Together: Yorta Yorta Beyachad program was enjoyed by students from Mount Scopus Memorial College and Greater Shepparton Secondary College.
Yorta Yorta man William Cooper was a driving force in the early fight for Indigenous rights and well known for his petition to the King of England demanding a Voice to parliament in the 1930s.
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But while this was one of his most famous campaigns, William Cooper’s activism and impact went well beyond this petition as he fought for the rights of others around the world, oppressed by poverty, inequality and government policy of the time.
In 1938, William Cooper lodged a personal protest against the treatment of European Jews in Nazi Germany, walking from his home in Footscray to the German consulate in South Melbourne. It was one of the first protests in the world against the actions of the Nazis.
In honour of this legacy and to better understand First Nations perspective, history and culture, the Jewish orthodox school, Mount Scopus Memorial College, offers its Year 9 students the Yorta Yorta Beyachad program — Beyachad which means ‘together’ in Hebrew.
As part of this program, the students spend a week ‘On Country’ each year, visiting significant sites and meeting with key Aboriginal community organisations.
Last year, Greater Shepparton Secondary College hosted the program participants for the first time with a number of First Nations students participating in a half-day cultural interchange.
Icebreaker activities revealed commonalities between the two somewhat different backgrounds and cultures, such as the ongoing impact of intergenerational trauma stemming from the Holocaust and the Stolen Generation.
It was also discovered that ceremonies that mark ‘the coming of age’ also share the same underlying rite of passage themes and family and connection to community are regarded of high importance.
Students then engaged in Traditional Indigenous Games and visited Kaiela Arts and SAM together.
GSSC executive principal Barbara O’Brien said due to the success of last year’s cultural exchange, Mount Scopus Memorial College would be visiting again this year with a similar day planned.
“We are excited to be hosting Mount Scopus students and staff again this year as part of our NAIDOC Week celebrations being held during the last week of term,” she said.
“The two-way benefits of this exchange are invaluable, with students able to share and learn about each other’s culture and history, while also building new connections and friendships.
“It is fitting that the theme of this year’s NAIDOC Week is ‘For Our Elders’ because the impact William Cooper had fighting for the rights of First Nations peoples and other minority groups of the time continues to be an inspiring story for all of us and particularly for our new generation of leaders in these students.”
Mount Scopus principal Rabbi James Kennard echoed Ms O’Brien’s sentiment and said his college was delighted to have its students visit Shepparton and Yorta Yorta country and experience a true cultural exchange.
“Having run this program for many years, we know what a real difference it makes to our students and their understanding of the lives of First Nations Australians,” he said.
“We are very grateful to GSSC for facilitating the visit.”
Bonding: Last year the Yorta Yorta Beyachad program brought students from Mount Scopus Memorial College and Greater Shepparton Secondary College together.
Icebreaker activities: Students from Mount Scopus Memorial College and Greater Shepparton Secondary College.
