A school-wide celebration of culture and connection

By Shepparton News

May 27, 2025

Proud artists showing off their colourful creations — Sarah Fox, Emira Sabic, Georgia Alcaniz and Ivy Wilkinson. Photo by Rechelle Zammit

Reconciliation Week was celebrated at Shepparton East Primary School on May 26, as over 200 students from Prep to Year 6 took part in hands-on activities exploring identity, community and cultural connection.

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The morning began with a presentation by teacher Arlene Austin, who reminded students that connection to Country went far beyond the land — it included all living things and was deeply tied to identity, family and story.

“The strength of this nation is its community,” she said.

This year’s theme, ‘Bridging now to next’, invited students to consider how their own actions could help shape a more inclusive and respectful future.

Throughout the morning, classrooms buzzed with creativity. Students shared family stories through colouring activities, crafted boomerangs decorated with Aboriginal symbols, told their stories and moulded tiny turtles from clay — each activity offering a moment to create, connect and reflect.

As student Willow Trotter put it, “Reconciliation Week is a day you celebrate Aboriginal people and their land.”

For her classmate Felicity Heenan, the day was also about gaining understanding.

“Reconciliation Week helps me understand what we are taught,” she said.

News photographer Rechelle Zammit captured the busy morning.