).
This is what was hoped for by all those who served their country, including the Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
We will remember them.
Matt Mackay
HASS Coordinator
Uniform Shop
Bus Requirements for 2021
If you are requiring the bus service for your child in 2021, please click the link below and complete the online form below to register your interest. Demand is very high for our bus service and many of the routes have been full this year so it is very important that you register your interest as soon as possible to secure a spot on our buses. Full-time bus fees per term: $296 per child. Part-time bus fees per term: $199 per child (part-time is one way, either to school each day or from school each day)
Parking Around The School
1. Parking out the front of the school-
We are noticing a lot of parents parking in the front area of the school, walking to the single gate and dropping off, only to return to the car minutes later and reversing out into traffic. We understand the convenience but parking here and reversing out is stopping the flow of traffic from the drive through zone. We are asking that if you are walking your child onto our school grounds or collecting them in the afternoons, please use the back car park.
2. Keeping the car park entrance clear
As mentioned in a hand out, it is very important that you please do not park in the entrance to the back car park. If the drive through line is full, please wait with your left indicator flashing while on Nelson Road. When the line starts to move, then feel free to move into the drive through zone but please don't block the car park entrance.
3. Turning left only out of car parks and drive through
In peak times, when families wait and try to turn right onto Wright Road from the drive through, it again, slows the whole drive through down - often to a complete stop. We are asking kindly that you turn left only out the drive through onto Wright Road.
4. Side gate reopened!
We have cleared the temporary storage near the Front Office and are happy to open this walkway again to allow an alternative entrance, rather than going through the Front Office.
Please remember the current restrictions still in place (No adults entering classrooms unless you sign on in the Front Office).
We hope to continue to develop the parking around the school so it runs as smoothly as possible.
Daily Health Check
